1769
Alexander Gordon, a Londoner of Scottish descent, opens a distillery in the Southwark area of London, and sets about refining his recipe for a spirit named "Gordon's® London Dry Gin."
1786
Mr Gordon moves operations to Clerkenwell, a district long favoured for the purity and abundance of its waters.
1800
Gordon's® fame spreads as sailors of the British Navy and Merchant Navy carry it in their ships to all corners of the world.
1853
Entries in ledgers record payments by Joseph Franks of Melbourne for consignments of gin brought by the ships 'Nancy' and 'Rostock' - payment being made in gold dust.
1898
Gordon & Co. amalgamates with Charles Tanqueray & Co. to form Tanqueray Gordon & Co. All production moves to Gordon's Goswell Road site.
1899
Charles Gordon dies. Today the family connection with the company survives in name only.
1902
J Digby Maitland becomes one of the first overseas agents for the company, making trips to Canada and the United States.
1904
Gordon's distinctive square-faced, green bottle for the home market is introduced.
1906
Gordon's Sloe gin goes into production.
1921
Earliest evidence in recipe books for the production of Gordon's Special Old Tom.
1922
Tanqueray Gordon & Co. joins The Distillers Company.
1924
Gordon's begin production of a 'Ready-to-Serve' Shaker Cocktail range, each in an individual shaker bottle, capturing the spirit of the Jazz Age. The Shaker range comprises 50/50, Martini, Dry Martini, Perfect and Piccadilly. Following the successful launch of this range, Gordon's add the Manhattan, San Martin, Dry San Martin and Bronx.
1925
Gordon's is awarded its first Royal Warrant by King George V.
1929
Gordon's first introduce Orange gin, subsequently awarded the Royal Warrant to HRH Prince of Wales.
1930
Gordon's increase the Shaker Cocktail range further with the introduction of Rose, Paradise and Gimlet.
1931
Gordon's first introduce Lemon gin, also awarded the Royal Warrant to HRH Prince of Wales.
1934
Gordon's opens its first distillery in the USA, at Linden, New Jersey.
1937
Gordon's consider rebuilding at Goswell Road to meet increased demand, but the outbreak of World War II halts the plans.
1941
The Luftwaffe bomb Goswell Road on the night of 11 May. The Gordon's offices, warehouses and distillery are destroyed.
1941
Gordon's gin is awarded the Royal Warrant to HM King George VI.
1952
The first Gordon's Distillery in South Africa, at Isando, is opened.
1955
Gordon's gin is awarded the Royal Warrant to HM Queen Elizabeth II.
1957
The rebuilding of Goswell Road is completed. Fortunately one of the original stills, Old Tom, survives the bombing.
1966
The Distillers Company opens its Plainfield Distillery in Illinois, USA. This becomes the thirteenth plant throughout the world producing Gordon's gin.
1967
Gordon's discontinue production of all cocktails except Extra Dry Martini.
1984
Gordon's gin production is moved to the Laindon site, Basildon, Essex to meet the increased demand for the company's gin. The first gin distillation using the traditional copper stills, including 'Old Tom', which is now over 200 years old, is successfully achieved in 1989.
1987
Gordon's Special Old Tom discontinued.
1988
Gordon's gin is awarded a second Royal Warrant to HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
1988
Last production of Orange and Lemon gin.
1990
Last bottling of Gordon's Shaker Cocktails.
1992
Gordon's wins the Grand Gold Medal at the Monde Selection Awards.
1993
Gordon's re-launch Sloe gin in new packaging.
1994
Gordon's win the Grand Gold Medal at the Monde Selection Awards. Gordon's Export gin wins the Bronze at the IWSC.
1995
Gordon's gin (Home) wins Gold at the IWSC.
1996
Gordon's gin (Home) wins the Grand Gold Medal at the Monde Selection Awards and a Bronze at the IWSC. Gordon's Export wins the Grand Gold and Trophy at the Monde and the Silver at the IWSC.
1997
Gordon's gin (Export) wins Gold at the IWSC.
1997
Gordon's launch pre-mixed Gordon's & tonic in a can.
1998
UDV concentrate all UK spirits production in Scotland. Cameronbridge in Fife is now the centre of production for Gordon's brands. Gordon's wins the Gold medal at the Monde, for both Home and Export gin. Gordon's gin (Export) wins Gold at the IWSC and Gordon's gin (Home) wins Silver.
1999
Gordon's gin (Export) wins Silver at the IWSC. Gordon's gin 47.3% proof is commended and Gordon's gin (Home) wins Bronze.
2006
Centenary of Gordon's Sloe gin.
2009
Gordon's launch pre-mixed Gordon's & Slimline tonic in a can.
