Gin, a spirit adored by bartenders and home drinkers across the world. Its versatility in cocktails and spritzers make it a home bar essential. From a dry martini to a Negroni to a humble gin and tonic, this spirit’s got it all. We’ve listed our summer favourites of this botanical delight, whatever your taste may be.
Best London Dry Gin: Sipsmith London Dry
Where better to begin than with the classic gin we all know and love, a London Dry. Unlike other drinks that bear a name, London Dry gins don’t actually have to be made in London as it’s only a nod to the heritage of gin. However, every drop of Sipsmith’s artisinal London Dry is made in the leafy London suburb of Chiswick, so you are tasting a truly London gin. Sipsmith is quite the all rounder, though the dry zestiness of the gin really shines in a classic G&T.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 41.6%
Find here: UK £27.95 // US $39.99
Best Tropical Gin: Whitley Neill Watermelon and Kiwi Gin
Tropical, fun and summery: Whitley Neill’s fruitiest addition to their already wide spanning line up is both a wonder to behold and to drink. It’s not often watermelon and kiwi are associated with gin, but the tartness of the kiwi alongside notes of watermelon sorbet is exactly what a summer gin is supposed to taste like. Though it tastes great in a G&T, why not spice it up and add lemonade to this fruit favourite. Garnish with watermelon for an impressive cocktail.
Size: 70cl
ABV: 43%
Find here: £25.95
Best Citrus Gin: Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla
This gin is quickly becoming a BIG favourite in the world of flavoured gin, achieving near perfect scores in BBC Good Food’s Citrus Gin Tasting Session. With Tanqueray’s rich history as the pioneer of London Dry gin, it already has an excellent leg to stand on. The orange flavour isn’t too sweet, nor does it take away from Tanqueray’s winning formula of botanicals. The sophistication of the drink is not lost either, with notes of blossom that round out the gin with a floral finish. Have this in a simple G&T garnished with orange.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 41.3%
Find here: UK £28.95 // US $28.99
Best Pink Gin: King of Soho Variorum Gin
Shine a torch through this bottle and you might mistake it for the dazzling neon lights of The King of Soho’s namesake. This funky gin is dedicated to a London tycoon who transformed Soho into the entertainment capital of London, Paul Raymond. His son Howard and a gin lover named Alex Robson worked together to create King of Soho, a gin brand that encapsulates Raymond’s style and vigour. Variorum is their pink gin, fruity and opulent with notes of camomile and juniper. The lightness of the gin means it can be taken neat or over ice, however a dash of tonic complements the botanicals well.
Size: 70cl
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: UK £30.05
Best Gin for a Martini: Monkey 47
The 47 in Monkey 47 stands for the number of botanicals used when making this gin (which is a lot!). Funnily enough, 47 crops up again in the gin’s alcohol content - 47%! It’s a shame Monkey 47 isn’t bottled in 47cl bottles, but then again, you won’t want to be missing that extra 30ml. This gin definitely deserves to be tasted in its entirety, as every time you drink it you’ll discover a new flavour. Try it in a martini or a G&T.
Size: UK 500ml // US 350ml
ABV: 47%
Find here: UK £35.40 // US $46.99
Best Sloe Gin: Bathtub Gin
The packaging and name of Bathtub Gin is a throwback to the prohibition era between 1920-1933 where people actually made gin in their bathtubs. We love the extra detail of the brown paper packaging which makes owning the gin feel a bit like smuggling some contraband (shhhhh). Their sloe gin is a brilliant addition to the range, especially since sloe gin is an often homemade drink. This infused gin has notes of hazelnut turkish delight, tart plums, figs and cream. Yes, sloe gin might not be a summery drink - but Autumn is creeping up on us! Ease into the next season with a Sloe Gin Fizz made with Bathtub Gin…
Size: 50cl
ABV: 33.8%
Find here: UK £27.95
Enjoyed this? Why not have a look at The World’s Most Luxurious Gins or The Best Gins for a Martini.