Guest Review: Tanqueray Rangpur Gin

We love guest reviews. And no, it's not just because we like it when someone does the work for us - if someone else tastes the liquor we don't get to, now do we? We just like hearing another voice on the site, and it makes the Interns happy to be able to edit stories that aren't full of misspellings, rants and curse words.

Anyway, today's guest review is by Kevin Erskine, the man among men who runs The Scotch Blog - he took a little time out of his busy Scotch drinking schedule to drink a little gin. Oh, the things we booze reviewers do for our readers. We've included the first paragraph below; read on for the rest of Kevin's thoughts this new Tanqueray gin.

Tanqueray Rangpur

This past Thursday I was lucky enough to be invited to the swank Washington, DC club Indeblue to attend the launch party for “Rangpur”, a new product from Tanqueray Gin.

Tasting strongly of limes, Rangpur is not, as you might first assume, a lime-flavored Gin. Rangpur starts out life like any traditional gin – a grain-based neutral spirit distilled in a “continuous still”.

It’s during the final distillation, which takes place in a copper pot still, that rangpur limes, ginger and bay leaves are added - along with the more traditional gin ingredients - Juniper berries and coriander. In contrast, a flavored gin, vodka or rum would have flavor added after the distillation, prior to bottling.
Filling a niche between the Super-premium Tanqueray no. Ten (introduced in 1999) and the classic Tanqueray London Dry Gin (introduced when your great, great, great grand-pappy was a lil’ baby), Tanqueray Rangpur is the lightest in the line at 41.3% abv (Tanqueray is 43.1%, while 10 weighs in at 47.3%).

The result of the innovative ingredients, as well as relatively low ABV bottling, makes for an incredibly smooth Gin. So smooth, that drinking it straight or on the rocks is highly recommended. Rangpur Gin will make a martini that will convert a vodka martini drinker.

While the bartenders at the club were pushing Rangpur cocktails mixed with cranberry or ginger ale, neither did it for me - I preferred it straight.

Rangpur is now available in select bars and liquor shops in Maryland, Delaware and Washington DC and will be released nation-wide in February 2007. Nicely priced with a suggested retail price of $21.99 for a 750 ml bottle.

After Kevin's kind words we can't wait to get our hands on a bottle...we'll let you know when we do. Read up on Tanqueray at Tanqueray.com.

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Posted by Liquor Snob at August 22, 2006 7:26 AM

I discovered Tanqueray Rangpur gin about a year ago. I was having dinner guests and I knew they liked martinis. I wanted to buy a premium gin and when I saw the Tanqueray Rangpur, I somehow was moved to buy that instead of the competitive brand in the blue bottle. I always use Noilly Prat dry vermouth for martinis. The martinis mixed with the Tanqueray Rangpur and the Noilly Prat were a total hit. My two guests normally like "dirty" martinis (olive juice added) but after tasting the results before adding the olive juice, they decided to drink the martinis "clean." A very large pimiento-stuffed olive was all we added and the martinis were the best I've ever had. The lime overtones of the Tanqueray Rangpur gin are noticeable, but they're subtle and intriguing and the overall effect is very smooth. Best martinis ever.

Posted by: Todd1952 at March 1, 2010 8:49 AM

We've done some snooping around and it should be available at pretty much any neighborhood store. Try calling around or swing by and see if your local store has it. We're trying to track down a list of liquor stores that carry Rangpur...we'll keep you posted if we get one.

Posted by: Liquor Snob at August 30, 2006 11:21 AM

Here are the specific stores we got from Tanqueray; they should also be widely available elsewhere.

1] Calvert Woodley
4339 Connecticut Avenue NW 202-966-4400

2] Whelan's Liquors
3903-12 ST NE 202-526-3990

3] Tenley Wine & Liquors
4525 Wisconsin Ave NW 202-363-0484

Posted by: Liquor Snob at August 30, 2006 3:50 PM

This stuff is magicaly delicious one sip and your hooked. the shots just keep running and running all night long until suddenly your lying in a bathroom stall with no underpants (: I highly suggest this drink

Posted by: Johnny the tank at August 4, 2007 7:45 PM

We have the Tanqueray Rangpur availible here in San Diego but what happened to th Tanqueray Malacca Gin 1839? I was given a bottle of same about a year ago and have only found it at one bar in slana Beach,CA

Posted by: Hugh at September 2, 2007 5:40 PM

Got a bottle at the local Albertson's in Santa Fe, NM. previously had a liquor store guy advise me to get it while I was buying a bottle of Plymouth. Then, when I noticed that Albertson's had it on sale for less than the normal Tanqueray I had to try it. My immediate reaction was that I might have to get used to it for a martini, and that it would be better in a gin & tonic. After a few of these I would say, yes, I'm getting used to it; but, no, I still prefer my Plymouth for martinis. Just don;t see limes as part of the recipe.

Posted by: Dave at February 2, 2008 8:17 PM

Just found your website after purchasing a bottle of Tanqueray Rangpur the other day and was searching for information. I have always enjoyed a gin and tonic but I am pretty much a confirmed vodka drinker. Dirty Martinis are my favorite, but this Rangpur may have made a convert out of me. WOW! It is truly a 'sip on the rocks' drink. I don't like sweet or flavored alcohol, but this has a totally different taste. It's clean and crisp and very refreshing.

Posted by: Susan Maxwell at May 18, 2008 2:31 PM

i am belong to Rangpur. it' s district in Bangladesh, in our language Rang means colour and Rangpur is full of colour. Tanqueary thanks for making Rangpur but till now i am unable to test that because it's not available in Ontarios L.C.B.O(Liquer control board of Ontario)

Posted by: Piam at August 25, 2008 9:14 AM

I recently switched back to gin from bourbon and found the Rangpur while in Dallas, TX, thinking "now I won't have to buy limes". I'm hooked. The taste is absolutely wonderful and it's clear that this is not just some gin with flavor added. Great job Tanqueray!

Posted by: Michael at October 27, 2008 1:38 PM

Rangpur has totally converted me. I already had Tanqueray for the Gin & tonic drinkers that usually come by, but my bottle of Rangpur has quickly dissapeared.

I have yet to try it on the rocks but it does an amazing thing to cranberry. It kills the tart and adds a splash of sweetness.

Posted by: Kevin at July 9, 2009 8:56 AM

Rangpur results in a very tolerable gin & tonic. But, as a replacement for Malacca gin, it's just one more colossal failure. I wonder if Tanqueray is aware that unopened bottles of Malacca gin are going for $200+ on E-Bay? If they were wise, I think Tanqueray would re-introduce Malacca at a premium price. But they may not even have retained the recipe, and will probably soon be entirely out of business. What a shame that they never troubled to advertise!

Posted by: Stuart Smith at August 23, 2009 3:59 AM

Tanqueray Rangpur became one of my favorite drinks. I was never much of a gin drinker, but the taste of the Rangpur limes made this a more pleasent taste and also more mixable. I recommend this to gin or other consumers!

Posted by: Jewels at November 4, 2009 2:43 PM