Tarquin's Handcrafted Cornish Dry Gin is the original gin from Tarquin's and one of the most important missing references when a collection already contains many of the brand's flavoured or seasonal bottlings. The official Tarquin's page presents it as Cornwall's first gin in over a century, bottled at 42% ABV and distilled with twelve botanicals sourced globally and locally foraged on the Cornish coast. It is the flagship recipe, the dry foundation from which the wider Tarquin's universe makes sense.

The profile is classic but not anonymous. Juniper gives crisp piney structure, citrus brings lift, and the official serve points toward red grapefruit and thyme, two garnishes that make sense with the gin's bright and herbaceous side. On the palate, the gin should feel dry, clean and coastal in spirit: citrus at the top, juniper in the centre, a light floral finish and enough herbal detail to keep the long drink lively.

Mediterranean tonic is the most coherent partner because it supports both citrus and thyme. Build the drink cold, with plenty of ice, and keep the garnish simple: red grapefruit gives aromatic oil and bitterness, while thyme adds a dry green accent. This service reflects the official recommendation and lets the gin stay precise, rather than turning it into a fruit-heavy glass.

For GinToLove, this bottle matters because it is the Tarquin's reference that explains the rest of the range. It is not the loudest or most playful gin from the brand, but it is the benchmark: Cornish identity, small-batch distillation, dry gin structure and a bright citrus-herbal serve. Anyone exploring Tarquin's should understand this gin before moving into the flavoured editions.