Gin brands seem to be multiplying faster than Prince William and Kate Middleton. Faster, maybe. How fantastic for gin lovers. Such a short time ago we scandalously had little more to slake our thirst than Beefeater and Gordon's. Problem is, most good new offerings today are priced for British royals. Even the excellent old British sailor's favourite, Plymouth, managed to reinvent itself as a $40-plus luxury spirit in recent years. Ouch.
For many people of limited means, Broker's has been a fresh new godsend – classically juniper-forward and balanced, an ideal under-$30 base for a dry martini. Now it's got fine company: Hayman's London Dry Gin, an English brand made by the former distiller of megabrand Beefeater. (Christopher Hayman also happens to be great-grandson of James Burrough, who introduced Beefeater in the 19th century.) Hayman's confidently plays to the classic London-dry style in the face of new-age competitors chasing a softer, sweeter, youth-oriented profile. It displays a pleasantly oily texture carrying pine-like juniper, lively black pepper and crisp citrus. Expertly balanced. Available in Ontario.