Cannonball Navy Strength Edinburgh Gin

Edinburgh Gin Cannonball is a navy strength expression bottled at 57.2% ABV, a proof once required for Royal Navy stores — gunpowder soaked in spirits above 57.1% would still ignite, guaranteeing the gin's strength even after months at sea. The distillers double the juniper load and add Szechuan pepper and lemon zest to a botanical bill designed to hold up against dilution and stand out in a martini. Edinburgh Gin produces this in Scotland's capital, a city whose maritime history and daily one o'clock gun salute echo in the cannonball iconography on every bottle. Edinburgh Gin distills in a purpose-built distillery in the heart of Edinburgh, a city whose port of Leith once supplied the British fleet. The Cannonball recipe leans into that naval lineage — navy strength gin was the standard issue spirit aboard Royal Navy ships from the 18th century forward, stored alongside gunpowder in the hold. The double juniper and Szechuan pepper bring a resinous, citrus-forward heat that distinguishes this from the distillery's core London Dry, while the lemon zest reinforces the bright top notes that navy strength gins historically needed to cut through the funk of ship's water and lime cordial rations. The gin tastes piney and peppery upfront, the juniper amplified and the Szechuan lending a tingly, almost numbing spice rather than heat. Lemon zest keeps the nose lifted. The 57.2% proof means it carries weight and oil in the glass — this is built for stirred martinis, where the dilution from ice brings the gin into balance without losing the botanical structure. Serve it with tonic and a lemon twist if you want a high-voltage G&T, or use it in a fifty-fifty martini with a bold vermouth like Dolin Blanc or Cocchi Americano. The Szechuan pepper makes it a good match for oysters, cured salmon, or anything with brine and citrus. Cannonball Navy Strength Edinburgh Gin is available for pickup at Off Premise Chicago, 1128 W Armitage Ave in Lincoln Park, with local delivery across Chicago and shipping nationwide.