London Dry vs Old Tom Gin: The Difference in the Glass
London Dry vs Old Tom gin explained for the home bar: how each tastes, why one is drier, and which to pour in a Martini, a Collins or a Gin and Tonic.
London Dry gin is dry, sharp and led by juniper. Old Tom gin is the older, softer style with a little sweetness. In a London Dry vs Old Tom comparison, the main difference in the glass is sugar: London Dry adds none after distilling, Old Tom usually does. That one fact decides which bottle you want for which drink.
This page is part of our guide to the main cocktail spirits. Here we stay with gin.
The short answer
- London Dry: dry, crisp, strong juniper and citrus peel. Best in a Martini, a Gin and Tonic and any drink where you add your own sugar.
- Old Tom: rounder, slightly sweet, often a little more malty or spiced. Best in older recipes, a Tom Collins in the old style, and drinks where you want body without extra syrup.
If you own one gin, own a London Dry. It works in almost every recipe. Old Tom is the second bottle, the one you buy when you want to taste how a drink used to be.
What London Dry means
"London Dry" is a style, not a place. The gin does not have to be made in London. It describes how the gin is made. The botanicals (juniper, coriander seed, citrus peel, angelica root and others) go into the spirit during distilling. After that, nothing sweet is added. The rules for the name are set by the spirits law where the gin is sold, so check the label and your local rules if it matters to you.
What you taste:
- A clear pine and resin note from juniper.
- Lemon or orange peel on top.
- A dry finish. Your mouth does not feel sugar.
Because the gin has no sugar, the drink you build around it is fully in your hands. You decide how sweet a Collins is. You decide how dry a Martini is. That control is why bartenders keep a London Dry on the rail.
Old Tom: the sweeter older style
Old Tom is the style that came before London Dry became the standard. Distillers often added a little sugar or used botanicals such as liquorice root that read as sweet. The result is gin that tastes softer. The juniper is still there, but the edges are rounded.
Some Old Tom gins are barrel rested, and they pick up a pale gold colour. Others are clear. Both are Old Tom if the style is sweet and full. Labels vary from brand to brand, so taste before you trust the name.
Old Tom shows up in recipes from the early days of the cocktail. If a recipe says Old Tom and you only have London Dry, you can still make it. Add a small amount of sugar syrup, taste, and adjust.
Plymouth and contemporary gins
Two other words appear on shelves.
- Plymouth: a style that is slightly earthier and softer than London Dry, with less sharp citrus. It is a good middle path if London Dry feels too hard.
- Contemporary gins: the maker turns down the juniper and turns up another botanical, such as cucumber, rose, lavender or a local herb. These are made to taste of something other than pine. They are lovely in a Gin and Tonic and risky in a classic Martini, where you expect the juniper.
When you meet an unfamiliar gin, taste a small amount neat first. Look for pine, citrus peel, spice and flowers, and note which one leads.
Which gin for which drink
| Drink | Best gin | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Martini | London Dry | Dry and cold, juniper cuts through the vermouth |
| Gin and Tonic | London Dry or contemporary | Pick the garnish to match the leading botanical |
| Negroni | London Dry | Holds its shape against bitter and sweet |
| Tom Collins | London Dry, or Old Tom for the old style | You control the sugar, or the gin brings some |
| Martinez | Old Tom | The sweeter gin suits sweet vermouth |
If you are unsure what a bartender means when a guest orders a dry or dirty Martini, see how to decode a Martini order.
Example: one Tom Collins made two ways
Say you make two Collins for two friends, side by side. Use the same measures: 50 ml (about 1.75 oz) gin, 25 ml (about 0.75 oz) lemon juice, 15 ml (0.5 oz) sugar syrup, topped with soda.
Glass one uses London Dry. It tastes bright, dry and a little sharp. Your friend says it is refreshing and clean.
Glass two uses Old Tom, and you cut the syrup to 10 ml (about 0.33 oz) because the gin has its own sweetness. It tastes rounder and softer, with a longer finish. Your friend says it tastes like a drink from a very old bar.
Same recipe, same tin, same ice. The gin did the work. If you want to compare it with a close cousin, read the difference between a Gin Fizz and a Tom Collins.
When this does not work
- Labels are not always honest about style. A bottle can say "Old Tom" and taste dry, or "London Dry" and taste soft. Taste it.
- Two Old Tom brands can be far apart in sweetness. Start with less syrup than the recipe says and add to taste.
- If a drink tastes too sweet or too sharp, the gin is only one cause. Check your measures and your lemon first.
- Always serve drinks to adults of legal drinking age, and drink responsibly.
Learn this in five minutes
The Mixologix track "Styles and Botanicals" teaches you to taste London Dry, Plymouth and Old Tom side by side, choose a gin for a Martini versus a Gin and Tonic, and match tonic and garnish to the botanicals. Each lesson takes five minutes and ends with something you can make tonight.