No.3 Gin 70cl

No.3 keeps it to six botanicals and no more: juniper at the centre, then cardamom, coriander seed, angelica root, and grapefruit and orange peel for citrus. Nothing is hidden here — the cardamom and grapefruit are as much the signature as the juniper.

It's the house gin of Berry Bros. & Rudd, the wine and spirits merchant that has traded from 3 St James's Street since 1698, which is where the name comes from. The recipe is exacting rather than showy, and it has been named World's Best Gin more than once at the IWSC.

The nose is crisp and classic — bright juniper with a clear citrus lift and a warm cardamom note. The palate is dry and clean, juniper leading, spice and grapefruit filling in behind, before an earthy, peppery dryness closes it out. At 46% it's structured and precise, which is exactly why it makes such a good martini: this is a gin engineered for stirring cold and drinking sharp. A classic G&T works too, but the martini is its home.

Reach for it when you want a proper, old-school London Dry with no gimmicks.

How to Serve

Stir it very cold into a dry martini with a thin lemon twist. For a G&T, a neutral tonic and a twist of grapefruit to pick up the peel.

Where to Drink It

Dukes Bar, St James's — a stone's throw from the No.3 shop, and the martini benchmark. The Connaught Bar — precise and theatrical. Boisdale of Belgravia — for a livelier evening.

Food Pairings

Classic with smoked salmon on brown bread, or a bowl of salted almonds alongside the martini.