London Dry vs Contemporary Gin: A Style Guide

London Dry Gin is a protected production method, not a place — it can legally be made anywhere in the world. The rules require that all flavouring comes from natural botanicals added during distillation itself (no flavouring after the fact), with juniper required to be the dominant, clearly identifiable note.

Contemporary or “New Western” style gins, by contrast, still use juniper as a legal base ingredient but intentionally push other botanicals — citrus, florals, native herbs, even fruit — to the foreground, sometimes leaving juniper as a background note rather than the star. This style exploded in popularity over the last 15 years as craft distilleries looked for ways to stand out.

Australian gin has become a strong example of this contemporary trend, with distillers foregrounding native botanicals like lemon myrtle, finger lime, and wattleseed to create a distinctly local flavour profile that’s impossible to replicate with classic European juniper-and-citrus recipes.

When choosing a gin for a classic martini or gin and tonic, a traditional London Dry style gives the most reliably “ginny” result. For a gin highball or a cocktail where you want the botanicals to shine on their own, a contemporary style with a distinctive local character is usually the better pick.