Two varieties of dates give Silhouette Stills London Dry Gin No 1 its gentle natural sweetness. Made at 40% ABV on a working farm in Capel, Surrey, it puts juniper alongside chamomile, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla, dates and blackberries. The Gin Guide awarded it Bronze in the contemporary category in 2026.

Juniper and ginger lead the aroma, with fruit and warm spice arriving on the palate. Chamomile softens the herbal side, vanilla and dates round everything out, and blackberry adds a dark fruit detail. Nutmeg links those richer elements to the dry spice of a London Dry. The result is fuller and fruitier than a lean citrus gin while keeping a clear juniper spine, and the makers describe the finish as creamy and smooth.

Phil Reed founded the distillery after training in commercial distilling and spending several years on his recipes. He works on a 200-litre gas-fired copper pot still, chosen for the control it gives him, and infuses the botanicals overnight before each run rather than adding them straight to the boil. A short, carefully chosen plant list matters more to him than a long one. In 2026 the young distillery was named New Distillery of the Year by The Gin Guide, with both of its gins decorated: Gold for No 2 and Bronze for this one.

Indian tonic and two strawberry halves make a good first glass. Strawberry answers the blackberry and date character without turning the drink into a fruit cordial. Add a 4cl pour to a glass of large ice, follow with 10cl of tonic, well chilled, and drop the berry pieces in whole. A light stir is plenty. Leave out any sweetener so ginger, nutmeg and juniper can hold the finish dry. Beside the two gins, the farm also turns out a contemporary moonshine and Combine, a blend of the two ideas.