Latitude Old Tom Gin is inspired by the 51st parallel north. As you can see from the picture, the gin’s full name is actually Latitude 51ºN Old Tom Gin. The team at Latitude seek out quality ingredients found along a particular circle of latitude to create an innovative basis for their spirits.
Latitude’s Old Tom is bottled at 40% and is a premium gin. As an Old Tom gin, it’s sweeter than the dry gins that you may be familiar with. In this case, Latitude’s Old Tom is sweetened with Canadian maple syrup. It’s core gin botanicals include juniper, elderflower, rosehip, sea buckthorn and red apple.
As noted, the team at Latitude aim to create a range of drinks that highlight the characteristics of a particular line of latitude. In the case of their Old Tom (and if you’re heading east and starting in London), the 51st parallel passes through several European countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Ukraine. It then crisscrosses the Russia/Kazakhstan border, heads out across the Pacific Ocean from Kamchatka, and then dances through Canada (including Calgary and Newfoundland)…hence the maple syrup.
So what does the 51st parallel have to offer us gin lovers?
Latitude Old Tom Gin review
For those of us who are much more familiar with juniper-led gins, the sweetness of Old Tom gins can come as a bit of a surprise. On opening Latitude Old Tom, what immediately hits you is a good wallop of freshness. It’s quite a herbaceous gin on the nose, and you can definitely detect that sweetness that’s ahead too.
To taste, there’s obviously that underlying sweetness. However, I was quite taken by the finish to this gin. It ends very crisply, and I think that might be the rosehip and the apple. It was unexpected, and very pleasant. The mouthfeel generally I found to be quite rich and lively; plenty of zing. However, this is an easy-drinking Old Tom, and I found it to be far more accessible than some of the Old Toms I remember; some of which can be ultra-sweet, or trying too hard not to be!
Overall, Latitude Old Tom is a moreish and neatly balanced gin, perfect for those who like a bit of sweetness already, or for those wanting to experience an Old Tom it for the first time – give it a try!
How to serve Latitude Old Tom Gin
I found this to be a versatile drink. It absolutely stood up to being poured over ice and sipped. I’d say that was my favourite serve. Never being afraid to try different servings though, I also tried it with a range of tonics. For me, it worked best with a wedge of lime and an elderflower tonic (much like these other gins – I’ll add Latitude Old Tom to the list) or a Mediterranean tonic like Fever-Tree.
That versatility really showed through in cocktails though. I tried two; an (Old) Tom Collins and a gimlet. The pick for me was the gimlet. That lime juice really worked well with the Latitude Old Tom. If you’ve not tried a gimlet before, give it a whirl with some Latitude Old Tom.
Where to buy Latitude Old Tom Gin
Latitude 51ºN Old Tom Gin is available direct from their website here.
Ps. If you like the thought of Latitude Old Tom, take a look at their Botanical Spirit too. Moving further north, it’s inspired by the 55th parallel north. It’s not a gin; the team at Latitude describe it as a floral spirit. Its botanicals include heather petal, chamomile, lingonberry and ginseng.
Disclosure. I was gifted this gin by the team at Latitude. I have a policy of never featuring a gin on this website that I wouldn’t recommend. I’m very happy to recommend Latitude 51ºN Old Tom Gin, and really enjoyed rediscovering Old Toms again! I hope you enjoyed this short review, and thanks for reading. I always enjoy hearing from other gin lovers, so please do get in contact at [email protected], or in the comments below. Cheers! Andy
