Beefeater

James Burrough purchased the Chelsea Distillery in 1863 for £400, beginning what would become one of the longest continuous gin-making operations in London. The Beefeater name followed in 1876, chosen in reference to the Yeoman Warders who have guarded the Tower of London since 1485. The brand has operated continuously in London ever since, and its Kennington distillery holds the distinction of being the only historic dry gin distillery still operating in the capital. Pernod Ricard acquired Beefeater in 2005.

Beefeater 0.0% is produced using the same botanical blend as the original London Dry Gin, with the alcohol removed after distillation rather than excluded from the process at the outset. Dealcoholisation means the gin is distilled to full strength first, with the alcohol separated out afterwards, preserving the botanical complexity of the original recipe in the finished AF product. The result carries the citrus and juniper character associated with the parent gin. Spain was the launch market in September 2023, with the United Kingdom following in April 2024.

The AF range currently consists of this single product, a focused entry into the category suited to sober-curious drinkers who want the recognisable profile of a London Dry Gin without the alcohol. Distribution covers specialist alcohol-free retailers and mainstream online grocery channels. Beefeater's nearly 160 years of London gin-making gives the 0.0% a clear flavour identity rooted in a well-established recipe, placing it at the accessible premium end of the AF spirits shelf.