Plymouth Gin Just Dropped the New Plymouth Honey
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There are a lot of honey-flavored or honey-finished spirits out there, ranging from Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey to Breckenridge Honey Whiskey to Jeptha Creed Honey Vodka. The latest honeyed release comes from the historic gin brand Plymouth, which just announced the launch of its new Plymouth Honey expression here in the U.S.
Plymouth Gin is made at the Black Friars distillery in the eponymous English town, and records show that gin has been made there since at least the late 18th century (the brand was acquired by French company Pernod Ricard in 2008). The gin is made in the London dry style, but until 2015 it was one of three gins that carried a geographical indication (GI) recognized by the European Union (the others are Spanish and Lithuanian gins). Pernod Ricard chose not to apply for continued GI status in 2014, saying at the time that it deemed it unnecessary because of how well known the brand name is.
Today, there are several different gins in the Plymouth lineup. The original is flavored with seven botanicals—angelica, cardamom, lemon, coriander, orange, orris, and of course juniper. There is also a Navy Strength version, Sloe Gin, Fruit Cup, and Mr. King’s 1842 Recipe, a 2019 release made with juniper “picked on a single day from a single mountain in Frontignano, Italy,” according to the brand. Add to the portfolio the new Plymouth Honey, which was released in the U.K. in 2023 and is just making its American debut. According to a rep for the brand, original Plymouth Gin is the base spirit, and it’s flavored with “natural honey flavor.” In other words, it does not sound like honey is actually in the gin, as opposed to a brand like Barr Hill Gin, which is made using just two botanicals—juniper and honey.
We did not get to sample the gin yet, but according to the official tasting notes the nose opens with a “sweet, sun-warmed honey aroma layered over the brand’s characteristic juniper and herbal notes.” On the palate, there are notes of honey, vanilla, and citrus. Plymouth Honey is being positioned as a cocktail gin, so the brand is also releasing a limited-edition Plymouth Honey Cocktail Courier Kit that includes a 750-ml bottle, honey syrup, lemon juice, dehydrated lemon wheels, a recipe card, a pollinator seed packet, and a honey-scented candle. This kit is available to order directly from Cocktail Courier through June (SRP $100), and Plymouth Honey will be available at stores and websites like ReserveBar (SRP $37).
