by Shaun Layton | Most things that are made primarily for duty-free shoppers are marketed for the quick sale. It’s not really the realm of the collector, especially in terms of booze. Purchasers of duty-free liquor tend to be people who want to hit their quota of how much Bailey’s or Smirnoff they can legally bring back into the country (in Canada, it’s a comical 1.14L per person, but only if you’ve been away for more than 48 hours). It’s not where rarities hide, but for a couple of fleeting decades, it was home to Beefeater Crown Jewel, which was first distilled in 1993.

Beefeater gin gets its name from the well-groomed men in the uniquely frilly red and gold get-ups who guard the Tower of London. They’re not just there for tourists and Instagrammers; they guard the Royal Family’s famous Crown Jewels (used in coronation ceremonies, et cetera). On the bottle are the names of the six ravens that – as legend has it – must stay within the walls of the Tower, lest it and the monarchy fall (their wings are clipped, natch). The Crown Jewel gin has the same botanicals as the classic Beefeater London Dry, only it can boast the addition of grapefruit peel. What also sets it apart is the fact that it’s steeped in the secret batch of botanicals for a day and a night before being triple distilled, hitting the bottle at a higher 50% ABV.

It might be the ideal size for Canadians (1L) and it comes in an eye-catching, sexy bottle that readily meets the needs of the forgetful duty-free customer (“Oh shit, we forgot to get ol’ Uncle George a gift!”), but the best thing about it is the liquor itself. It’s very rare to find something seemingly made for duty-free that’s also highly acclaimed in the spirit world. Crown Jewel is one of the best gins ever made.

To find it in Vancouver, your best bet is to go see “H”, the head barman at Notturno in Gastown and former Vancouver Magazine Bartender of the Year. He used to run the matchbox-sized Casita bar in London’s Shoreditch, and he remembers clearly the impact that Crown Jewel had when it arrived. “When it first came out in the UK, bartenders loved it. It’s full-bodied, and its great juniper and grapefruit peel flavours stay with your palate throughout.”

Have it in a dry Martini with a squeeze of grapefruit peel. Of course, you might want to ask how much it’ll cost before you commit. Since this spirit will likely never see the still or shelf again, despite having been honoured with numerous awards and many professional requests to bring it back, it won’t come cheap. Still, short of making me an obscene offer for the unopened bottle I have on my shelf, “H” is your man.

THE DRINKER’S ARCHIVE