Old Tom Gin was traditionally made from grain spirit and distilled in a pot still with Juniper berries being the most dominant botanical in the recipe.

Juniper was seen as blind allegiance to William of Orange, King of England 1689-1702 who introduced England to Juniper- based Dutch Gin or “Genever”.

Distillation methods in the 18th Century did not produce a particularly clean or pure spirit and initially Old Tom Gin was lightly sweetened to mask any impurities.

The name “Old Tom Gin” comes from what may be the first example of a beverage vending machine in England.

 

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