If you’re a gin aficionado, being asked to choose a single favourite will trigger no end of mental anguish.
There are different gins for different seasons, moods and celebrations, from a citrus-spiked one as a nod to Christmas's clementine flavours to a crisp and classic London Dry that’s just the thing for after-work quaffing.
There are gins to bring out of the cupboard when you’re trying to impress dinner party guests (hello truffle) and pinks to soften juniper notes and add an extra level of juiciness to your serve.
There are homegrown spirits to help support British businesses, and exotic ones that will whisk you to a far-off corner of the globe; think India and Japan to name but a few.
So, while this is a list of best gin, we’ve refrained from crowning one singular gin and instead bring you an edit of the greatest hits we’ve found to date.
With new bottles going on shelves seemingly every week, this list will keep growing with worthy releases, so pop back often to see what we’re recommending to add to your drinks trolley next.
Until then, see the selection below
Best non-alcoholic gins to try for a tasty booze-free tipple
Best low and no alcohol drinks: wine, spirits and beer for zero-per centers
Best Christmas party drinks for 2023: Alcoholic tipples to get you in the festive spirit
Best cheap Champagnes to shop this festive season: Budget-friendly fizz that tastes great
Bombay Sapphire Citron Pressé Lemon Flavoured Gin
If you've been within sniffing distance of a bar at some point in your life, you've heard of Bombay Sapphire. The mothership of gins, a light blue bottle of the spirit can be found in every decent watering hole around the world.
While the original drink was made in 1987, it proved so popular that the brand has since rolled out a partyful of spirit siblings: you can now get your mitts on flavoured gins like Bramble, Bramble with Blackberry & Raspberry, English Estate (flavoured with mint, rosehip and hazelnuts), and Sunset, which tastes of white cardamom, turmeric and mandarin.
While the OG gin is a perfect all-rounder, for warmer weather, try the Citron Pressé full of lipsmacking Mediterranean lemon notes on a classic London Dry base. The juicy gin is refreshing enough when paired with tonic but comes alive when mixed into a summery cocktail.
And now you can get it in pre-mixed Collins cocktail in can form too.
Chin chin!
Buy now £20.00, Amazon
Hendrick’s Gin
Presenting itself as whimsically peculiar, Hendrick’s is your go-to for a spirit with a playful side. As well as the original Scottish iteration, infused with cucumber and rose, the ‘cabinet of curiosities’ includes a Midsummer Solstice gin (juniper with orange blossom), Orbium (quinine, wormwood and lotus blossom), Neptunia (coastal botanicals with a smooth citrus kick), and a mysterious Lunar version (mellow and spicy) to try.
Buy now £26.00, Amazon
Tanqueray
So iconic it was name-checked by the great, late Amy Winehouse in her hit single You Know I’m No Good, Tanqueray gin has been part of the drinks scene since the 1830s.
While the original recipe has remained unchanged since then using a quartet of gin botanicals, the brand has since rolled out fresh versions to draw in new audiences. Shake things up with Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla, Rangpur Lime, No.10, and Blackberry Royale. And aligning with the modern palate, there’s also an alcohol-free version available too.
Buy now £23.50, Tesco
Beefeater
With a history stretching back to 1820s London, Beefeater gin was founded by a pharmacist and the brand counted the Queen’s grocer Fortnum & Mason as one of its very first stockists.
As well as the original distillation, you can now get your mitts on flavoured varieties like Peach & Raspberry, Blackberry, Pink, Pink Strawberry, 24 (crafted with east Asian botanicals), and Blood Orange, which gives an Aperol Spritz a run for its money.
Buy now £17.75, Master of Malt
Gordon’s Gin
Another headliner in the world of gin, most pub-goers are familiar with a bottle of Gordon’s. The brand, best known for its original bright green bottle of London Dry, has plenty of other varieties to peruse in its portfolio: Tropical Passionfruit, White Peach, Morello Cherry, Elderflower, Sicilian Lemon and a Premium Pink as well as a 0 per cent ABV option for all the flavour minus The Fear (read: hangover) come the morning.
Buy now £18.00, Morrisons
Roku Gin
From Japan’s much-lauded House of Suntory comes Roku Gin, a transportative craft spirit that takes you on a journey through the seasons. Six botanicals go into the making of every hexagonal bottle. Elegantly delicate with notes of Cherry Blossom and Green Tea on the nose, it washes over the tongue with Yuzu flavour before a spicy sansho pepper kick at the end of every gulp.
Buy now £24.00, Amazon
The Botanist Islay Dry Gin
Clean and fresh, The Botanist is crafted on the island of Islay in Scotland using 22 wild botanicals and nine gin spices. The dry gin is a bartender’s favourite: its complex, multi-layered flavour makes it wonderfully versatile for all kinds of martini and cocktails, as well as a straight-up G&T.
Buy now £28.00, Amazon
Silent Pool
Hailing from leafy Surrey, Silent Pool is a much loved small-batch distillery set beside a fresh water source in Sherbourne Farm, a spot where Agatha Christie allegedly faked her own death.
Crafted with locally sourced ingredients, the beautifully balanced gin is driven by classic notes of juniper, entwined with hints of chamomile and lavender.
Best over cubes of ice, Indian tonic and a twist of orange peel. Rare Citrus and Rose expressions are also on the menu for those who want to continue their journey.
Buy now £36.75, Master of Malt
Sipsmith Strawberry Smash Gin
Summer is here and that means Wimbledon and all the hot action on the courts isn’t far off.
If you prefer drinking your strawbs to eating them (much more fun; but won’t count as one of your five-a-day), call on Sipsmith, who is serving up this bouquet of fruity ginny loveliness for your delectation. The handcrafted distillation sees a base of London Dry livened up with the flavour of fresh strawberries plucked from a Kent farm.
Try it on its own with tonic and plenty of ice, or whip up a gin spritz for a summery take on a classic. Champion.
Buy now £29.95, Master of Malt
SEVENTY ONE Eau de Nuit gin 700ml
It may look like a bottle of perfume, but this is in fact, gin by luxury company SEVENTY ONE. It’s the perfect thing for gifting and will look the part in your drinks cabinet, and it goes down pretty easily too. The fragrant, floral gin rests in oak wood casks for 71 nights before being poured into the bottle, leading to a premium spirit. Try it in a gin martini for an extra luxe happy hour.
Buy now £168.00, Selfridges
MONKEY 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin
Hailing from Germany's Black Forest, Monkey 47 is a premium gin mixed with - you guessed it - 47 botanicals to create a superior spirit. No surprise then, that it tastes on the herby, botanical side, those green notes jostling up against Indian spices and all mixed with super soft spring water.
The handcrafted gin is then poured into apothecary-style bottles and shut with a cork stopper.
Buy now £35.95, Amazon
The Lakes Classic English Gin, 70cl
Offering a deliciously Regency aesthetic, this stunning bottle of gin made in the Lake District is the definition of elegance. The classic gin is 46 per cent ABV and features notes of juniper, cracked black pepper and orange peel - try a citrus garnish to set this off beautifully.
Sweet-favouring palates might enjoy the blush-coloured Grapefruit version instead, also £35.
Buy now £35.00, John Lewis
Hensol Castle Welsh Dry Gin
From across the border in beautiful Wales, this British-made gin is a small-batch variety, distilled in the cellar of a 17th century Glamorgan castle. The London Dry has a slew of medals under its best, most notably 'Best in Wales' for the classic category. As such, it's perfect with a tonic mixer but does well in cocktails too.
If it's extra flavour you're after, choose from the Orange Zest and Strawberry & Hibiscus.
Buy now £29.98, Amazon
Mason’s Yorkshire Tea Gin
Oh, what a thing of beauty Mason’s Yorkshire Tea Gin is! Two British drink icons – tea and gin – unite to deliver a sharp, dry and delicate flavour that’s comfortingly familiar yet brilliantly unique.
The tea really works to highlight the gin’s citrus notes and adds a huge depth to the otherwise dusky spices. Herbal and refreshing, this is a gin you’ll find yourself reaching for again and again.
Try it with a classic tonic and a lemon peel twist to supercharge the flavour.
Buy now £25.00, Amazon
Slingsby Gooseberry Gin
Made using Harrogate spring water and sharp Yorkshire gooseberries, Slingsby Gooseberry gin is fruity, refreshing, and perfect for the summer days.
Combining locally sourced botanicals, it hits with an initial fresh citrus burst, followed by a fruit-induced sweetness for a well tempered finish. This is wonderful served simple with a tonic, or for a more decadent take on this classic London dry gin, mix with prosecco.
Buy now £36.75, Master of Malt
Aviation Gin
Star power: Ryan Reynolds
If you’re a Disney + subscriber, you’ve no doubt seen trailers for the show in which Ryan Reynolds and his pal Always Sunny star Rob McElhenny buy and try to restore the fortunes of Welsh side Wrexham AFC. But this isn’t the only business he’s bought seemingly on a whim.
The Deadpool actor purchased a stake in Aviation Gin from Davos in 2018 and became co-owner before selling it onto Tanqueray and Gordon’s owner Diageo for around £466m just two years later. He still has a hand in the business and remains the face of the Oregon-made gin. It’s particularly good in cocktails, but can stand alone with a mixer in a classic G&T.
Buy now £23.00, Amazon
HYKE Gin
Is this the gin of the future? Hyke is made with excess grapes leftover in supermarket punnets, cutting unnecessary food waste. As such, the grapey flavour comes through in the gin, making a nice step change for anyone growing tired of the usual stuff (sacrilige!). Heighten a textbook G&T by adding fun garnishes and peels.
Buy now £28.25, Amazon
Jawbox Pineapple & Ginger Gin Liqueur
This gin feels more tropical, which we're putting down to the involvement of pineapple and ginger in the ingredients list. While Jawbox's fruity creation will serve perfectly well as way to revive your regular G&T, try it in long cocktails like a mojito (swap for the rum) or a Tom Collins. Now that’s good summer sippin’.
Buy now £27.75, The Whisky Exchange
Sacred Cardamom Gin
It should go without saying that if you aren’t a fan of cardamom, this gin is very possibly going to make you foam at the mouth.
If, however, the beautiful green beads conjure nothing but warm perfume notes and memories of sweet, spiced desserts, you’re going to fall head over heels.
The spice is present in every sip of Sacred Cardamom Gin; it dominates the nose and paints the tongue with an intoxicating heat and a flavour so deep you feel like you could swim in it. Serve it up with whatever tonic you fancy and a wedge of sweet orange and you’re onto a winner.
Buy now £37.95, The Whisky Exchange
Renais gin
Star power: Emma Watson
She may be best known for playing the super-smart witch from Hogwarts, but it turns out actress Emma Watson can spin gin-based alchemy in the muggle world too. Along with her brother Alex, the duo have crafted the latest celebrity gin on the block, and it’s called Renais gin.
Made from grape skin waste from the family's vineyard, Domaine Watson, in Chablis, France, the luxurious serve is brimming with clean mineral and citrus notes as well as botanicals and juniper. Admire the bottle on your drinks trolley and crack it out for end-of-week martinis or sloshed in a celebration cocktail.
Buy now £45.00, Renais
Best pink gins
When it comes to gin, be persuaded to think pink.
Not only is it a lighter introduction to spirit for those with a sweeter tooth, but it’s also versatile enough to mix up into a batch of cocktails and delicious enough to enjoy with just a splash of tonic. Some think of it as a summertime tipple, but with the right mixer and garnish pairings, it can be on call for year-round refreshment.
Find our full list of Best pink gins here.
Malfy Rosa Sicilian Pink Grapefruit Flavoured Gin
Malfy’s Rosa Sicilian Pink Grapefruit gin isn’t your usual pink gin. For a start, it’s far more zingy and refreshing with a classic gin undertone of juniper and coriander. This ever-so-popular bottle is a strong one, coming in at a 41 per cent ABV, which is something to keep in mind as you liberally pour yourself another round.
Distilled from Italian pink grapefruit, rhubarb and four other botanicals alongside all of the spirit’s classics, this sharp, fruity bottle is a summer staple. Serve with a wedge of pink grapefruit and wait for the sunshine to light up its pastel pink colouring.
Buy now £25.00, Amazon
Isle of Wight Distillery Mermaid Pink Gin
Mermaid Pink Gin is the Isle of Wight Distillery’s first foray into Flavoured Gin territory and it’s a real showstopper, with swathes of island-grown strawberries bubbling up out of the glass.
The strawberries arrive first on the tongue, sweet, ripe and reminiscent of hazy summer days. A hit of coastal samphire adds a medicinal touch, mixing with the fruit to bring in a soothing, cough-syrup feel. The gin within shines bright, lavishing the palate with bright green coriander.
It’s a superb take on the Pink Gin trend and is best served with lashings of ice, lemon and slightly bashed strawberries.
While this is a pink gin, it would be remiss of us not to mention the distillery’s standout Original and Zest flavours. The latter in particular is made with botanicals harvested from the Isle of Wight.
Buy now £35.99, Master of Malt
Bloom Gin Jasmine and Rose
Bloom Gin’s Jasmine and Rose is a fragrant pink gin that needs nothing more than a simple tonic water to bring it to life. One of the more delicate pink gins around, you'll love this one with a slice of lemon and a few ice cubes on a warm summer's day.
Created by master distiller Joanne Moore using naturally extracted flower botanicals, this pink gin is a slightly sweeter version of the original bestselling bottle and is a popular choice with its honeysuckle, jasmine, juniper, pomelo and rose botanicals.
Buy now £24.89, Drink Supermarket
Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Ginger Gin
Crafted in the heart of Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh Gin has plenty of flavoured varieties to discover under its boozy belt. It counts this sweet and spicy small batch gin as a fan favourite with the natural flavours of tangy rhubarb and warming ginger added to its classic London Dry, along with lemongrass and lavender for balance. If you’re one for gin with a slight kick, also see the brand’s half strength gin liqueur (20 per cent ABV) in the Strawberry & Pink Pepper offering.
Buy now £22.49, Master of Malt
Caorunn Scottish Raspberry Gin
Think of this gin as raspberry ripple in booze form. It’s much less sweet than other pink gins, although the raspberry flavour is so ripe and round you can almost feel the berries on your tongue.
There’s a real thwack of Scotland, too, with a hefty dose of heather adding a great, warm kick to the back of the tongue. Serve with Indian Tonic and a chunky slice of pink grapefruit for a killer G&T, or go for complete overindulgence by adding in a touch of cream soda.
Buy now £30.75, The Whisky Exchange
Kopparberg Gin Strawberry and Lime Gin
The Swedish drinks brand best known for its line of fruity ciders shook up the game when it entered the gin world in 2019 with its bestselling Strawberry & Lime flavour, and has been adding to its spirits shelf ever since. If the mood takes you, you can now buy Passionfruit & Orange and Mixed Fruit gins to liven up your tonic too. For us, the first is still the best, with notes of sweet strawberry sharpened by spiky notes of lime.
Buy now £17.25, Tesco
Manchester Raspberry Infused Gin 50cl
Infused with notes of juicy raspberry, this gin is as delightful as the vessel it comes in. If you’re adept with a glass cutter, slice off the top to make cool glasses or hurricane lanterns to show off on social media.
Buy now £32.99, Amazon
Mirabeau Dry Rosé Gin
Presented in a beautiful blush pink bottle, this dry gin is infused with rose petals and wild botanicals plucked from the Mirabeau wine estate in France. The delicate flavours are lovely in a cocktail or classic G&T, served with plenty of ice and a wedge of lemon to coax out the citrus notes.
Buy now £29.00, Amazon
Best booze-free gins
The thirst for low and no alcohol is growing by the day, and plenty of gin brands have joined the (sober) party. Perfect for moderating your drinking and teetotalers, you can find the full list of Best non-alcoholic gins to try here.
Sipsmith FreeGlider
The new launch from gin experts Sipsmith is called the FreeGlider and not only is it booze-free but it’s vegan too: talk about a high achiever. Treat the refreshing non-spirit as you would a regular gin - just mix with tonic and add a garnish for a faux G&T so good you can practically see its halo.
Buy now £17.00, John Lewis
Quarter G/N
If you think moderate drinking is all a numbers game, well - you'd be right.
Take Quarter G/N for instance. It's got around a quarter of the ABV of its stronger sisters at just 12 per cent (regular gins are around 40 per cent ABV), which means four G&Ts made with the spirit are the same as one full-tilt one. Each sip delivers a bevvy of light, fruity notes to the tongue: think orange, grapefruit, angelica, coriander and of course, juniper.
Slower drinking, a gentler buzz and maximum flavour; as the brand puts it, "Who said it had to be all or nothing?".
Buy now £22.24, Master of Malt
Salcombe Distilling Co ‘New London Light’ Non-Alcoholic Spirit, 70cl
A classic London Dry (minus the alcohol, natch), Salcombe Distilling Co’s New London Light is made by the bracing shores of the south west coast. It’s a sweet-spicy concoction with ginger, habanero, orange and lemongrass all in the mix, making it superbly versatile for virgin cocktails.
Buy now £23.99, Master of Malt
CleanCo Clean G
Founded by Made In Chelsea’s Spencer Matthews, CleanCo is a line of non-alcoholic drinks that look and taste like the real thing. One of the OG varieties is the Clean G, an award-winning gin alternative housed in an emerald-hued bottle with a punchy hit of real juniper berry flavour. Best with ice, slice and a splash of tonic, we were hard-pressed to tell the difference from our usual tipple.
There’s also a pink version available for the same price.
Buy now £16.00, CleanCo
Gordon’s Alcohol Free Gin 70cl
If only Gordon’s will do in your G&T, there’s no need to forgo your favourite glass - a simple switch to Gordon’s Alcohol Free Gin will slash the alcohol content to zero while still retaining the same taste you know and love. Perfect for anyone looking to cut back or abstain completely, keep it classic with a measure over ice cubes, a fat wedge of lemon and fridge-cold tonic water.
Buy now £15.00, Sainsbury’s
