The Original Gin
The Hayman family has been making gin for over 160 years, with their gin-making legacy beginning in 1863. It all started with James Burrough, the great-grandfather of current Master Distiller Christopher Hayman. James created iconic gin recipes including Beefeater.
When the family business was sold in 1987, Christopher Hayman bought part of it back to continue the family craft. Today, his children, James and Miranda Hayman, run Hayman’s Gin in Balham, London, just a few miles from the original Chelsea distillery. They are the only family in London still dedicated solely to traditional gin distillation.
- Family Legacy & Expertise
- Five generations of gin distilling heritage.
- Family-run, with hands-on involvement from Master Distiller Christopher Hayman.
- Traditional Recipes
- Uses original 19th-century gin recipes and techniques.
- Distilled in copper stills using a 2-day process known as “London Gin” method.
- Authentic Styles
- Offers a full range: London Dry, Old Tom, Sloe, Navy Strength, and unique seasonal gins like Peach & Rose.
- Especially known for reviving Old Tom Gin, a sweeter, historic London style.
- Botanicals & Balance
- Carefully selected botanicals like juniper, coriander, citrus peel, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Crafted for balance, smoothness, and clarity in cocktails and classic serves.
- Made in London
- One of the few gins genuinely distilled and bottled in London, maintaining true London gin heritage.
Hayman’s have used the same botanicals and the same recipe for more than 150 years. Sourced from all over the world, these 10 botanicals are used in varying measures, depending on the style of gin we are distilling. The correct oil content and individual flavours from each botanical is crucial when curating a precise aroma and taste. For example, the juniper berry has and always will be the most important botanical ingredient to our distillation process, as we feel that this is the backbone to a true gin. However, the juniper must be supported by the fresh citrus flavours from orange and lemon peel, warmth from spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg and with earthy notes from angelica and a little sweetness from liquorice root.
Juniper
Juniper berries are the key ingredient. We source ours from Macedonia and Bulgaria. They’re highly aromatic, with distinctive “pine notes” which distinguishes gin from other spirits.
Coriander
Our coriander seeds come from Bulgaria, adding a citrus note with a rich spicy and peppery finish.
Lemon peel
Sourced from Spain, lemon peel gives the crisp and zesty citrus characteristics to gin.
Orange peel
Our orange peel from southern Spain adds a sweetness as well as fresh crisp notes.
Angelica root
From Belgium or France, angelica root helps balance all the other botanicals and gives our gin its earthy dry quality.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon from Madagascar brings a sweet spiciness to our gins.
Cassia bark
Cassia bark from China is from the same family as Cinnamon but its more delicate flavour adds a light warmth and sweetness.
Liquorice
Liquorice root powder from Sri Lanka gives deep warm and sweet flavours, whilst also neutralising any bitterness from the other botanicals.
Nutmeg
Our nutmeg is sourced from India and adds a lingering peppery finish.
Orris root
Orris root is the root of the Iris flower. It adds delicate floral notes and binds the other botanicals together, and ours comes from Italy.
Over the last 15 years, Hayman’s Gin has consistently been recognized as the best-tasting gin at international competitions.
Proud and honored to have won the very best awards including San Francisco World Spirit Awards, International Spirits Competition, International Wine & Spirits Competition, World Gin Awards and The Spirit Masters – as well as the Family Business of the Year Awards 2022.
"Hayman's boasts one of the richest histories of any gin distillery operating today - we speak to the fifth generation of the Hayman family as their business marks its 160th anniversary."
