DOTD For Friday, March 27, 2026
Sometimes, It's Better NOT To Stay In The Family Business
Today’s DOTD - Drink Of The Day - is a Tom Collins cocktail, inspired by the birthday of Charles Tanqueray, one of the key inventors of the classic modern spirit known as ‘London Dry gin.’ And when it comes to Tanqueray & classic cocktails, there are few Tanqueray cocktails more classic than a Tom Collins.
Meet Charles Tanqueray
Charles Tanqueray was born on March 27, 1810, in Tingrith, Bedfordshire, England. His father, grandfather and great uncle all made their living as clergymen. It’s often reported that Charles rejected his father’s “business” in the church to distill gin, but there’s no evidence that Charles was on track to join the clergy at any point. He was smart, but showed no interest in attending university, and that was required for the pulpit. Instead, he sought to invent, create, and experiment.
Family Roots Of Tanqueray
Charles’ great-great grandfather David was originally from France, and was the first Tanqueray in England, where his gold- and silversmithing skills were so sought after, he received royal recognition as the “Subordinate Goldsmith” to King George II.
Similar in some ways to the Guinness family of Ireland, the Tanquerays were successful in business, family, and the church. Charles’ father was a minister of the Church of England and at the age of 41, his dad married a 17-year-old and began having children. Charles was born sixth of a total of 14 Tanqueray children.
A Different Family Business
Charles Tanqueray and his brother Edvard didn’t want to go into the “family business” of the clergy, tending more towards the manufacturing roots of their great-grandfather. The two Tanqueray brothers, however, had their eyes on something with a bit more chemistry than gold or silversmithing. Charles & Edvard learned the art of distillation at the Currie & Co. distillery in London, The brothers tried to learn everything related to the respected art of distilling gin, sometimes tinkering with the proportion of juniper berries, or changing the sourcing of berries or other botanical elements in their quest to get the flavor profile they were looking for.
In 1830, the brothers set up the Bloomsbury distillery in the heart of London. Their new gin was so simple and straight forward that it had only four botanicals - juniper, licorice, angelica root, and coriander seeds.
Creating ‘London Dry’ Gin
Charles Tanqueray was one of the first to create the style of gin that would come to be known as ‘London dry gin.’ Until then, there was only ‘Old Tom’-style gin, which was heavily sugared to mask the imperfections and often poor taste of the spirit. In London dry-style gin, alcohol is infused with botanicals through re-distillation for flavor. Adding flavors or colors after distillation isn’t allowed. Even though an assortment of botanicals is infused in the liquid, the flavor of juniper should speak through the bunch of greens.
Not Just A Gin Maker
Charles Tanqueray was passionate about making things and he invented many items over the course of his life. Some examples include a formula for horse saddle polish and medicines for injured animals. Master Distiller Tom Nichol, the only person in the world with access to Charles’ personal diaries, ledgers and recipes, said that Tanqueray was a bold genius - and his business history reflected that.
Unlike some inventors, who tend to hide in their laboratories, Charles Tanqueray publicly reveled in his success. “He wasn’t the genius recluse like we sometimes see today, but I think he was a genius who told everybody he was a genius,” said Nichols. “From his proud stature, to his knee-length frock coat, to his stately mustache and beard, Charles Tanqueray liked to show off his success.”
Family Secrets
While Tom Nichol has access to detailed records, writings, and receipts from Charles’ business life, Tanqueray’s personal life is strangely undocumented. This leaves us to wonder: Was Tanqueray obsessed with his business, but absent from his family? Or was he just a very private man who sought to protect his loved ones? Either way, we know few details of his personal life, including how many children Charles had.
The one child we do know of, Charles Waugh Tanqueray, took over his father’s distillery after his father died at the age of 58. Tanqueray’s historians call Charles Waugh “an upright Christian gentleman of forceful character yet with social conscience,” and like his father, Charles Waugh was a very young man when he began distilling. More of a businessman than an inventor, Charles’ son placed his attention on gin exclusively, resulting in Charles Waugh growing the Tanqueray brand even larger in his tenure than his father, including a merger with rival Gordon’s Gin—one of his father’s inspirations and competitors—in the late 1800’s.
Charles Tanqueray was a proud genius who both flaunted his talent and yet shrouded his family in mystery. Still, the brand he founded, that still holds his family name, Tanqueray, remains standing as one of the oldest and most successful gins in the history of the world.
To that we say, “Happy Birthday, Charles Tanqueray,” and we raise our glasses in salute with today’s Drink Of The Day, a Tom Collins cocktail.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’re going to need for this drink:
