Beefeater Gin is a brand of gin owned by Pernod Ricard and bottled and distributed in the United Kingdom, by the company of James Burrough. Beefeater remained in the Burrough’s family control until 1987.
Beefeater is a brand of premium English gin, one of the top three most popular drinks in this category. The original recipe of this gin has not changed since the end of the 19th century. There are 9 ingredients: juniper, lemon zest, coriander, almonds, Seville oranges, angelica root and seeds, Parma Violet iris, and licorice.
This recipe was developed in 1820 by pharmacist James Burrough, whose goal was to create the best and highest quality drink in the world. Initially, the drink was named after its creator, but then it was decided to call it “Beefeater”, which in those days popularly meant the guards of the Tower.
So, in 1863, pharmacist James Burrough purchased The Chelsea Distillery, located on Kale Street in London’s Chelsea neighborhood, where he began making dry gin, as well as gin-based liqueurs and fruit drinks. In 1958, production moved to Kennington, where it is still located today. That’s when the company began its expansion into international markets, quickly gaining popularity in the United States.
Beefeater remained a family company until 1987 when it was taken over by the world’s famous Pernod Ricard company.
The old version of the Beefeater logo was set in the corporate red and black color palette and featured a bold red arched name of the brand written above the modest black “London” tagline in a modern sans-serif typeface. The main wordmark was executed in a three-dimensional style, with two shades of red for extra volume, and small sharp serifs of the ends of the thick straight bars.
The Beefeater logo is simple yet very well recognized all over the world due to its strict-lined wordmark and its famous Beefeater red color.
The brand has a strong connection to the city of London and it’s shown in its design. The Beefeater bottle and logo reflects the changing state of London, illustrating the mix of tradition and dynamism found in both the city and the gin.
Except the Beefeater London wordmark there is one more detail on the label – the signature of James Burrough, the brand’s founder. Alongside the words ‘The world’s most awarded gin’.
With its classic red and white color palette, link to London and its historic credentials, The Beefeater is one of the most recognizable beverage brands and logos in the world.