Welcome to SW4 London Dry Gin, a classic London Dry Gin... distilled and bottled in Clapham - where else?

Quinine.

A white crystalline alkaloid which is derived from the bark of a Cinchona tree. It is referred to by many different names such as Quina, Quinquina, Quinine Bark, Peruvian Bark and Jesuit's Bark to just name a few of them.

First isolated in 1820 by French chemists P. J. Pelletier and J. B. Caventou, quinine bark has been used for many hundreds of years before that to treat symptoms of malaria.

Quinine is almost insoluble in water, but it dissolves readily in alcohol. Hence the fashion among colonial British officers and officials in India of mixing quinine, their bitter anti-malarial medicine which was part of everyday life in tropical climes, with sugary water - and Gin.

And so, out of life or death necessity, one of life’s great pleasures was invented.

The search for great Gin and Tonic has occupied me for many years. On my journey I have encountered many wonderful people, who have shared their knowledge of liquids, cocktails, recipes, and bars where the elements are most expertly combined and served.

But in the end, to get to the particular style and flavour of Gin that I had always imagined in my mind, I had to make my own.

Welcome to SW4 London Dry Gin. I hope that you enjoy the journey as much as I have.

Martin