Tanqueray
Encyclopedia
Tanqueray is a brand of British gin
produced in Scotland by Diageo Plc
and marketed world-wide.
district of London
. When Charles died in 1868, his son Charles Waugh Tanqueray inherited the distillery, which continued to operate until it was severely damaged during World War II
. The only facility to survive the Axis bombing, now known as "Old Tom," has since been moved to Cameron Bridge
, Scotland.
Tanqueray is a London dry gin, so called because of the distillation process not its place of origin, and is primarily produced in Scotland
for export to its largest market, the United States
. London dry gin is made through double distillation of a neutral grain spirit
with botanicals added during the second distillation.
who was Tanqueray’s spokes-character in the United States for several years. Sinclair’s catchphrase at the end of every commercial was “Always in moderation,” followed by a manic laugh. When he appeared on-screen in television commercials, he was portrayed by Rodney Mason as a madcap socialite of Black British
descent. The character was created by Conor Sheridan, Glenn Porter, and Fred Liedtke for Grey Global Group
.
Tanqueray London Dry Gin is the original variant, launched in 1830; the key botanicals are juniper
, coriander
and angelica root
. It is variously sold at 94.6 proof (47.3% abv
) (e.g., USA and Canada), 75.4 proof (43.1% abv) (e.g., in the UK and Sweden) and 80 proof (40% abv) (e.g., in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand). The top markets for sales are U.S., Canada, duty free
, Spain, and Italy.
Tanqueray No. Ten was introduced in 2000 and targeted at the martini
market. It goes through a quadruple-distillation.
Tanqueray Sterling Vodka
was introduced in 1989 and is available in both neutral and citrus
flavours. Its main market is the U.S.
Tanqueray Rangpur Gin was introduced in Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2006. It has a strong lime flavour, the result of rangpur limes
, ginger, and bay leaves being added during the final distillation process. It is produced at 82.6 proof (41.3% abv) and is now available throughout the United States.
Tanqueray Malacca Gin (discontinued) was introduced in 2000 as a "wetter" alternative to the London Dry, with more sweetness and a stronger fruit palate (most notably grapefruit
). It was discontinued in 2004.
Notable spirit ratings
for Tanqueray included a string of Double Golds (for its basic London Dry) for 2005-2007 from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Later years' competitions saw Tanqueray win a string of silver medals. Wine Enthusiast rated the London Dry in its "96-100" category in 2007, but gave it a "90-95" in 2011.
Gin
Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries . Although several different styles of gin have existed since its origins, it is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories...
produced in Scotland by Diageo Plc
Diageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
and marketed world-wide.
History
Tanqueray Gin was initially distilled in 1830 by Charles Tanqueray in the BloomsburyBloomsbury
-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
district of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. When Charles died in 1868, his son Charles Waugh Tanqueray inherited the distillery, which continued to operate until it was severely damaged during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The only facility to survive the Axis bombing, now known as "Old Tom," has since been moved to Cameron Bridge
Cameron Bridge
Cameron Bridge is a village in the conurbation of Levenmouth in Fife, Scotland. It is near to the village of Windygates and only 2 miles west of the town of Leven. A distillery was established in the 19th century by the Haig family, which is now part of Diageo...
, Scotland.
Tanqueray is a London dry gin, so called because of the distillation process not its place of origin, and is primarily produced in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
for export to its largest market, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. London dry gin is made through double distillation of a neutral grain spirit
Neutral grain spirit
Neutral grain spirit is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid that has been distilled from a grain-based mash to a very high level of ethanol content...
with botanicals added during the second distillation.
Advertising
“Tony Sinclair” was a fictional, highly esteemed socialiteSocialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
who was Tanqueray’s spokes-character in the United States for several years. Sinclair’s catchphrase at the end of every commercial was “Always in moderation,” followed by a manic laugh. When he appeared on-screen in television commercials, he was portrayed by Rodney Mason as a madcap socialite of Black British
Black British
Black British is a term used to describe British people of Black African descent, especially those of Afro-Caribbean background. The term has been used from the 1950s to refer to Black people from former British colonies in the West Indies and Africa, who are residents of the United Kingdom and...
descent. The character was created by Conor Sheridan, Glenn Porter, and Fred Liedtke for Grey Global Group
Grey Global Group
Grey Group is a global advertising and marketing agency, whose slogan is providing solutions - with headquarters in New York City, and 432 offices in 96 countries, operating in 154 cities — organized into four geographical units: North America; Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin...
.
Products
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
, coriander
Coriander
Coriander is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. Coriander is native to southern Europe and North Africa to southwestern Asia. It is a soft, hairless plant growing to tall. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the...
and angelica root
Garden Angelica
Angelica archangelica, commonly known as Garden Angelica, Holy Ghost, Wild Celery, and Norwegian angelica, is a biennial plant from the Apiaceae family Apiaceae family, formerly known as Umbelleferae...
. It is variously sold at 94.6 proof (47.3% abv
Alcohol by volume
Alcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide....
) (e.g., USA and Canada), 75.4 proof (43.1% abv) (e.g., in the UK and Sweden) and 80 proof (40% abv) (e.g., in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand). The top markets for sales are U.S., Canada, duty free
Duty-free shop
Duty-free shops are retail outlets that are exempt from the payment of certain local or national taxes and duties, on the requirement that the goods sold will be sold to travelers who will take them out of the country...
, Spain, and Italy.
Tanqueray No. Ten was introduced in 2000 and targeted at the martini
Martini (cocktail)
The martini is a cocktail made with gin and vermouth, and garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. Over the years, the martini has become one of the best-known mixed alcoholic beverages. H. L. Mencken called the martini "the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet" and E. B...
market. It goes through a quadruple-distillation.
Tanqueray Sterling Vodka
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
was introduced in 1989 and is available in both neutral and citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
flavours. Its main market is the U.S.
Tanqueray Rangpur Gin was introduced in Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2006. It has a strong lime flavour, the result of rangpur limes
Rangpur (fruit)
Rangpur, Citrus × limonia, also known as lemandarin, is a hybrid between the mandarin orange and the lemon. It is a citrus fruit with a very acidic taste and an orange peel and flesh.-Nomenclature:...
, ginger, and bay leaves being added during the final distillation process. It is produced at 82.6 proof (41.3% abv) and is now available throughout the United States.
Tanqueray Malacca Gin (discontinued) was introduced in 2000 as a "wetter" alternative to the London Dry, with more sweetness and a stronger fruit palate (most notably grapefruit
Grapefruit
The grapefruit , is a subtropical citrus tree known for its sour fruit, an 18th-century hybrid first bred in Barbados. When found, it was named the "forbidden fruit"; it has also been misidentified with the pomelo or shaddock , one of the parents of this hybrid, the other being sweet orange The...
). It was discontinued in 2004.
Notable spirit ratings
Spirit ratings
With a growing number of microdistilleries and an expanding number of offerings from large corporate entities, a number of institutions have arisen to provide professional evaluations of individual spirits...
for Tanqueray included a string of Double Golds (for its basic London Dry) for 2005-2007 from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Later years' competitions saw Tanqueray win a string of silver medals. Wine Enthusiast rated the London Dry in its "96-100" category in 2007, but gave it a "90-95" in 2011.