Beefeater Gin

Beefeater Gin is a London dry gin brand whose origins are associated with James Burrough, a distiller and rectifier who acquired the Chelsea Distillery in 1862 and began producing his own gin style the following year. The brand developed within the James Burrough Company and became its flagship product through a combination of a pronounced juniper character, a full-bodied dry profile, and a recipe built around a defined set of botanicals. The name refers to the Yeomen of the Guard, the ceremonial bodyguards of the British monarch, connecting the brand with a recognizable image of British and London heritage. The standard Beefeater recipe uses grain spirit and nine principal botanicals: juniper, angelica root, angelica seed, coriander seed, liquorice, almond, orris root, Seville orange, and lemon peel. The original formulation is associated with a recipe book dated 1895. Although the company and its production facilities expanded over time, the brand has retained the broad structure of the steeping and distillation methods developed by Burrough in the nineteenth century. Beefeater is therefore positioned around continuity, traditional London dry gin production, and a bold botanical profile rather than around a highly experimental craft identity. Production capacity increased as the business expanded. A larger distillery was built in Lambeth in 1908, and production moved to the Kennington area of London in 1958. The Kennington site became the brand's principal distilling location and remains an important part of Beefeater's identity. The distillery is one of London's operating gin distilleries, and Pernod Ricard announced plans for a visitor centre there in 2013. Ownership remained with the founding Burrough family and the James Burrough Company until 1987, when Whitbread acquired the business. Beefeater subsequently became part of Pernod Ricard's international spirits portfolio. The brand is bottled and distributed in the United Kingdom and sold in international markets. Its standard gin has traditionally occupied a mainstream-to-mid-range position, while the brand has also developed higher-tier and flavored expressions to broaden its appeal. Beefeater 24, introduced in 2009, is the brand's super-premium expression. It adds Chinese green tea, Japanese sencha, and grapefruit peel to the core botanical profile. Its name refers to the 24-hour botanical steeping period before distillation, and the product is bottled at 45% alcohol by volume. Beefeater has also produced flavored gins, generally bottled at 37.5% alcohol by volume, and in January 2024 introduced Beefeater 0.0%, an alcohol-free botanical alternative with a stated alcohol content of 0.04% ABV. The latter was first launched in Spain, identified as the brand's largest global market, before being extended to additional international markets. Beefeater's competitive identity rests on its London provenance, recognizable bottle and Yeoman-inspired visual language, juniper-forward taste, and accessible connection to classic gin-and-tonic serves. It has also received positive results in international spirits competitions, including medals for both its standard London Dry and Beefeater 24. The brand is currently part of Pernod Ricard's global gin business.

Beefeater's history begins with James Burrough, who acquired the Cale Street Chelsea Distillery from John Taylor in 1862. Burrough initially continued producing liqueurs and other spirits associated with the existing business, while experimenting with gin recipes and production methods. By 1863 he was making a distinctive gin of his own. The company later sold several styles, including Ye Old Chelsea, James Burrough London Dry, and Old Tom gin, before establishing Beefeater as its most important brand. Burrough's approach emphasized a carefully selected botanical blend capable of producing a bold, full-flavored gin. The Beefeater name refers to the Yeomen of the Guard, a ceremonial corps connected with the British monarchy, and gave the product an immediately recognizable British identity. A recipe book dated 1895 records the nine botanicals associated with the classic formula: juniper, angelica root, angelica seed, coriander seed, liquorice, almond, orris root, Seville orange, and lemon peel. These ingredients remain central to the brand's description of its London dry gin. As the James Burrough Company grew, it required more capacity. A larger Beefeater distillery was constructed in Lambeth in 1908. Production later moved to Kennington in 1958, where new copper pot stills were commissioned from John Dore & Co. to reproduce the equipment used at the former Chelsea distillery. The Kennington site became the brand's enduring London production base. The steeping and distillation principles associated with Burrough's original methods, together with the core recipe, have remained substantially continuous even as the company developed new products. The business stayed under the control of the Burrough family until 1987. Under Norman Burrough, the James Burrough Company was acquired by Whitbread. Beefeater later entered the portfolio of Pernod Ricard, which owns and manages the brand internationally. The brand is bottled and distributed in the United Kingdom and has a broad international presence. Beefeater expanded beyond its standard London Dry Gin with Beefeater 24, launched in 2009 as a super-premium expression. Its recipe adds Chinese green tea, Japanese sencha, and grapefruit peel, while the product name refers to a 24-hour botanical steeping process. Flavored gins followed, generally using a lower bottling strength than the traditional product. In 2024, Pernod Ricard added Beefeater 0.0%, an alcohol-free alternative based on the essence of the London Dry recipe and a non-alcoholic base. Spain served as the initial market before the product was extended internationally. The brand has maintained a recognizable association with London, traditional gin production, and juniper-led flavor. Its standard expression has received medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and favorable Beverage Testing Institute scores, while Beefeater 24 has also received competition recognition. The Kennington distillery, the brand's heritage imagery, and its classic botanical profile continue to support Beefeater's position within Pernod Ricard's global spirits portfolio.

• 2024

  Beefeater 0.0% launches

  [1]Beefeater Ginen.wikipedia.org

  Pernod Ricard introduced an alcohol-free botanical alternative based on the Beefeater London Dry flavor profile.

• 2013

  Kennington visitor-centre plans announced

  [1]Beefeater Ginen.wikipedia.org

  Pernod Ricard announced plans for a visitor centre at the Kennington distillery site.

• 2009

  Beefeater 24 launches

  [1]Beefeater Ginen.wikipedia.org

  The brand introduced Beefeater 24, a super-premium gin using additional tea and grapefruit botanicals and a 24-hour steeping process.

• 1987

  Whitbread acquires the James Burrough Company

  [1]Beefeater Ginen.wikipedia.org

  After more than a century under the founding family, the James Burrough Company was acquired by Whitbread.

• 1958

  Production moves to Kennington

  [1]Beefeater Ginen.wikipedia.org

  Beefeater production moved to Kennington, where copper pot stills were built to replicate those used at the earlier Chelsea distillery.

• 1908

  Lambeth distillery opens

  [1]Beefeater Ginen.wikipedia.org

  A larger distillery was built in Lambeth to support the expanding James Burrough business.

• 1895

  Classic botanical recipe documented

  [1]Beefeater Ginen.wikipedia.org

  The original Beefeater recipe book recorded the nine botanicals that define the classic full-bodied London dry gin.

• 1863

  Beefeater's production origins

  [1]Beefeater Ginen.wikipedia.org

  Burrough began producing his own distinctive style of gin, marking the starting point generally associated with the Beefeater brand.

• 1862

  James Burrough acquires the Chelsea Distillery

  [1]Beefeater Ginen.wikipedia.org

  James Burrough purchased the Cale Street distillery in Chelsea from John Taylor, establishing the business from which Beefeater developed.

A heritage London dry gin brand combining traditional botanical formulation and London provenance with accessible mainstream distribution, premium extensions, flavored variants, and an alcohol-free alternative.

• London dry gin · 1863

  Beefeater London Dry Gin

  The core Beefeater expression is made from grain spirit and built around nine botanicals: juniper, angelica root, angelica seed, coriander seed, liquorice, almond, orris root, Seville orange, and lemon peel. It is characterized by a pronounced juniper note and a dry, full-bodied profile. The product represents the brand's traditional London identity and remains the reference point for its broader family of gin and botanical alternatives.

• Super-premium gin · 2009

  Beefeater 24

  Introduced in 2009, Beefeater 24 extends the classic Beefeater botanical structure with Chinese green tea, Japanese sencha, and grapefruit peel. The number 24 refers to the stated 24-hour steeping period before distillation. It is positioned above the standard London Dry expression and is bottled at 45% ABV.

• Flavored gin

  Beefeater Flavored Gins

  Beefeater has produced a range of flavored gin variants designed to extend the brand beyond its classic juniper-led profile. The variants are generally bottled at 37.5% ABV. Specific flavors and market availability vary by product and country.

• Alcohol-free botanical alternative · 2024

  Beefeater 0.0%

  Beefeater 0.0% is an alcohol-free botanical alternative created by combining the essence of the Beefeater London Dry recipe with a non-alcoholic base. It is stated to contain 0.04% ABV. The product first went on sale in Spain in January 2024 and was subsequently expanded to additional international markets.

• 2026Get More With 0.0

  Global

  A global campaign for Beefeater 0.0% created with Lucky Generals and developed in partnership with English acid jazz band Jamiroquai. The advertisement references the band's Virtual Insanity video and uses practical shifting-floor effects to present the alcohol-free product.

  Outcome. The campaign aimed to increase awareness and trial of Beefeater 0.0% globally, leveraging the Jamiroquai partnership to reach a broad audience.

  Source

• 2024

  Launch of Beefeater 0.0%Product launch

  Background

  The launch addressed consumer demand for alcohol-free or low-alcohol alternatives while retaining recognizable Beefeater botanical cues.

  Action taken

  Pernod Ricard introduced Beefeater 0.0%, initially in Spain and later in additional international markets.

  Aftermath

  The brand expanded its portfolio into the alcohol-free botanical category.

  Source

• 2009

  Launch of Beefeater 24Product launch

  Background

  Beefeater sought to extend its traditional London dry gin franchise into the super-premium segment.

  Action taken

  The brand introduced Beefeater 24 with additional tea and grapefruit botanicals and a 24-hour steeping process.

  Aftermath

  Beefeater 24 became a principal premium expression and received medals in international spirits competitions.

  Source

• 2026

  Beefeater launches global Get More With 0.0 campaign[1]Beefeater Ginen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Product launch

  The campaign promoted Beefeater 0.0% through a partnership with Jamiroquai and a recreation of the shifting-floor concept associated with the band's Virtual Insanity music video.

• 2024

  Pernod Ricard introduces Beefeater 0.0% alcohol-free gin alternative[1]Beefeater Ginen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Pernod Ricard launched Beefeater 0.0%, a botanical alternative made by adding the essence of Beefeater's London Dry recipe to a non-alcoholic base. Spain was the first launch market, followed by expansion to additional international markets.

• 2013

  Pernod Ricard announces visitor-centre plans for Kennington distillery[1]Beefeater Ginen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Pernod Ricard announced plans to construct a visitor centre at Beefeater's Kennington distillery site in London.

1. 1Beefeater Ginen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Beefeater Gin official websitebeefeatergin.com