Plymouth is a brand of [ingredient=gin gin] made by the Plymouth Gin Distillery (also known as the Black Friars Distillery), but owned by Pernod-Ricard. Plymouth Gin is one of the four styles of gin, and is softer, with more earthy flavors and less juniper than London Dry gin.
The Plymouth distillery is housed in a former Dominican monastery that dates to the early 15th century, though gin production on the site dates back to 1793 under the ownership of the Fox and Williamson company. This became Coates and Co., who owned the distillery until 2004, when it was sold to the V&S group, who make Absolut vodka. Pernod-Ricard purchased the brand in 2008.
Plymouth gin has Protected Geographic Indication within the European Union (which is similar to DOP in Italy, AOC in France, or DO in Spain). It can only be made within the walls of the town of Plymouth, in Devonshire.
The spice bill for Plymouth gin includes: juniper berries, lemon and orange peel, orris root, angelica root, cardamom and coriander. They make a regular bottling at 82.4 proof, a Navy Strength gin at 114 proof (so that if the gin were spilled on gunpowder, it would still ignite), and a [ingredient=sloe-gin sloe gin].
Some popular cocktails containing Plymouth
- Gin & Gruit — Ale, Gin, Grapefruit bitters, Ginger syrup, Lemon juice
- Steppin' Out — Gin, Palo Cortado Sherry, Dry vermouth, Crème de Banane, Lemon peel
- Spyglass — Gin, Dry vermouth, Aquavit, White Crème de Cacao, fennel liqueur, Lemon peel
- Six Barrel Shotgun — Gin, Bourbon, Puerto Rican Rum, Sweet vermouth, Bitters, Simple syrup, Lemon juice
- Waterloo Sunset — Gin, Bianco Vermouth, Watermelon juice, Lime juice, Cane syrup, Mint
- Grapefruit Mule — Gin, Pamplemousse Rose, Aperol, Bitters, Lime juice, Ginger syrup, Soda water, Orange peel
- Lost Leader — Gin, Rum, Peach liqueur, Pastis, Lemon juice, Demerara syrup, Lemon peel
- Petticoat — Gin, Falernum, Apricot liqueur, Lime juice, Cane syrup
- Nerina — Gin, Sweet vermouth, Amaro Meletti, Orange peel
- Gin on Gin Julep — Gin, Genever, Simple syrup, Club soda, Mint