Elephant Strength Navy Strength Gin 750ml

Elephant Strength is genuinely built around a real piece of maritime history — "navy strength" gin traces back to the Royal English Navy, which tested whether a gin was strong enough for shipboard storage by dousing gunpowder with it and setting it alight; if the gunpowder still ignited despite the liquid, the gin was deemed "navy strength," a standard that translates to roughly 57% ABV (114 proof). Elephant took its own award-winning London Dry Gin and doubled the botanical load specifically for this expression, leaning even harder into the brand's signature rare African ingredients — baobab, buchu, lion's tail, devil's claw, and African wormwood — alongside elderflower, lavender, apple, and Mexican pimento (allspice), all handmade near Hamburg, Germany, in small batches distilled in an Arnold Holstein copper still.

The bottle itself carries real symbolic weight: labels are named after the "Magnificent Seven," the strongest, most impressive bull elephants known to Kruger National Park in South Africa, each bearing tusks weighing more than 50 kilograms. True to the brand's entire mission, 15% of profits go toward African elephant conservation, with sales to date contributing more than $70,000 to elephant-focused charities.

This gin has earned a genuinely remarkable sweep of independent recognition: World's Best Gin at Gin Masters 2021, Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2019, Gold at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in both 2020 and 2023, Gold at the Bartenders Brand Awards 2023, Gold at the Global Spirits Masters 2022, and Silver at the IWSC 2019. Ginteresting Times' independent tasting found it "slightly oilier and more viscous than the London Dry," with "piney juniper up front" joined by "a lovely citrus note," developing into "something a bit more herbal and fruity" before finishing "with a really warm, spicy peppery note that lingers." A more critical review from Good Gin Tentions found it "harsh and astringent when sipped neat," though noting it "mellows" considerably "on ice," describing "juniper with added depth of pine," alongside "lemon, lavender, orange, bitterness and mild notes of ginger and blackcurrant and a hint of tart apple," scoring it 91 overall and calling it "a really good one" for navy strength gin fans specifically, while cautioning that "many will find this gin a bit overwhelming." This is genuinely bold, complex, award-winning gin — real intensity built for both serious sipping and standing up cleanly in strong cocktails.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Elephant Strength Navy Strength Gin is handmade near Hamburg, Germany, by Elephant Gin, founded by three friends inspired by their travels across Africa. This expression doubles the botanical quantity of Elephant's original London Dry Gin — 14 botanicals total, including rare African ingredients baobab, buchu, lion's tail, devil's claw, and African wormwood, alongside elderflower, lavender, apple, Mexican pimento, juniper, mountain pine needles, sweet orange peel, cassia bark, and ginger. The gin is distilled in small batches using traditional copper distillation in an Arnold Holstein still.

Each bottle's label carries the name of one of the "Magnificent Seven" — the strongest, most impressive bull elephants known to Kruger National Park, South Africa. 15% of profits are donated to African elephant conservation projects, including the Big Life Trust, Space for Elephants, and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Bottled at 57% ABV / 114 proof, 750ml.

Critics Reviews

World's Best Gin — Gin Masters, 2021

Double Gold Medal — San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2019

Gold Medal — International Wine and Spirits Competition, 2020 & 2023

Gold Medal — Bartenders Brand Awards, 2023

Gold Medal — Global Spirits Masters, 2022

Silver Medal — International Wine & Spirit Competition, 2019

Ginteresting Times (extended independent review):
"The gin itself is slightly oilier and more viscous than the London Dry, you can see its movement and it clings to the glass slightly more than usual. Once the alcohol has passed you get the piney juniper up front, but it's strongly joined by a lovely citrus note. The juniper comes up first and is soon followed by that citrus edge, before leading you into something a bit more herbal and fruity. Finally, once you think it's done, it suddenly finishes with a really warm, spicy peppery note that lingers."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Bright, fresh, and floral, with juniper and pine leading, joined by citrus peel and baobab-driven citrus brightness, alongside buchu.

Palate
Oily and viscous, with juniper and pine carrying real intensity, developing lemon, lavender, orange, blackcurrant, and tart apple, alongside exotic wood and fruit.

Finish
Warm and spicy, closing with lingering peppery heat and herbal bitterness — genuinely bold, mellowing considerably over ice.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Fresh seafood and ceviche
• Spicy, citrus-forward dishes
• Grilled meats
• Bold, herb-driven appetizers

Cocktail Suggestions

Navy Strength Martini — the elevated proof carries real weight and cuts cleanly through vermouth.

Gin & Tonic — genuinely still works, with real botanical intensity standing up to the mixer.

Serve on the rocks — recommended for those who find it too intense neat.