Sir Robert Burnett is an asshole. On the front of this green, 750ml bottle of devil’s piss it reads, “This celebrated Gin is distilled according to the original formula of Sir Robert Burnett & Co. LTD……….In Baltimore Maryland. Ok, first, I’m going to call bullshit because as far as I was told London Dry Gin was supposed to be made in, oh I don’t know, maybe London.
Truth is I didn’t even read the label when I bought it. All I saw was a bottle of Gin that was $8.99. Yes, I know. That should have been my first clue that this little green bitch was going to kick my ass nine ways till Sunday later that night. What can I say? I’m a bargain hunter.
I went home and commenced to drinking. The stuff actually tastes pretty good. Smells good. Mixes good. So why is Sir Robert Burnett and asshole? This gin is the single worst headache producer known to man. If you buy a bottle of this you better have a few syringes full of morphine handy because about 3 hours after you have your last drink it’s going to feel like a ninja just hit you in the head with a Chinese star. And that’s just from having 3-4 drinks.
At first, I thought it was a fluke. So the next night I made myself only 2 drinks. Same result. Sunday night. One drink. Same result. So fuck you, Sir Robert Burnett. Stay as far away from this stuff as you can. I know I will.
You must have had one too many drinks.
I drink Burnett’s all the time. Never had a headache.
Moderation!
Interestingly absent is any mention of dehydration as a cause of hangovers. That’s my guess for cause of most headaches where booze is involved.
I twice mailed rebate coupons for Burnett’s gin ($ 5.00 for two 1.75 litres) never to hear from them again.
:You might as well buy Aristocrat Gin and save money because the only thing British about
Burnett is the name.
Adding my 2 cents, I used to drink Burnett’s because it offered a reasonable value for price.
I stumbled on Brokers about 5 summers ago, and immediately liked it. I now live in a location where the nearest source of Brokers is 45 miles away, so last week I bought a bottle of Robert Burnett’s, and I was surprised at the difference in taste, with Brokers being noticeably more aromatic and flavorful — well worth the extra cost (and still relatively inexpensive compared with many of the “top shelf” gins).
Like the OP, I find that Burnett’s (even one drink) is more likely to give me a headache than any other Gin I have tried. This was true before I discovered Brokers, and as of this week is still true.
Wines, beers, spirits, whatever tastes good to YOU is good, no matter what the “experts” may say.
LOL! Perhaps this particular blend of botanicals does not agree with you. London Dry is basically referring to the column distilling process with out adding anything directly to the pot,instead, using a basket with the botanicals so the heated alcohol vapors will pick up the flavors. I have been a gin drinker for over 30 years, and although there are many,many fine gins out there and new ones every day, SRB’s White Satin has always been my affordable favorite. Never once got a headache as a Martini, or G’n’T or how I now drink it with club soda or sparkling water, (Tonic still the best). Chill bro, Try something else, but Sir Robert Burnett was a highly decorated officer in the Royal Navy in both world wars. Not an A-Hole!
Burnett’s gin is just fine in a gin and tonic – it has the body of a fine London Dry Gin. I drink it that way at home, as it available in most stores/ sometimes not available in pubs or restaurants
If I drink a martini at home I prefer Boodles- my favorite Martini Gin- excellent/ I drink it shaken, and dry- with olives or a Gibson ( onions)
Again like Burnett’s, Boodles is often not stocked in some/many bars. Then I have a Beefeater up the same way.
Very neat and clean taste- regular original Bombay is very good. The Safffire brand is rather too botanical as is Tanq and its other brand Tanq 10
Finally – have you read Wikipedia on Sir Robert Burnett ? His career was stunning/ an admired and hero serving in WW1 and WW2. An admirable and admired dedicated admiral of the Royal Navy.
A toast to the dear and brave man
Best to all – if you get a hangover from this reasonably priced and fine gin- too bad- try milk
It’s been my favorite gin for years, no decades! Never had a headache. Best gin for the money, bar none!
Hi, I don’t know if Burnett’s Gin is good or not, but I love premium gins and I work in the business. I want to tell you that “London Dry” is the name of the distilling technique (invented in London) and you can distill a “London Dry Gin” anywhere you want.
Sorry for the headache! Try Tanqueray, it’s more expensive but it’s the best! :)
My brother put me onto Burnett’s gin about 25 years ago and it has been our “everyday” gin ever since. Much prefer it to any of the other cheap gins that we have to settle for when we cannot find Burnetts. We use it for on-the-rocks martinis with jalapeno olives, and make no apologies to those who find that a primitive drink. On special occasions we may make traditional straight up martinis with Boodles, which are very good, but there is a difference the next morning that I attribute to going up to 90 proof from Burnetts 80. For healthier drinking I shift to a G&T with lots of T and not much G…and a good squeeze of lime and the Burnetts is fine for that. .
London Dry is a style of distilled gin. It is dry because it only has trace sugar added to it/if any at all. The headache is down to it being a Gin cut re-distilled from a higher abv produced alcohol (cut with water to bring it down to consumption strength) than other ‘Gin’ you may have drank. Next time, perhaps you will re-think your plan of drinking LDGin by the bucket load or injecting it directly into your eyeballs etc :)
I drink Burnett’s gin & tonic as a follow up when I’ve had enough Icehouse. I’m 62 years old, work hard around the farm every day in the mountains of WV, and have never had a hangover from either. Maybe you all don’t know how to drink or maybe you don’t know to have a good work day before you drink. Life is great and I’m loving it. !!!!!!!!!
This guy is an idiot. If one drink of any gin causes you headaches you’re probably allergic to juniper berries dumbass. This gin is best pound for pound I’ve encountered. I sometimes get Hendricks if Costco has the handle for cheap or a boutique if im feeling spendy but if you like gin this stuff is comparable to $40+ handles and it costs $16.99 at BevMo which is generally overpriced if stuff isn’t on sale.. Also I sent in the $5 off for two handles coupon, just to see if they send it back, I’ll let you guys know in two months if corporate is as standup as the distillers.
Eh, Burnett’s gin has never done me wrong. I genuinely like Sapphire and Tanqueray, but I have no problem with Burnett’s, tastewise. And I’ve never known any particular brand or style of booze to be more prone to causing anything negative, like headaches or hangovers, with a couple of exceptions: 15 years ago or so, I found that I liked Killian’s Irish Red somewhat. Then I noticed that drinking even one pint or can gave me a headache, without fail. Then there is tequila, which is much more of a son of a bitch, in any shape, form or name, but that has more to do with me only being able to stomach it when I am already drunk and well on the way to Hangoverville. But Burnett’s gin doesn’t phase me.
While taste buds vary a lot, I find Burnett’s to be the best (to my taste) substitute regardless of price for Tanqueray in my up, dry with a twist martinis.
I’m a Gin lover. My fave is Boodles, but I have to Burnetts makes a wicked G&T Nuff said.
James,
Perhaps you should not suck before you drink gin. Whatever you are sucking may leave a bad taste in your mouth……
There is not a gin that I haven’t tried. For the price you can’t beat Burnett’s gin. When I’m out I’ll order a Tanqueray Martini. It’s because I can’t get a Burnett’s Martini.
How very dare you James
If I could afford the high end stuff on a regular basis I’d, of course, buy it!! But I drink Burnett’s regularly with my G and Ts or White Ladies. Lots of tonic and ice and I’ve never had a headache problem. I think it has a nice, light refreshing flavor and not to perfumey. That’s my 2 cents.
My grandmother always said that gin makes one “pugilistic”.
As an octogenarian I have been buying Burnett’s gin for my own use as long as I can remember and have continued even after Heavenly Hill bought the original distiller. It makes the best gin and tonic known to man. I have never experienced getting headaches from it although I admit I’m a moderate drinker. I’ve served it many times to friends and guests in lieu of the expensive stuff and they’ve all commented on how well their their requested martini tasted. ‘Nuf said.
Yes, Burnett’s is a rather inexpensive gin – no news there. But just because it occupies a middle shelf does not mean that there’s anything inherent about this brand that would, could or should give anybody an especially bad hangover. Like other gins it’s just a simple grain spirit with juniper berries and other botanicals as flavorings. It is in fact a rather mild gin, very mellow actually – nothing particularly notable, perhaps even unremarkable, but not at all disagreeable for its price point. If this easygoing gin gives a person a hangover I think they need to learn to either reduce the amount they’re chugging in a short period of time or go back to something more age appropriate for their level of sophistication with alcoholic beverages. Finally, is any purpose served with the reviewer’s inane/childish potty talk? Well… other than making the reviewer sound very immature? Perhaps all the reviews at this blog are as jejune. Adios.
Not a big Gin drinker but when I’m out I’ll order a Tanqueray Martini. I decided to give this a try for that home Martini and really liked it. Not bad for an inexpensive gin. By the way if you drink enough alcohol of any brand you will get a HANGOVER! That’s 101 of drinking. Sorry to burst your bubble.
First of all, if you’re drinking to get drunk, you have a right to wake up with a headache in the morning.
Second, London Dry Gin is a type of gin, modelled after that which was first made in London. It’s not appellation protected, like Bordeaux or Burgundy.
Before you decide to tell people about what you’ve learned, perhaps you should see what others have already done.
I just bought a liter to keep in stock for “medicinal purposes” (read toothache). By the liter it’s a helluva lot cheaper than Anbesol. It’s good for that, at least, kills the pain almost immediately, but I’d be adding LOTS of tonic before I’d consider drinking it. I normally drink Bombay (the 1761 variety not the Sapphire) but that’s too good to waste on a toothache.
I drink Burnetts gin and vodka all the time with no issues. Sure, Bombay is the best Gin, and everyone would love to drink grey goose! I’m looking for a cheap, good way to have a great time, and Burnetts (as long as it’s a mixer) is a great time!!!
I follow your blog for a long time and should tell you that your articles are always valuable to readers.
I know the actual Sir Robert and let me assure you, it is a trap! Don’t buy it! A headache is the least of what will happen to you. I drank his Vodka once and placed an entire set of clean dishes in the trash can.
Oddly, the flavor is not bad, it is the effect.
After some rather heavy experimentation with Burnetts London Dry Gin, I’ve come to the conclusion that it will give you a longer lasting hangover, though not as bad as I initially feared.
It still sucks, won’t buy it again
Isn’t anything by Burnett’s pretty much guaranteed to make you regret being born?
Bombay Sapphire, there’s no equal
After sleeping for the requisite 10 hours I can report that I experienced a minor headache only shortly after finishing my 3rd drink, further testing may be necessary to verify, though I do think there is some veracity to your claims.
Having ventured to my local haunted house this evening, I was perturbed to see they were out of my favorite best value (thanks NY Times) Gordon’s London Dry Gin. After a moment of emotional distress I decided on something I hadn’t tried before; the aforementioned Burnett’s. Compared to numerous gins I’ve been enjoying these past years it rates on the mediocre scale, quite dull, but acceptable. As I am in the early stages of testing I cannot verify the end results. Conclusions will be forthcoming.
It’s worth mentioning that I hadn’t read this article before purchase.
Haha! Seriously, gin headaches suuuuuck. Worse than red wine headaches. But it’s sso yummy…:(