View source for Tanqueray

{{short description|Brand of London dry gin}}
{{For|people named Tanqueray| Tanqueray (surname)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox Beverage
| name         = Tanqueray
| image        = File:Tanqueray_bottle_Gin.png
| caption      = Tanqueray London Dry Gin
| type         = [[Gin]] <br /> [[Vodka]] (Tanqueray Sterling Vodka)
| abv          = 47.3%, 43.1%, 41.3%, 40%
| proof        = 
| manufacturer = [[Diageo]]
| origin       = [[England]]
| introduced   = 1830
| variants     = 
| discontinued = 
| related      = Tanqueray Sterling Vodka
| image_size   = 100px
| website      = {{URL|tanqueray.com}}
}}

'''Tanqueray''' is a brand of [[gin]] produced by [[Diageo|Diageo plc]]. It originated in [[London]]. While it does not command a sizable market share in its native market, its largest market is [[United States|the US]].

Tanqueray is a [[Gin#Legal definition|London dry gin]], reflecting its distillation process and origin in [[Bloomsbury]], London. Tanqueray London dry gin is made by four time distilled grain, with select botanicals added during the second distillation. While the Tanqueray recipe is a closely guarded [[trade secret]], it is known to contain four botanicals: [[juniper]], [[coriander]], [[Angelica archangelica|angelica root]] and [[liquorice]], the same four botanicals from the original recipe.

It is one of Diageo's key "strategic brands" earmarked for prioritisation in promotion and distribution worldwide.<ref name="Strategic Brands">{{cite web|title=Strategic Brands|url=http://www.diageo.com/en-sc/ourbrands/Pages/StrategicBrands.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121225123/http://www.diageo.com/en-sc/ourbrands/Pages/StrategicBrands.aspx|archive-date=21 Jan 2013|url-status=dead|publisher=[[Diageo]]}}</ref>

== History ==
Tanqueray gin was initially [[Distillation|distilled]] in 1830 by Charles Tanqueray in [[Bloomsbury]].{{sfn|Williams|2014|p=157}}{{sfn|Broom|2015|p=}}{{page number missing|date=September 2020}} The retail outlet of Edward & Charles Tanqueray & Co was established on [[Vine Street, London|Vine Street]], London, in 1838.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} When Charles died in 1868, his son Charles Waugh Tanqueray inherited the distillery,{{sfn|Williams|2014|p=158}} which continued to operate until it was severely damaged during World War II. The only building  to survive the [[Axis powers|Axis]] bombing, now known as "Old Tom", has since been moved to [[Cameron Bridge]], Scotland.

In accordance with a report by ''[[The Spirits Business]]'', Tanqueray was the highest selling gin in the world for 2016, with nearly three million nine-litre cases sold.<ref name="tsb">{{cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=Annie |title=Tanqueray outperforms Beefeater for first time in 2016 |url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2017/07/tanqueray-outperforms-beefeater-for-first-time-in-2016/ |website=[[The Spirits Business]] |access-date=25 September 2020 |date=11 July 2017}}</ref>

== Products ==
[[File:Tanqueray Gin HDR - Feb 2013.jpg|thumb|Tanqueray London Dry, Rangpur, and No. Ten]]

Tanqueray London Dry Gin is the original product that was launched in 1830; its key botanicals are [[juniper]], [[coriander]], [[Angelica archangelica|angelica root]] and [[liquorice]]. It is variously sold as:

* IMPORTED 47.3% [[Alcohol by volume|ABV]] (United States, Canada, Germany and European duty-free shops)
* Export Strength 43.1% ABV (Norway and Sweden<!-- page not found <ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.systembolaget.se/dryck/sprit/tanqueray-1023901|title=Tanqueray London Dry Gin|website=systembolaget.se
}}</ref>--><ref name=":0" />)
* 40% ABV (Australia, Canada, and New Zealand)

The United Kingdom got the Export Strength version until 2023, after which it was lowered to 41.3% to avoid increased alcohol duties. The phrase "Export Strength" no longer appears on these bottles.<ref>https://bottleraiders.com/gin/increased-drink-tax-tanqueray-lower-abv/</ref>

Tanqueray No. Ten Gin (47.3%) was introduced in 2000 and is targeted at the [[Martini (cocktail)|martini]] market.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Complete Guide to Tanqueray Gin |url=https://cocktail-society.com/spirits/tanqueray-gin/ |access-date=30 March 2023 |website=Cocktail Society|date=2 February 2023 }}</ref> It is distilled four times with whole [[grapefruit]], [[Orange (fruit)|orange]], [[Lime (fruit)|lime]] and [[chamomile]] flowers.

Tanqueray Sterling [[Vodka]] debuted in 1989 and available in both neutral and citrus flavours with most sales in the U.S.

Tanqueray Rangpur Gin was introduced in [[Maryland]], [[Delaware]], and [[Washington, D.C.]] in the summer of 2006. It has a strong citrus flavor, the result of [[rangpur (fruit)|rangpur limes]], [[ginger]], and [[Bay leaf|bay leaves]] added during the final distillation process. It is produced at 82.6 proof (41.3% abv) and is now available throughout the United States and Canada. It is named after the city of [[Rangpur, Bangladesh|Rangpur]] in Bangladesh from where the name of the citrus also came.

Tanqueray Malacca Gin was introduced in 1997 as a "wetter" alternative to the London Dry, with more sweetness and a stronger fruit palate (most notably grapefruit). Discontinued in 2001, Diageo announced on 12 December 2012 (12/12/12)<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.summerfruitcup.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/malacca/
|title=Cocktails with Tanqueray Malacca
|date=15 April 2011|website= summerfruitcup.wordpress.com
}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=September 2020}} that a 16,000-case limited edition of Tanqueray Malacca would be relaunched in the US, Great Britain, Canada and Western Europe  for February 2013.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.drinkspirits.com/gin/tanqueray-malacca-review/
|title=The Return of Tanqueray Malacca Gin – Review
|date=12 December 2012
|website=drinkspirits.com
}}</ref>

Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale Gin was introduced in 2021.<ref name=":0" /> It has a rich fruity flavor with taste of French [[blackcurrant]], [[vanilla]] and exotic floral notes.

In 2021, Tanqueray launched a [[Non-alcoholic drink|non-alcoholic]] variety of the original called Tanqueray 0.0 , bottled at 0.0% ABV.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chabo |first1=Elena |title=Tanqueray launches 0.0% alcohol version of its iconic gin |url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/a35610568/tanqueray-00-alcohol-free-gin/ |website=[[Good Housekeeping]] |access-date=7 October 2022 |date=24 February 2021}}</ref>

Past offerings from Tanqueray also include both orange and lemon gins, produced from 1937 until 1957, when both were phased out.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.tanqueray.com/history.html
|title=Tanqueray history
|website=tanqueray.com
}}</ref>

Notable [[spirits ratings]] for Tanqueray included a string of Double Golds (for its basic London Dry) for 2005–2007 from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.  Later years' competitions saw Tanqueray win a string of silver medals and then another double gold in 2012.<ref name=Proof66>{{Cite web |url=http://www.proof66.com/gin/tanqueray-gin.html |title=Awards Summary Page for Tanqueray London Dry |access-date=21 October 2012 |archive-date=5 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005051552/http://www.proof66.com/gin/tanqueray-gin.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>  Wine Enthusiast rated the London Dry in its "96–100" category in 2007 but gave it a "90–95" in 2011.<ref name=Proof66/>

== Advertising ==
Tanqueray introduced "Mr. Jenkins", a white-haired, well-dressed spokes-character, in print ads in 1994.<ref name="slate" /> He was retired a few years later. In 2004 Tanqueray introduced "Tony Sinclair", a younger, foppish hipster [[socialite]] spokes-character in television ads created by Conor Sheridan.<ref name="slate">{{cite web |last1=Stevenson |first1=Seth |title=Ready to Tanqueray? |url=https://slate.com/business/2005/07/ready-to-tanqueray.html |website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |access-date=25 September 2020 |language=en |date=11 July 2005}}</ref> Sinclair's [[catchphrase]] at the end of every commercial was "Ready to Tanqueray?" followed by a manic laugh. He was portrayed by Rodney Mason as a madcap socialite of [[Black British people|Black British]] descent.<ref name="slate" />

In the 2008 ''[[Mad Men]]'' episode "[[Mad Men season 2#ep24|The Jet Set]]", [[List_of_Mad_Men_characters#Duck_Phillips|Duck Phillips]] receives a crate of Tanqueray from his British former advertising colleagues as enticement for Duck to initiate their firm's purchase of Sterling Cooper.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
* {{cite book |last1=Broom |first1=Dave |title=Gin: The Manual |date=2015 |publisher=Octopus Books |location=London |isbn=978-1-78472-058-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1vwyDQAAQBAJ }}
* {{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Olivia |title=Gin glorious gin : how mother's ruin became the spirit of London |date=2014 |publisher=[[Headline Publishing Group]] |location=London |isbn=978-1-4722-1534-5}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.tanqueray.com/ Official website of Tanqueray gin]
*[https://uk.thebar.com/spirits/gin/tanqueray-gin Tanqueray] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418031908/https://uk.thebar.com/spirits/gin/tanqueray-gin |date=18 April 2020 }} on thebar UK, owned by Diageo

{{Diageo plc}}
{{British Royal Warrant holders}}
{{Gin distilleries in the United Kingdom}}
[[Category:Diageo brands]]
[[Category:Gin brands]]
[[Category:1830 introductions]]
[[Category:1830 establishments in England]]
[[Category:English distilled drinks]]
[[Category:British royal warrant holders]]