The Ultimate Summer Gin Selection: Unveiling the Top Picks for Sunny Days

Gin continues to be as popular as ever but that only means there are even more bottles to pick from… which is only a good problem to have if you know some gems. Therefore, allow us to introduce you to our ultimate summer gin selection!

A chilled glass of gin on a summer’s day is a dreamy ideal, so here are our top picks for whatever gins you love.

Roku Gin

This award-winning Japanese craft gin from the legendary House of Suntory contains six local botanicals (because Roku translates to six) alongside eight more familiar botanicals. Yuzu peel represents winter, Sakura for spring, sansho pepper for autumn and gyokuro tea for summer. The flavour and aroma are delicately poised and beautiful, with every sip feeling clean and crisp. Just serve with tonic and ice and it’s a winner. What a bottle too.

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £27.45 / US $24.99

Canaïma Gin

This complex and exotic gin was created to support the Amazon rainforest and the native population that still occupy parts of it. And it really gets close to the cause, in fact the complex blend of rare botanicals (uve de palma, copuazu, merey fruit for example) are hand-picked by these Venezuelan native tribes before being blended with more traditional gin foundations (like black pepper and citrus). Expect fruity tang, herbaceous undertones, and subtle heat on an earthy backdrop. The best bit? 10% of all sales are reinvested to support reforestation as well as contribute towards sustainable jobs.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 47%
Find here: UK £31

Glendalough Wild Botanical Gin

If you’re going to make a gin that defines itself by how clean, crisp, and light it feels, then expert craftsmanship has to be involved to avoid the liquid becoming boring but of course, Glendalough have smashed it. Their Wild Botanical Gin aims to represent a seasonal year in The Garden of Ireland where they’re based. Juniper and pine for spring, summer flowers, autumn fruits and a spicy winter finish – delicious. On top of that great concept, everything is sustainably foraged and infused from fresh which just goes to show the expertise that go into a gin that seems simple on the surface. Bravo.

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: UK £33.74 / US $29.99

Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin

Now here’s a gin that’s exploding with flavour. Crafted by the curious mind of P.J Rigney, this Irish gin takes you on an adventure inspired by his global travels. The ‘gunpowder’ refers to Chinese gunpowder green tea, one of the four vapor-distilled botanicals (on top of eight others). Moroccan orris, Indian cardamom, Macedonian juniper, and meadowsweet from Drumshanbo town itself – the range is astounding. Floral, sweet, herbaceous and earthy, the flavours have had so much time to develop during the slow distillation so see for yourself why it’s won some huge awards.

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £33.74 / US $41.99

Orkney Gin Company Rhubarb Old Tom

Released for World Gin Day 2017, here we have a tasty tangy twist on Orkney Gin’s Old Tom made using locally grown rhubarb. That classically sweet and smooth Old Tom profile plays off that authentic rhubarb tartness so well, and citrus, cinnamon and rose petals fill out the flavour with warm, zesty, and floral notes. This really is one of the best flavoured gins around, with two gold awards from the Masters and World Gin Awards in 2020 to show for it – gorgeous.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £34.90

The Botanist Gin

This gin is easy to find and even easier to enjoy, becoming a staple among gin lists. Exclusively concocted on the island of Islay in Scotland at the Bruichladdich distillery, they’ve gone all in on botanicals here with 31, 22 of which are native. Coriander and lemon peel provide some familiar qualities, whereas more exotic red clovers, mugwort leaves and creeping thistle mix it up. The end result? A velvety and herbaceous gin that balances earthiness with sweetness and reminds you of a spring garden – perfectly well rounded for a fresh G&T.

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: UK £36.44 / US $41.99

St. George Botanivore

Are you a botanivore? Maybe you are and you didn’t even know it. This American craft gin boasts no less than 19 botanicals for a plush, rounded profile – angelica root, bay laurel, coriander, orange peel and star anise among others. It strikes that sweet spot of approachability and rewarding complexity, with citrus freshness, earthy spice, and breezy refreshment. Very likeable indeed.

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: UK £37.95 / US $33.99

Black Robin Gin

Any ornithologists out there might be able to have a stab at where this gin is from, because the lovely Black Robin on the bottle is an endangered and rare domestic bird from New Zealand – and indeed a percentage of sales go to its preservation. Exotic botanicals like native Horopito are infused with filtered spring water from underneath the distillery and (Just like Black Duck Vodka), whey spirit. This gin is all about subtle complexity, with a clean palate revealing super refreshing leafy notes, spicy cardamom and juniper, and a touch of liquorice and pear sweetness. Explore this neat, perhaps with a slice of cucumber and enjoy.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £39.95

Prefer a glass of whisky when the sun is shining? How about these Summer Stunners!

The Best Gins to Gift this Christmas

The world’s obsession with gin is far from over, and as a result, there are a tonne of bottles competing to be the ultimate gin gift. Luckily, we’ve narrowed it down. We’ve travelled far and wide to pull together the very best options for each category and boy do we have some variety here! Some of the most beautifully designed bottles we’ve ever seen, expert crafting, and true innovation – there’s something for everyone and you will find your perfect gin gift here. That’s a promise.

The Best London Dry Gin to Gift

Tulchan Gin

As the eye-catching bag piper suggests, this is a Scottish gin and in particular, the prestigious Tulchan Estate in Speyside. On top of the fundamental and familiar London Dry botanicals of citrus, piney juniper and cardamon is a flavour profile inspired by the Speyside flora that’s local to the estate. Picked on site, heather, sloe berries, blackberry leaves and elderflower combine for a deliciously bright, light and floral gin. You might normally think Speyside in a glass would be whisky, but this gin definitely has something to say about that!

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: UK £37.57 / US $42.99

58 & Co

This is a multi-award-winning gin in a gorgeous minimalist bottle with maximum quality inside. Crisp citrus and leafy notes feature on the nose, with a juniper forward palate supported by more gorgeous citrus and a pleasant peppery finish. It’s just a really well-crafted gin. Serve with Mediterranean tonic, loads of ice and any citrus you like.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £32.94

The Botanist

This stylish bottle has become a gin list staple, and we’d be surprised if you’ve never come across it! Created at the Bruichladdich distillery, it’s exclusively made on the island of Islay off the Scottish west coast. A staggering 31 botanicals are involved, 22 of which are native to the island! From familiar faces like coriander seed and lemon peel to water mint, red clovers, creeping thistle and the Harry Potter-esque mugwort leaves! Everything combines to create a silky smooth, earthy yet sweet expression with subtle herbals never far away. Islay isn’t just whisky you know! Get the most out of all those botanicals in a classic G&T!

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: UK £32.99 // US $41.99

The Best Pink Gin to Gift

Mirabeau

We’ve loved the Mirabeau Rosé for a long time with its top-notch quality and value and inspired by the botanical bounty around their Saint Tropez estate, they turned to juniper too! The glorious base notes of juniper, citrus, orris and angelica root and coriander support this herbaceous twist, with bay, thyme and rosemary providing real character. The Rosé in the base as well as being made with grapes itself makes this gin stand out even more, creating a deliciously light expression, perfectly balanced between fruits and herbs. If you like Rosé or know someone that does, then this is the perfect gateway gin.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £40.24

Great Glen - Pink Gin

This beautifully complex pink gin is made from the pure waters of Loch Ness itself. Now you can’t ask for much more than that. Citrus aromas make way for a stunningly crisp fruitiness - think pink lady apples and wild Scottish raspberries. A floral finish to round off the profile takes over with hibiscus and rose petal botanicals and Great Glen is it satisfying! Ice, premium tonic and a fresh raspberry garnish and that is one delightful sipper indeed.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £39.95

Pinkster Pink Gin

The pinkest of pink gins it’s Pinkster (try saying that after a couple of glasses of these). That striking hue is obtained through the use of real fresh raspberries, no chemicals or colouring. They’re grown local to the Cambridgeshire HQ and provide a lot more naturality, subtlety and smoothness to the gin. Super clean taste and gongs to prove it! Why not go the whole hog and garnish with fresh raspberries in a G&T?

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £35

The Best Spiced Gin to Gift

Rutland Square Chai Spiced Gin

If you like chai tea and spiced gin then you’ve hit the motherload. Made with white tea from Assam, this lovely gin is inspired by the founder’s great-grandfather who teamed up with a Scottish Army Officer to begin distilling while working on a tea estate. There is precision balance with warming cardamon, cinnamon and star anise lightened up by floral sweetness from the tea and a hint of creamy vanilla. There’s plenty to explore served neat over ice, but this would also add really interesting layers to many cocktails, like a spiced negroni. Beautiful bottle for gifting too we think.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: £32.94

Atlas Shichimi Gin

If you’re not familiar with Atlas, they come up with exotic variations of gin from around the globe (Chai, Lovecake etc.) and this... Shichimi. If you’re into Japanese cooking, you might have this in your cupboard already for ramen, but it’s a very popular spice blend dating back to the 17th century. There are really unique botanicals here, with nori seaweed, ginger, gyokuro green tea and Sichuan peppercorn creating an unusual but instantly moreish umami profile. Of course, juniper and citrus freshen everything up but this is a really warming spicy gin and one to slowly sip! It would be a fantastic gift for a seasoned gin experimenter to try something new.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £48

The Best Navy Strength Gin to Gift

Shoogle Junniperous Gin - Navy Strength

This lip smacker begins with the same eleven botanicals used in Shoogle’s renowned Scottish Dry Gin and adds a few eyebrow raisers to the mix, like kumquat, baobab, tonka bean and pink peppercorn adding sweetness and textured mouthfeel. Juniper is amplified and pushed to the front of the stage, alongside the citrus notes, and all together there is a staggering amount of flavour for a Navy Strength it has to be said. Get plenty of ice in that glass, a premium light tonic and savour every sip!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 57%
Find here: £45

Pickering’s Gin Navy Strength

Allow us to introduce you to this extremely distinguished gin, the official tipple of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (check out what’s over the cap!). Pickering’s uses a family recipe passed down through generations, showing really bold juniper on the nose, and fragrant mandarin, cardamon and anise on the palate. After a few sips you’ll really notice the waves of exotic spice, and these carry through the finish with cumin in particular. One of the best things about this gin is the possibility to take it to the distillery in Edinburgh, and get it refilled! That’s right, if you keep the bottle someone there will fill it up! The everlasting gin, your wish is their command!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 57.1%
Find here: £39.66

The Best Old Tom Gin to Gift

Rock Rose Pink Grapefruit Old Tom

Old Tom Gin peaked in popularity in 18th century England, but has enjoyed a resurgence lately, particularly in cocktails. Muscovado sugar adds that trademark sweetness to this Old Tom, which uses organic pink grapefruit peel on top of a fresh and familiar botanical base. It’s a benchmark zesty Old Tom, but there’s something else we have to touch on. This gin is available in fully recyclable pouches! You can refill the stunning bottle, and just pop the pouch into a post-box (no stamp or envelope required) and Dunnet Bay Distillers take care of the rest. So, you still get to pour from the bottle, and it’s environmentally friendly too! Win win!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41.5%
Find here: £32 Recyclable Pouch / £35 Bottle

Bullards Old Tom Gin

Another gin watching their carbon footprint is historic Norwich producer Bullards, which also offers the eco-refill pouch and picked up the 2020 Gin Guide Sustainability Award. The gin itself is also award winning, so this is really the complete package. Wonderfully warming with pink peppercorns, sweet with Norfolk honey and rich with mango, a touch of grapefruit citrus cuts through perfectly for a stunning expression. Simply add tonic and ice with a slice of grapefruit for a garnish and you’re smiling!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42.5%
Find here: £32

The Best Flavoured Gin to Gift

Pink Pepper – Audemus

Based in Cognac, French producer Audemus is aiming to move away from juniper-forward straight gins and create bold new flavours. They have a curious Umami Gin, but their flagship is this lovely Pink Pepper creation. Instantly on sipping, there’s in your face fresh and spicy pink peppercorns, cardamon and still prominent juniper. As the gin takes time to warm a little, baking notes of vanilla and tonka release, and when it comes to serving with tonic and ice, a floral side is shown. Lots of layers taking turns to come to the fore for a really interesting and well-rounded experience – a top gift for any gin lover for sure.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 44%
Find here: £37.45

Malfy Con Arancia (Blood Orange), Italian Gin

This beautiful bottle has spruced up many a supermarket shelf in recent years, and we love it. This is a flavoured gin for drinkers that really want bold flavour. The blood orange is very concentrated, and usually this would mean a lack of freshness but no. It’s dense with fresh blood orange instead, creating that seductive ruby red and an extra long bittersweet citrussy finish. Truly a drink that transports you to the Italian coast in summer, but it's too delicious not to have all year round. An ideal gift from setting eyes on the bottle to the final drop.

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: UK £24.99 / US $27.99

Tanqueray Flor De Sevilla Distilled Gin

This is one of our absolute favourite gins. Not only are the floral flavours dancing, but the orange blossom has an unbelievably fresh feel as if it was squeezed straight into your glass. It’s inspired by an original Charles Tanqueray recipe from Spanish travels in the 1860s, and concoctions like this are part of the reason Tanqueray is loved so much by bar tenders and drinkers all the same! So much flavour here so serve neat over ice with some orange wedges if you have them.

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 41.3%
Find here: UK £19.99 / US $29.99

Mermaid Zest

Gaze your eyes upon this seaside wonder from Isle of Wight distillery Mermaid Gin, with its alluring potion-esque colouring. A true taste of the island, it includes coastal samphire, Boadicea hops and locally foraged floral bergamot and rosemary. The combination of refreshment and brightness with the herbal bouquet is a winning one and it’s just crying out for a G&T that forces a long ‘ahhhh’ out of you after the first sip.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £38.24

Reverend Hubert's Winter Gin Liqueur

This recipe was created by Reverend Hubert Bell Lester at the beginning of the 20th century, as the renowned partier tried to create a liqueur to blow his army colleagues’ socks off. And he obviously hit upon something because here we are recommending it today! His great grandson Thomas revived it, and what a job. Crafted in the Cotswolds, it uses Amalfi Lemons, Sri Lankan spice and English rhubarb, variety that is reflected in that incredible bottle. Distinct in taste, it’s super smooth with aromatic dried fruit, winter spice and fresh citrusy bursts of orange and lemon. This is a must-have for any cocktail experimenters, elevating negronis and hot punches to the next level. It even comes in a striking gift box too. The complete package, literally.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 27%
Find here: £35.99

BEST OF THE REST

An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin

If you want something guaranteed to be a little different to your usual gins this, is it. How many seaweed varieties do you need in a gin you might ask? An Dúlamán from Donegal in Ireland contains not one, not two, not three but five different varieties of locally harvested seaweed! Combined with other fundamental botanicals, you’re left with a delicious savoury gin that packs gentle heat with very subtle lemon sweetness in tow. A fantastic gift for a gin newbie or someone that’s been around the block, both will love this. Try it with elderflower or lemon tonic for a stonking G&T.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 43.2%
Find here: £29.45

Glendalough Wild Botanical Gin

Happily staying in Ireland for a moment, this is a super simple sipper. Don’t mistake simple for dull for one minute, because a gin that’s this clean, crisp and light takes expert craftmanship and that’s exactly what Glendalough provide. The concept behind their Wild Botanical Gin is to represent an entire year in the glacial valley of Wicklow (The Garden of Ireland). From spring notes of juniper, citrus and pine, to summer flowers and autumn fruits on the palate, before a long winter spice finish, it’s a year in a glass! Love it. Everything’s sustainability foraged and used when fresh, so this ‘simple’ gin isn’t actually so simple after all! Plug alert - you can find out more about Glendalough during The Three Drinkers in Ireland on Amazon Prime!

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: UK £33.74 / US $29.99

Cantium Gin

So, there you are, perusing the shelves for gins and oh look, someone’s left their flask here. But wait, maybe this is in fact the gift you’re looking for! Cantium gin isn’t just masquerading as a flask... it is one. The gin itself is bold and citrussy, underpinned by tasty juniper and very soft spices, and once you’ve merrily polished it off, it becomes a flask! What an idea, right? And two presents in one. The only issue is making sure people at work know that you’ve got coffee in it now, because that, ‘gin in a reusable flask’ label could cause a few issues! ;)

Size: 500ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £39

Well, if you want to treat yourself to an incredible gin over Christmas, or you know a gin lover then you should be sorted. But the present buying work may not be done! If you’re on the hunt for amazing Christmas wines, then check out our guides on White, Red, and Bubbles!

Words by Calum Ecroyd