Decanter
And how does it differ from other styles of gin?
Despite the name, this style of gin doesn’t have to be made in London. It is linked with the British capital because of Aeneas Coffey, who patented a design for a column (or continuous) still in 1830.
Column stills were a game-changer in the distilling world, enabling the production of a pure spirit, without foul-tasting impurities such as methyl alcohol and acetone. These types of stills can also sustain continuous distillation, enabling large-scale production.
Although Coffey was an Irish distiller, he moved to London when whisky producers complained that his still was too efficient and produced bland spirits, stripped of all flavour. In London Coffey set up his business as a still manufacturer and local gin producers started using his column stills.