The World's Strongest Gin record has been broken - and it's 82.5%!

A Swedish distillery called Smögen has released a gin to pinch the "World's Strongest" title, previously held by Twin Rivers at 77%. Their new gin clocks in at an eye watering 82.5%, which is pretty close to the strength of uncut, freshly distilled gin!

The Strane Ultra Uncut gin claims to be very juniper forward, but with additional notes of lemon peel, sage, coriander seeds, almonds, liquorice root, lime and garden mint. It can be savoured neat and ideally well chilled, in very small sips (with a glass of water on the side), which "delivers an intensive juniper-led flavour impact, with great complexity from the other botanicals." Given it's high strength it is only intended to be enjoyed in small quantities, so it will only be available in 200ml sized bottles.

More widely known for their Whiskey, Smögen have a history of producing overproof gin, with the first of the Strane line hitting 47.5%, and their navy strength coming in at a busting 57.1% (114 proof, which allowed gunpowder to still ignite when soaked in the gin - an easy way for sailors of old to see if their gin had been watered down!)

The original Uncut gin actually came in at 76%, but after three years it was pipped of it's world record when Twin Rivers came along. Smögen distiller Pär Caldenby couldn't resist the challenge, and after doubling the botanicals and fine-tuning the distillation process, the world title was regained!

To make a Strane Dry Martini with their Ultra Uncut gin, "skip the olive in favour of a tiny rind of lemon or orange and also use only Noilly Prat vermouth and very little of it - literally two drops of Noilly Prat to go with 4 cl of gin Make sure it is icy cold and strain off the ice when pouring over in the glass. Add the rind. Enjoy cold, and beware to sip only."

If you think you're up to the challenge of this potent gin, it's available to buy from Master of Malt or in Swedish stores. Drink it if you dare! 

See the Strane website for more details