Tarquin's is one of those distilleries that seems to channel its landscape directly into the bottle. Founded by Tarquin Leadbetter in 2012, the distillery sits on the wild north Cornish coast near Padstow, and there's something of that Atlantic-battered, salt-sprayed character in everything they produce. Their Navy Strength expression — distilled on a flame-fired copper pot still named Tamara — is perhaps the purest expression of that terroir.
The Approach
Tarquin's uses a relatively compact botanical bill — twelve ingredients, several of which are foraged locally. Devon violets and fresh orange zest give the gin a floral-citrus signature, while handpicked Cornish elderflower adds a honeyed delicacy that you simply don't find in most navy strength gins. The base spirit is wheat-derived, and the distillation is done in small batches of fewer than 300 bottles.
On the Nose
For a gin at 57% ABV, the nose is remarkably gentle. There's a perfumed quality — those Devon violets announcing themselves with quiet confidence — layered over rich juniper and bright orange zest. A touch of green cardamom adds an exotic edge, while underneath it all there's a subtle salinity that could be terroir or could be suggestion, but either way feels entirely appropriate for a Cornish gin.
On the Palate
This is where Tarquin's Navy Strength truly distinguishes itself. The entry is bold and juniper-rich, as you'd expect at this strength, but there's an immediate floral sweetness from the violet and elderflower that softens the spirit's intensity. The citrus — predominantly orange, with supporting lemon — brings brightness without sharpness, and the cardamom adds a gentle, warming spice that develops through the mid-palate.
The texture is exceptional. Full-bodied and slightly oily, with a richness that coats the palate without any sense of heaviness. There's a creaminess here that I associate with very well-made navy strength gins — the higher proof creating a density of flavour that standard-strength gins simply can't achieve.
What impresses most is the balance. Despite the 57% ABV, nothing feels hot or aggressive. Every element — juniper, citrus, floral, spice — occupies its proper place, and the overall effect is one of harmony rather than competition.
The Finish
Long, warming, and beautifully layered. Juniper and violet persist, gradually giving way to a dry, cardamom-spiced conclusion. There's a lingering sweetness — almost honeyed — that makes the finish feel generous and inviting.
Serving Suggestions
In a Martini, Tarquin's Navy Strength is outstanding. The higher proof gives the cocktail real presence, while the floral notes add a dimension that makes the drink feel more interesting than the usual stripped-back austerity of a dry Martini. Use a 4:1 ratio with dry vermouth and garnish with a thin strip of orange peel.
In a G&T, dilute more generously than you would a standard gin — perhaps 1:4 — and let the floral-citrus character bloom against a Mediterranean-style tonic. An orange wheel garnish echoes the gin's citrus notes beautifully.
The Verdict
Tarquin's Cornish Navy Strength is a navy strength gin of uncommon elegance. It has the power and intensity the category demands, but wraps it in a floral, citrus-bright package that feels distinctly its own. This is craft distilling at its best — a gin that could only come from where it comes from, made by someone who clearly understands and respects both the spirit and the landscape that inspired it.
Highly recommended. One of the finest navy strength gins I've tasted this year.
