Old Tom Gin initially came about after the creation of the characterful malty Dutch spirit, Genever but before lighter, purer Dry Gin which became possible by the invention of the Coffey Still in the 1830's. From the records and accounts of this historically popular spirit, Old Tom would have been made using a pot-distilled malt spirit, more akin to a juniper-flavoured moonshine than vodka, and was often sweetened using liquorice root (being more affordable than sugar or honey) to make it more palatable. To make the Old Tom, the Winchester Distillery pot distil six traditional botanicals - juniper berries, liquorice root, coriander seed, bitter orange peel, angelica root and calamus root - with 96% ABV spirit (as required by UK law) then blend in our own malt spirit (double distilled in our pot still). The elevated levels of liquorice root in the botanical mix creates an earthy, sweeter-tasting spirit, typical of the Old Tom style.