Beefeater 24 Gin Review

Beefeater 24’s Robe

• Hue: Crystal clear
• Clarity: Crisp
• Viscosity: Oily

In terms of color, there is not much to be said when sampling a classic London dry gin, since it’s a crystal clear liquid. The viscosity is thick, oily and rich, with a very dense pearl chain, dancing around the rim of the glass. It’s crisp, not hazy whatsoever, and a pristine white whirl in the glass.

Beefeater 24’s Nose

• Notes: Sweet orange, grapefruit, juniper
• Nosefeel: Mentholated, Eucalyptic

The first smell is surprisingly sweet, I have to confess. Despite being called a London dry, the mellowness and tranquility of the initial olfactory sensation is rather puzzling. However, it comes in a lovely orange marmalade envelope, accompanied by some fresh citrus peel and juice lemon filets. The grapefruit, one of the key botanicals for the 24, is very present as well.

Only in the second layer, the juniper note makes itself heard, despite being the distinctive core element of any gin. In order to detect the tea, one would need quite a bit of creativity and imagination, at least from an olfactory standpoint.

It’s hard to pinpoint which variety of tea is there, even though with time Earl Grey tea seems to stand out. Needless to say, the scent beautifully fits this gin’s London theme, transcending reminiscences of afternoon tea and British flair.

Towards the finish, an ever so gentle floral touch creeps in. I’m reminded of violet, chamomile, as well as rose petals. All in all, it’s a mellow, sweet, and well-rounded sensation, maybe even too well-balanced for real gin geeks. The 24 is not overly complex, not overly intense, but encompassed in an all-around smooth and very creamy scenery.

Beefeater 24’s Palate & Mouthfeel

• Primary Taste: Sweet
• Mouthfeel: Smooth
• Opening:  Chamomile, dried juniper, orange marmelade
• Heart: Grapefruit juice, lavender, lemon thyme
• Finish: Medium [fresh juniper, sweet rose, angelica]

Similar to the nose, the first sip feels smooth and oily on the tongue, with the same signature sweetness upfront. What becomes obvious though after just a few seconds, is that the evolution is primarily citrus-laden and fresh. The orange marmalade note, the liveliness, in combination with a newly emanating floral element, adds more crispiness and depth to the palate.

Whilst the juniper is rather restrained, there is an evolving dry, herbaceous and chamomile-like nuance coming through. On top of that, I’m reminded of lemon thyme, dried lavender and rose petals. A fresh juniper blast comes back after a few more sips and makes itself heard towards the finish, which I would describe as medium-long.

The overall gustatory sensation is medium complex, rather mellow and mild in character, whilst not overly intense or pungent whatsoever. Given that this is 45% alcohol by volume, the gin goes down smoothly creamy.

How To Drink Beefeater 24

As we often state in our reviews, the best way to drink a beverage is the way that you enjoy it the most. Nevertheless, most people probably do not drink gin neat on a regular basis. Then again, this will be a charm for all the Gin-and-Tonic lovers out there, who prefer their G&T on the sweet and mellow side.

Gin-and-Juice or a Gin Rickey would make for interesting alternatives before we enter the world of more complex cocktails with this as a basis.

Beefeater 24 Cocktail Suggestions

Due to its versatility, we can suggest the following cocktails with Beefeater 24:

1. Gin & Juice
2. White Lady
3. Gin & Tonic
4. Martini Cocktail

I mentioned that the Beefeater 24 makes for a rather soft and slightly sweet Gin-and-Tonic. The same is true for the traditional (not-so-dry) Martini cocktail. Be careful with the vermouth, in order not to overshadow the soft nuances of the base spirit. If you prefer a bone dry, super crisp, dry Martini, you’d probably be looking for the traditional Beefeater, more than the 24.

For more cocktail suggestions, I invite you to check out our guide to the top 10 best gin cocktails.

Best Pairings With Beefeater 24

A particular favorite of mine is topping this gin off with some freshly juiced watermelon. Alternatively, you could indulge in the watermelon as a side snack or finger food pairing.

Afternoon tea not only thematically fits the 24, it would also make for a delicious overall pairing. Imagine some scones with a thick smear of clotted cream and a dollop of raspberry or strawberry marmalade on top – delicious!

I enjoyed a selection of Petit Fours, underlining the creaminess, sweetness, in particular, the white chocolate and marzipan note coming through.

As a contrast, certain cigars could be excellent accompaniments to this mellow gin. I went for an old-school Cuban smoke with a limited edition from Cohiba. In general, I would recommend something that adds a bit of spice, a layer of complexity in character and a touch of funkiness, to counter-balance the spirit.

Overall Experience & Value For Money

With this being a rather affordable gin, the value for money is excellent. You could make this a standard, everyday pouring gin for all your preferred cocktails and long drinks.

The design is slick and neat, featuring the traditional white and red color code of the brand. The bottle shows some flair with beautiful embossings of what looks like flowers and reminiscences to the botanicals used.

Closing Thoughts

This juice has a hefty 45% alcohol by volume to its body, so don’t be fooled by the charming, creamy sweetness. The Beefeater 24 packs a punch, but without ever losing its elegance and finesse.

Further Reading

Once you’ve finished reading our review, feel free to peruse our wide range of related content such as the following resources:

• More Liquor Reviews
• Best Barware For Your Home
• Bespoke Unit Spirit & Liquor Homepage
• Bespoke Unit Wine Homepage