Words by Colin Hampden-White
There is a lot of gin on offer at the moment and many of them are flavoured. Like many drinks, however, some feel better in our glass at certain times of the year. We consider Pimm’s to be a summer drink for example, along with rosé wine and elderflower on the non-alcoholic side. In the same way with gin, most people would leave a spiced gin for Christmas time but are more likely to enjoy a flavoured gin in the summer. So without further ado, here are some of our favourite flavoured gins to enjoy this summer.
Gordon's Sicilian Lemon Distilled Gin
Gordons make a classic gin and this gin has all the DNA of its better known brother, but with a twist of lemon. The lemon flavours are lovely and fresh - perfect for a warm summer day. With Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic, this gin is a delight. Rather than a slice of Lemon try using some rosemary as a garnish to give some extra spring in its step, or a sugar rim to add some sweetness.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find it here: £14
Beefeater Pink Strawberry Flavoured Gin
Strawberries are one of the first fruits of summer and make us immediately think of warmer weather, Wimbledon and cream tea by the seaside. This gin encapsulates all that in a glass. It goes well with tonic but is also very fresh with some soda water and a few slices of strawberry as a garnish to give it an extra boost.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find it here: £14.00
Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and Ginger Gin Liqueur
One would normally associate ginger with autumn, but this little number is all about summer. The ginger is fresh and the rhubarb gives lovely red fruit flavours. At 20% it is a little sweeter than a gin with more alcohol and makes a fabulous long drink with tonic, soda, or even lemonade. It’s a great lower alcohol option for the lengthening days.
Size: 500ml
ABV: 20%
Find it here: £16.50
Malfy Con Arancia (Blood Orange), Italian Gin
As fruits and flowers continue to ripen over the summer months, the aromas in the air begin to concentrate and this gin is all about concentration. The blood orange flavours are very concentrated, but fresh in flavour not confected. Sip it over ice with soda and a sprig of thyme to be transported to the south coast of Italy where this gin hails from.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 41%
Find it here: £25
Zymurgorium Turkish Delight Gin
Much like the roses that are now in full bloom, this gin gives a sense of a true British summer. At 18.8% it has a sweet touch just like the sugar dusting on Turkish delight. This gin is an absolute delight mixed with Fentimans tonic and garnished with a slice of grapefruit.
Size: 500ml
ABV: 18.8%
Find it here: £16.89
Kopparberg Premium Gin Strawberry and Lime
This is the second Strawberry gin on our list, but it has a twist with fresh zesty lime flavours added in. A slice of lime is best to add to this drink. It will be good with most tonics as long as they are not too sweet, but we think Barker and Quin Hibiscus works very well and adds to the complexity in the glass.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find it here: £16
Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla Distilled Gin
Our favourite gin on this list is this one. The flavours are so fresh one could have imagined the oranges squeezed in and the floral flavours are complex and lively across the palate. We like to keep this bottle in the freezer and sip it slowly neat over ice to while away the warm summer evenings.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 41.3%
Find it here: £17
Miniature Gin Set (Pack of 8)
If you haven’t tried many flavoured gins yet, then this little sample pack may just be the thing for you. Try out eight flavours here and discover which of them you like the most before buying a full bottle. These are lovely with soda, tonic or simply over ice as non of them are particularly strong.
ABV: 23-27%
Size: 400ml
Find it here: £29.95
If you’d like to read more about fancy gins, then head over to Aidy’s article on the most luxurious gins on the planet.