{"id":7297,"date":"2025-10-18T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=7297"},"modified":"2025-10-22T21:43:39","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T21:43:39","slug":"brad-pitt-is-making-38-gin-but-this-17-supermarket-one-is-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/18\/brad-pitt-is-making-38-gin-but-this-17-supermarket-one-is-better\/","title":{"rendered":"Brad Pitt is making \u00a338 gin \u2014 but this \u00a317 supermarket one is better"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Brad\t<\/div>
Brad Pitt has launched a \u00a338 gin (Picture:<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

They\u2019ve missed a trick with the name of Brad Pitt<\/a>\u2019s new gin<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n

It should be Gin-terview with a Vampire, or, Once Upon a Time Gin Hollywood, shouldn\u2019t it? As it stands, it\u2019s called Gardener Riviera Gin.<\/p>\n

Despite Brad\u2019s well-documented sobriety<\/a>, his gin is apparently the French Riviera in a bottle. Does this mean it comes with flavours of citrus groves, Mediterranean herbs, sunscreen, mankinis and super yacht engine oil? I hope not, that would taste… questionable.<\/p>\n

Of course, Brad is no stranger to the business of drinks<\/a>; he owns a ros\u00e9<\/a> champagne (Fleur de Miraval), a sparkling tea brand (Enroot), and of course, his Provence ros\u00e9, Chateau Miraval. And very nice it is too. It\u2019s made by the leading, fifth-generation winemaking family, the Perrins, of Ch\u00e2teau de Beaucastel fame.<\/p>\n

They also make Gardener Riviera Gin and interestingly collaborated with Brad on a skincare line too, which is made from the discarded grape must (leftovers after pressing).  <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Brad\t<\/div>
The gin costs \u00a338 a bottle (Picture: Gardener Gin)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This time, though, they\u2019ve cleverly teamed up with legendary distiller, Tom Nichol, ex-Master Distiller of the iconic gin brand, Tanqueray. Tom is ‘an alchemist of great renown’ according to the website, and only the second person to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Gin Guild. In fact, he came out of retirement specifically to work on this new gin.<\/p>\n

With Tom\u2019s involvement, Gardener Riviera Gin transcends being \u2018just another celebrity-backed booze brand\u2019, to a serious player in the spirits space. The gin that Tom has helped create here is a London Dry, a style considered the purest of gins due to its lack of added sugar or flavour additives after distillation (aka it\u2019s not a flavoured gin). Botanicals include juniper, liquorice, coriander, pink grapefruit, lemon and Cap d\u2019Antibes oranges (bitter and sweet).<\/p>\n

Its stunning bottle is supposed to represent the ‘azure waves of the French Riviera, as well as a shift in colour similar to sky and sea’, according to the designers. The name is a reference to the mythical \u2018gardener\u2019, who tends the land in the Riviera and, ‘who works in harmony with the shifts in the season’. Well, all I can say is they\u2019d have a field day in my garden.<\/p>\n

The gin itself is apparently handcrafted by Brad, Tom and Perrin, though I\u2019m not expecting Brad to be working tirelessly in the distillery at all hours. He will have had a hand in selecting the style, botanicals and would be part of the tasting team, probably looking like the Man from Del Monte while doing it. There would definitely have been a linen suit and a silk cravat involved at some point.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
I compared Gardener Riviera to two Aldi gins, for science… (Picture: Rob Buckhaven)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And because I\u2019m nothing if not curious, I lined the pricier spirit up against two much cheaper own-label options from Aldi<\/a> to see how they compare. <\/p>\n

I tasted them all, neat and in a G&T and for the latter drink, I poured them with Fevertree Refreshingly Light Mediterranean Tonic Water.<\/p>\n

Here’s a look at how Aldi’s Greyson’s and Haysmiths gins fared against Brad’s Gardener Riviera and the results might surprise you…<\/p>\n

Haysmiths London Dry Gin 40% ABV \u00a316.99, Aldi<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
Aldi’s Haysmith’s gin came out on top (Picture: Rob Buckhaven)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Neat<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bright and exuberant on the nose, leaps out of the glass. Very much cardamom-led with notes of citrus peel and fennel seed \u2013 dominated by top notes. On the palate, the cardamom comes through loud and clear, along with flavours of rosemary, lemongrass and Thai basil, tailing off with a summery, lemony finish.<\/p>\n

G&T<\/strong><\/p>\n

The cardamom notes pop, even when paired with the herbal tonic water. You really get the botanical flavours coming through, without becoming overpowering.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

Assuming you like the flavour of cardamom, Haysmith’s keeps its flavour identity even when paired with tonic, so it\u2019s a home run in a G&T. Too overpowering for a Martini, plus, the ABV isn\u2019t high enough.<\/p>\n

Overall score: 8.5\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gardeners Riviera Gin 42% ABV, \u00a338, Majestic<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
Brad’s gin is clean and powerful (Picture: Rob Buckhaven)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Neat<\/strong><\/p>\n

Spirit-forward nose with the citrus and angelica, coriander and liquorice coming through. It\u2019s clean, powerful with Mediterranean scrub, lavender and dried herbs on the palate. You really do get flavours of the Riviera here with a lasting finish of dried oregano and thyme.<\/p>\n

G&T<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although the higher alcohol content gave the drink a lovely viscous texture, I found the subtle citrus-herbal flavours were slightly lost when paired with the tonic water. Which was a shame as I\u2019m a big fan of the botanical blend here.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is squarely the gin for a Martini, where the botanicals and texture can let their flavour flag fly!<\/p>\n

Overall Score: 8\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n

Greysons London Dry Gin 37.5% ABV, \u00a316.29<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
Greyson’s wasn’t as flavourful in a G&T (Picture: Rob Buckhaven)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Neat<\/strong><\/p>\n

Creamy nose of juniper, stem ginger and orange. On the palate it\u2019s light in texture with flavours of orange zest and autumnal spices like cinnamon and white pepper.<\/p>\n

G&T<\/strong><\/p>\n

Completely disappeared in both flavour and body, when poured with the tonic water. Ended up only tasting the tonic, the drink tasted neutral.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

The low ABV means that they can charge less, though it\u2019s a false economy<\/a> as you\u2019ll also be getting less body and flavour concentration. For 70p more, you get a lot of addition flavour and texture for Haysmith’s.<\/p>\n

Overall Score: <\/strong>6\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tHow to make the perfect G&T\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

Garnish cleverly <\/strong>\u2013 use garnish that complements the gin\u2019s botanicals e.g. a sprig of rosemary and a slice of lemon with Gardeners Riviera Gin<\/p>\n

Get everything cold<\/strong> \u2013 glass, gin, tonic. A proper G&T should be Baltic<\/p>\n

Go big on ice<\/strong> \u2013 Use big cubes and pile them high for minimum dilution (the law of entropy dictates the smaller and more scarce the ice, the faster it melts)<\/p>\n

Measure it properly <\/strong>\u2013 always 50ml for me, because I want to taste the gin (and feel the effects)<\/p>\n

Use full-fat tonic<\/strong> \u2013 so advises Elliot Ball, Founder of Murder Inc in Tottenham Court Road. Forget about calories, it\u2019s flavour and texture you\u2019re after (though I personally always tend to go light)<\/p>\n

Pour gently <\/strong>\u2013 keep the fizz perky for longer (ideally over the back of a barspoon)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n


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