Flavor Profile
Beefeater 24 gets its name from the twenty-four hour maceration time that its twelve botanicals undergo. While many of the botanicals are familiar to Beefeater drinkers, the two tea botanicals set it apart.
Sencha is the most popular type of tea in Japan, renowned for its vegetal and grassy flavor. Chinese green tea is sweeter and a bit brighter.
The choice of Green Tea leaves was intentional— because they are steamed right after harvesting, they don’t have any of the oxidized notes that other types of tea may have.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Strikingly similar to Beefeater Gin. Citrus, juniper and the slightest hint of licorice root beneath it.
The citrus is a bit more bright and at the fore. Seville Orange zest lends Beefeater 24 a note that reminds me of Chase’s Seville Orange Gin.
Flavor: Beefeater 24 is quite pleasant with sweet citrus, including notes of lemon rind and sweet lime— that moves into a mid-palate with juniper. Though less juniper-forward, the juniper is still here and remains the gin’s centerpiece.
Finish: Long and dry, there’s a grassy, vegetal note of warm green tea. Moderate astringency.
Cocktails
Beefeater 24 works quite well as a classic style gin in mixing. I think the green tea notes are less successful in drinks like the Ramos Gin Fizz or other creamy fizzes. I find that the longer, more astringent finish adds complexity in cocktails with bitter and herbal counterpoints. Try it in a Dry Martini with an Olive. The Seville Orange nose is a nice counter point to the vegetal brine notes of a pickled Onion in the Gibson.
Overall, bartenders and home mixologists will find Beefeater 24 a versatile mixer with a point of difference on the finish.
Overall, Beefeater 24
What was a startling contemporary style gin upon its launch now comes across as rather traditional. But that’s no criticism of Beefeater 24.
Beefeater’s premium offering is still an exceptionally well-made gin with wide appeal. Fans of Japanese gins looking for something a bit more widely available will find Beefeater 24 an apt substitute.
Overall, it’s as worth checking out today as it was upon it’s launch over ten years ago.
Recommended in its category.
Awards
I would drink cheap gin as a teenager, and one day at 40 years old decided to go back to trying gin out. Specifically gin & tonic. The tonic changes with each new bottle I guy, so I can compare every tonic with each new gin I’ve bought. I started to prefer the taste of my G&T with mint leaves and a dash of lime juice.
That being said, I’ve tried Bombay Sapphire, The Botanist, Beefeater 24, Tanqueray, Monkey 47, and Roku.
I’ve got to say, by far, the way I drink it, Beefeater 24 is the most refreshing of all. Monkey 47 comes in awesome as so many complexities just flavor rush your mouth, and linger also….it’s enjoyable but not an everyday drink enjoyable. More like maybe once or twice a week.
So, overall writing this, I want to try more but so far it’s hard to break from something like this that seems to be perfect in a gin & tonic, no matter the tonic, with mint & lime.