2011 K&L Awards - Best Gin of the Year

David Othenin-Girard and David Driscoll unanimously pick: Berry Bros & Rudd No. 3 London Gin - In a year that was absolutely packed with exciting, new gins, there was one that simply stood above the rest.  It wasn't the wackiest, the most original, nor did it source its botanicals from somewhere local - it simply tasted like really, really, really, really good London dry gin.  Picture all the flavors you love about gin - the juniper, the herbaciousness, the little hints of citrus peel, the pepper, etc. - and concentrate them.  Then remove the things you may not enjoy - the bitterness, the heat, the burn, etc.  The result is the No. 3 gin.  So freaking good you could drink it straight out of the bottle.  That's five awards given so far with at least three of them going to BBR.  They were really on a roll this year.

-David Driscoll