Much like how our whiskey enthusiast has tried more than 100 varieties of scotch , I have spent the last couple of years tasting different gins in a bid to find the best in terms of flavour, price and quality.
During the pandemic when the pubs shut, I subscribed myself to Craft Gin Club to get that ‘home bar’ experience, which allowed me to try different and independent gins each and every month. I’ve also since enjoyed a variety of gins at pubs and bars, distillery tours and often get gifted bottles from family and friends who know my love of the trendy tipple.
In this round up, I’ve picked out my top eight London dry and distilled gins, alongside a selection of fruit and pink varieties (gin purists, look away now).
Each of the gins have been tried neat first, and rated for their flavour and smoothness, before adding a mixer, so whether you enjoy your gin neat, over ice, with tonic or something sweeter, there should be something for everyone. There's even one that's been designed specifically to be taken as a shot.
These are some of the best I’ve found that are well worth trying in 2023:
London Dry and Distilled gins
For those who prefer the drinking part of the gin experience over the making of it, the difference between a London dry and a distilled gin may not matter whatsoever. I do find the distillation process pretty satisfying though, and love that a London Dry can only be called such if it hasn’t had anything added to it after being distilled, whereas the latter often have flavourings added later in the process.
Below are my top picks for your more traditional tasting gins - juniper forward and botanical - they’re in no particular order, but I will say that the top three would have to be Strane, Sixtowns, and Ophir.
Chemist Gin
Chemist American Gin is a 45% ABV gin distilled in small batches in North Carolina by Chemist Spirits. Made with 18 different botanicals,, it features notes of citrus, floral and spice, which can each be brought to the forefront with different garnishes and mixers.
The brand was inspired by the fact that in the prohibition era, it was chemists that would open speakeasys and contraband bars. Chemist Gin was founded by Debbie Word, who works with her daughter Danielle, who is an actual chemist. The moonshining family has used their appreciation for classic distilling alongside modern science to create their OG spirit.
You can buy it for £37.99 on the Craft Gin Club website here.
Silent Pool Gin
This is the distillery’s signature gin, coming with a £37 price tag and 43% ABV. It features 24 botanicals which are said to create a ‘romantic, complex flavour’. It offers both floral and citrus notes from the lavender, elderflower and chamomile paired with citrus and kaffir lime, with earthy flavours of cassia bark and cubeb – sweetened with local honey, which aids its impeccably smooth finish.
But it for £34.50 on Amazon here.
Opihr Schezuan Pepper Spiced Gin
I’m a huge fan of the original Opihr gin, which pairs wonderfully with chilli and lime garnish, and now they’ve fired up a recipe even spicier than their original London dry.
Their OPIHR Szechuan Pepper Spiced Gin is part of the brand’s ‘Regional Editions’ range, with the 43% ABV Far East edition featuring warming flavours of Szechuan pepper and smoky ajwain.
It's spicy, juicy and indulgent with a beautiful fragrance with all of those traditional spices coming through the moment you pop the lid off, with a smooth finish that packs a punch.
Available for £25.99 on Amazon here.
Brewdog LoneWolf
From the makers of BrewDog beers, LoneWolf gin is made in Scotland’s first carbon negative distillery. The brand apparently rejected 39 different junipers before finding one they liked from Tuscany, before going on to experiment with over 190 different distillations.
With a £25 price tag, the 40% ABV spirit offers botanicals such as lavender and citrus, with piney notes, and fresh lemon peel, distilled in small batches for more bite. But for those looking for something punchier, try their Gunpowder 57% gin.
Buy it from Brewdog for £21.25 here.
Santa Ana
Santa Ana Gin is a relatively new release that pays homage to legendary Philippine cabaret club, Santa Ana.
Distilled in the Charente region of France, it features ylang ylang, alpinia, calamansi and dalandan alongside more traditional gin botanicals juniper, bitter orange, angelica, orris roots and fennel.
This is quite a perfumed gin, and it really does remind you of sitting in a smokey speakeasy. I absolutely love the idea of using the art deco inspired bottle as a vase, too - when you've finished the gin, of course.
Shop Santa Ana on Master of Malt for £29.90 here.
Strane Gin
Strane’s London Dry was a firm favourite in our house - and there’s probably no coincidence in that it’s also the strongest with a merchant strength 47.5% ABV.
This warm and full-of-character tipple is very juniper led, with subtle citrus and more noticeable herbal flavours. But what makes this Swedish spirit even more unusual is that it’s created by distilling three differently balanced base gins, which are then blended to create the final gins for bottling.
Strane London Dry Gin is distilled in a 100 litre pot still with live flame at the Smögen distillery, on Sweden’s west coast. As well as sage and minty flavours, there’s also a hit of spice from the cinnamon, with two secret botanicals to keep the recipe sacred.
Strane Gin is available for £39.94 at Master of Malt.
Sixtowns Gin
Another secret recipe gin I adore is from Sixtowns, which happens to be distilled in my home county of Staffordshire. Priced at £39.95 a bottle, the satisfyingly smooth Sixtowns Gin is made in small batches of 100 or less, with an ABV of 40%.
It’s a wonderfully premium gin, very juniper forward with ginger and a hint of citrus. Their pink gin is equally as delightful, too, and I’m slowly collecting their beautiful bottle kiln bottles, which are made by the iconic pottery company Wade.
This is a really good one for gifting, because the bottles look great on a bookshelf or with dried flowers once it’s done with.
Bombay Sapphire is on offer at Amazon for £17.
Bombay Sapphire
Sometimes you just can't beat a classic, and Bombay Sapphire has got to be one of the most recognisable bottles on the market due to its iconic blue bottle. And according to research from South Western Railway, their Hampshire distillery has been named the number one to visit in the UK, beating the likes of Edinburgh Gin and Shakespear Gin distilleries.
Its smooth and balanced taste is derived from a unique blend of ten hand-selected botanicals, including juniper berries, coriander seeds, and citrus peel, making for a versatile tipple that has earned it a well-deserved reputation as a classic and timeless spirit.
Crisp and refreshing, it works well neat, on the rocks, or mixed in cocktails. The London dry has an ABV of 40% and is a really good low-cost gin that's a general crowd pleaser.
You can get the 37.5% ABV bottle for £16 on Amazon here.
Fruit gins
For those who prefer bursts of flavour in their booze, fruit gin is the one for you. Fruit gins are made by infusing or macerating fresh or dried fruits into the base gin during the production process, which allows for some interesting combinations that distillers have really been able to have some fun with.
Fruit gins offer a refreshing twist on traditional gin, combining the botanical elements of gin with the natural sweetness of fruit. They can be enjoyed on their own over ice or used as a base for a whole host of cocktails. These are some of my favourites:
Gordon's Tropical Passionfruit Gin
Last year, one of the UK’s most well-known gin brands launched two delicious new flavours just in time for picnic season. Gordon’s gin, known for their iconic green bottles, switched up their original recipe with Morello Cherry and Passion Fruit varieties.
It’s not the first time that Gordon’s has wowed fans with their flavoured gins, having released lemon , orange and peach versions in previous years - but the latest additions are particularly fun, as the cherry blend tastes like Haribo Tangfastics, while the Passion Fruit is reminiscent of an alcoholic J2O.
The gin is perfect for making a tropical passion fruit martini, adding a 50ml shot of gin to 50ml of pineapple juice or passion fruit puree. Add 12.5ml of lime juice and the same volume of vanilla syrup and you’ve got yourself an Instagram-worthy bar-quality cocktail.
We found this gin on offer at Harvey Nichols for £27.
WATTSHOT
Most people have been in a bar or club, dancing and enjoying the night when a friend arrives with a round of shots. Usually, it’s tequila, vodka, whisky or perhaps a hangover-inducing Jagerbomb, but now, there’s a new shot on the block.
WATTSHOT Gin is the first gin specifically designed to be drunk as a shot, featuring a unique mix of eight rooted botanicals and cherry juice for a surprising shot-taking experience.
Developed over nine years by master taste-maker Stuart Logan, the multi-award-winning tipple has been carefully engineered to start with that recognisable gin flavour before developing into a fruity cherry taste, leaving behind a mild tingling or warming sensation, without any of the ugly tongues-out faces induced by sharp, cheap spirits.
My first sip of this gin was full of surprise - it really does revolutionise the act of taking a shot and makes it a much more exciting and memorable act. Just be sure to chill it before you drink it, and hold the shot in your mouth for a few moments before you swallow to feel the WATTSHOT tingle.
The versatile spirit comes in at 37.5 per cent and can also be used in a range of your favourite cocktails.
You can buy it here from Master of Malt for £34.
Manchester Gin Raspberry Infused
Manchester Gin Raspberry Infused gin offers a rosy pink hue and delicate fruity flavour.
The brand was launched in 2013 when Seb Heeley and Jen Wiggins met over a gin and tonic. Fast forward and the couple went from distilling 25,000 bottles of gin from their dining room to relocating their distillery beneath Manchester Central capable of producing a million bottles a year.
The gin features Juniper, coriander, lemon, grapefruit, dandelion, burdock, vanilla, elderberries, cassia, liquorice, grains of paradise, angelica and raspberries, the latter of which are infused before, during and after distillation.
A bottle costs £42 for 70cl, and is a smooth, fruity spirit perfect for summer, especially with some frozen raspberries and mint thrown in.
Try Pink Marmalade gin for £29 here.
Pink Marmalade Gin
Pink Marmalade Gin is a brand loved by party queen Sophie Ellis Bexter.
Not only does it taste amazing thanks to the salted pink marmalade used to make it, but it also appears to magically change colour.
Due to the inclusion of Butterfly Pea flower, when tonic is added to the gin, it transforms from a cool blue to a subtle pink, perfect for wowing guests and adding a little magic to your evening.
Fruity with some floral notes, this 42% ABV spirit is great with tonic or lemonade, garnished with rosemary.
Pink Marmalade gin has been reduced on Amazon to £24.99 here.
Malfy Blood Orange
This ruby red citrus flavoured gin will have you feeling like you’re sitting on a terrace in Italy in no time. With an ABV of 41% it is made using vacuum distillation which uses a lower temperature to keep the botanicals fresh and flavourful.
This premium gin uses juniper, oranges and blood oranges, and four unnamed botanicals with a rich, bittersweet citrus finish that tastes of the long nights of summer.
It’s fruity without being syrupy, with the juniper still coming through to remind you this is a gin, and not a liqueur. It makes a beautiful cocktail and pairs well with the likes of Campari and Aperol.
Malfy's Blood Orange has been reduced on Amazon to £24.99 here.
Slingsby Rhubarb Gin
A twist on their traditional London Dry, Slingsby have infused their recipe with Yorkshire rhubarb for a tart flavour balanced with bitter pink grapefruit. Made using 24 carefully selected botanicals, the rhubarb gin is made with fruit from the world famous ‘Rhubarb Triangle’ in Wakefield, with local ingredients being paramount to making Spirit of Harrogate recipes as robust as they are.
Tart, sweet and fruity, the brand recommends serving their rhubarb gin with an elderflower tonic and garnished with raspberries and a sprig of mint. Well balanced with an ABV of 40%, this gin is super juicy, and delivers a distinct and memorable drinking experience.
This Whitley Neill gin is available from The Bottle Club for £23.49.
Whitley Neill Black Cherry
As you pop open the Whitley Neill Black Cherry, you are treated to the initial aromas of cherries which are followed by hints of almonds with a faint wisp of chocolate. It’s giving cherry bakewell or Black Forest gateau, so it’s great for desert fans.
The tipple is inspired by South African cherry orchards, offering a deep and luscious flavour profile that’s more rich and less tart than Gordon’s Morello Cherry version.
Complete with juniper, coriander seed, cassia bark, orris and angelica root, sweet orange, lemon, cape gooseberry and black cherry, the 41.3% ABV spirit has an intense finish with a fantastic aftertaste.
Shop the Apple Pie gin for £20.99 on The Bottle Club.
That's The Spirit Apple Pie Gin
Exclusive to The Bottle Club is this dreamy desert-themed gin that smells and tastes just like a McDonald’s apple pie. You heard me right - McDonald’s apple pie.
Complete with notes of sweet apples, buttery pastry and warming cinnamon the Apple Pie Gin is a slice of heaven in a bottle, and feels warm, fruity and even a bit festive. That said, it’s definitely too good to just save for Christmas.
Sweet and full of character, even those who say they don’t like gin could get on board with this, I reckon.
Shop the Apple Pie gin for £20.99 on The Bottle Club.
Aldi Blackberry and Raspberry bramble gin
Last but certainly not least is Aldi’s Haysmith’s Blackberry and Raspberry bramble gin, which is the cheapest on the list at £14.99 a bottle, with an ABV of 40%.
The gin is described as a ‘smooth premium gin with flavours of raspberries and blackberry’ with an ‘elegantly smooth and complex taste’. It definitely tastes more expensive than its price tag, with tart undertones, but with that juniper flavour still pushing through.
Meanwhile, the supermarket's Rhubarb and Ginger gin won Gold Outstanding title at the International Wine and Spirits Competition. The spirit has quite a thick, syrupy consistency that you would typically see in a gin liqueur, but with the strength of a traditional gin, making for a really pleasant tipple. However, I wasn't so keen on their Seville Orange and Persian Lime version, which feels a bit rougher than the berry and rhubarb versions.
That said, they're extremely affordable, and with a lemonade mixer, go down a treat either way.
Shop the Aldi Blackberry and Raspberry bramble gin here.
Please note: The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend adults do not regularly drink more than 14 units a week. Please drink responsibly. For more information visit the Drink Aware website.
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