Fennel, lemon and thyme turn Gin In A Tin No 7 into an aperitif gin with a clear herbal accent. Distilled in the Cotswolds at 40% ABV, this London Dry sits in a sleek blue half-litre tin and answers the flower-led recipes elsewhere in the numbered collection.

Lemon arrives first and sets a bright tone. Fennel follows with a gentle anise sweetness, thyme adds the scent of a herb garden, and juniper holds its resinous ground through all of it. The interest lies in the contrast between citrus, anise and a drier herb, rather than in a long parade of fruit flavours.

On the palate the citrus keeps the fennel light while thyme extends the green, leafy side. The finish stays dry, which is worth protecting when you choose a mixer: several fruits or a sweet cordial would blur exactly what makes the recipe work. The anise note belongs to the distillation itself, not to a splash of liqueur added later, and that distinction is audible from the first sip. It is also why the brand recommends the bottle as a cocktail base rather than a sipping curiosity.

Our Perfect Serve keeps the glass uncluttered: a classic tonic, a thin lemon wheel and a small sprig of thyme, both garnishes left whole. There is no need to crush the herb, since simple contact with cold liquid is enough to release its aroma. Measure 4cl of gin over large ice cubes, follow with 10cl of well-chilled Fever-Tree's Indian tonic, and give it a single gentle stir before tasting. If you want to go further, the same combination makes an excellent base for a herb-forward Collins, where the fennel meets lemon juice head on. The numbered tins come from the Cotswolds brand founded by Martin Agius, who also runs the Gin Pantry, and each one is built on its own trio of botanicals.