Charles Tanqueray was born in 1810.
His father, grandfather, and uncle were all clergymen at a parish on the outskirts of London. However, Charles was always interested in the sciences, so he did not wish to continue the family tradition—he chose to take a risk and follow his own path. Together with his brother Edward, they started working at a distillery to learn the craft of gin-making.
The Tanqueray brothers entered the gin market in 1830, opening their distillery in Bloomsbury, North London. Charles experimented extensively to develop the perfect recipe. Based on his early notes, he would adjust the amount of juniper depending on the origin of the berries, and he would cross off ingredients from the list if they didn’t work. From the very beginning, he was meticulous about everything he did.
After inventing a new method of distillation, Charles Tanqueray was among the first to create a style of gin that later became known as “London Dry.” At the time, the Old Tom style was in fashion, which involved adding large amounts of sugar to gin. This was used to mask the imperfections of the base grain spirit, since distillation techniques of the era couldn’t yet produce a truly clean base.
Tanqueray London Dry
Created by Charles Tanqueray in 1830, Tanqueray London Dry Gin is still made today using the classic, timeless recipe. It is distilled four times and perfectly balances the gin’s four classic botanicals: refreshing juniper, spicy coriander, flavorful angelica root, and sweet licorice. It shows its best character when served with tonic, plenty of ice, and a wedge of lime, but it also serves as a fantastic base for a variety of cocktails.
Tanqueray London Dry Gin has won numerous awards, including multiple recognitions from The World’s Best Bars (Drinks International Brands Report, 2020). It was the best-selling gin, the 2nd most trending gin, and the 2nd favorite spirit overall among bartenders.
The iconic shape of the Tanqueray bottle was inspired by a three-part cocktail shaker, which became famous during the classic cocktail movement of the Prohibition era in the 1920s. The pineapple — once considered so exotic in 1830s England that it became a symbol of hospitality — appears in the Tanqueray family crest and adorns every bottle of Tanqueray Distilling Company gin.
Tanqueray No. Ten
In 1830, Charles Tanqueray created the world’s finest London Dry Gin, a spirit that is still crafted today using the same timeless, classic recipe. Inspired by this legacy, Tanqueray No. Ten was developed as one of the first ultra-premium gins, setting the standard in the category.
Tanqueray No. Ten is distilled four times using Tanqueray’s signature botanicals: refreshing juniper, spicy coriander, flavorful angelica root, and sweet licorice. After that, whole fresh citrus fruits such as limes, oranges, pink grapefruit, and chamomile flowers are added to the Tiny Ten still — the small batch still that gave the gin its name. It shows its best character when served with premium tonic, plenty of ice, and a wedge of pink grapefruit, or in a perfect martini with dry vermouth and a squeeze of pink grapefruit juice.
Tanqueray No. Ten has won numerous awards, including double gold at the San Francisco Spirits Competition in 2020 in the gin category.
Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla
Flor de Sevilla Gin is made truly special by the oranges grown in Seville, along with a variety of botanicals and spices. Inspired by Charles Tanqueray’s original recipe and the sun-drenched oranges of Seville, the result is a uniquely bittersweet gin, perfectly balanced by the complex character of Tanqueray London Dry.
Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale
Charles Tanqueray was a true innovator and pioneer, driven by the ambition to create the world’s finest gin. He sourced botanicals from around the globe and crafted over 300 recipes. Inspired by his French heritage and travels in the 1840s, Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale was born.
Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale blends juicy blackcurrants with delicate vanilla, resulting in a truly luxurious flavor profile. Carrying notes of black orchid, this gin is crafted exclusively with the finest French blackcurrants, vanilla, and the four classic London Dry botanicals: refreshing juniper, peppery coriander, flavorful angelica root, and liquorice.
