Gin Lovers: How Inclusive Is Your Gin Collection?

Every gin collector today is awash with choices when trying to decide which bottles to add to their collection next. The question is, how to choose? Do you follow gin trends, find brands personal to you or just close your eyes and pick at random?

The key is to find balance. First, who’s drinking? Are you planning a quiet night in with gin and tonic? Or cocktails with friends ahead of a night out? Are there any sweet-toothed gin drinkers coming who don’t like tonic? When picking out gins you’ve got to consider budget, style, versatility and flavour, as well mixers and garnishes for a diverse and balanced collection.

Practicality aside, always make room for romantic picks and select gins you fall in love with - that’s what drinks collections are all about after all! Attractive bottle design, colour, brand values and credentials matter. Perhaps you’re inspired to try gins from a specific country of the British Isles or you’ve heard stories of local botanicals being foraged or spring water bored from source, or maybe a gin’s on your wishlist ‘just because’.

A great way to start building your collection is to establish a balance between classic and contemporary gins, so let’s take a look at a few different options that will bring reliable flavours your guests and you will enjoy.

Three Classic British Gins you need to try

These iconic English gins are known for their traditional recipes, reliable quality and heritage, and will be a versatile addition to every collection.

Tanqueray Nº Ten Gin 

A citrus-rich, multi-award-winning premium gin with an aromatic nose and long, zesty finish. This gin makes a superb classic G&T paired with Mediterranean or Mallorcan Tonic, a sprig of rosemary and lime garnish. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 47.3%
Find here: £34.21

Beefeater London Dry Gin

One of the world’s most awarded and popular gins on the market. It’s a benchmark, juniper-forward gin. Distilled in London since 1863, it’s traditional, classic, and often the bartender’s choice for iconic cocktails like the Martini and Negroni.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £18.25

Plymouth English Gin

Plymouth gin is often recognised as the favourite tipple of gin enthusiasts and bartenders around the globe. The Plymouth Distillery is powered by 100% renewable hydroelectricity and the bottles are created using elements of recycled glass. It has peppery and floral notes with hints of soft fruits and a long spicy finish. Perfect for a silky-textured Martini that starts mellow and ends strong. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 47.3%
Find here: £20

Three Contemporary British Gins you need to try

From classic to contemporary, with a noticeable switch-up in taste. Although juniper must be present for the liquid to be gin, the predominant flavour emphasis is on other botanicals over juniper here. Brands innovate and experiment with flavour and process a lot more, leading to some very good results, such as the below:

Downpour Scottish Dry Gin

From North Uist Distillery Co, this gin packs a punch with citrus, spice and wild Hebridean heather, drenching you in big bold flavours. The Downpour brand has distinctive bottle designs inspired by rain, and their range of flavoured gins comes in different coloured glass bottles of the same design, including Sloe & Bramble Gin, Pink Grapefruit Gin and Coast and Croft Gin for a G&T drenched in island flavour.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £42.00

Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle Gin

Built from award-winning Sipsmith’s London Dry Gin, but distilled with sun-dried lemon peel and lemon verbena to create a sweet, zesty citrus gin that really does taste of lemon cake. As well as enjoying this in a flute glass topped with prosecco and a lemon twist, why not try it in a lemon gin drizzle cake recipe? Yum.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40.4%
Find here: £25

Aber Falls Orange Marmalade Welsh Gin

A zippy orange-filled gin from North Wales, bottled with pure Snowdonia mountain rock filtered water. It’s well-balanced with layers of sweet and bitter orange on top of a spicy juniper core. A premium offering without the hefty price tag from a distillery that sits at the foot of the famous Aber Falls waterfall. It’s well worth a visit. This gin makes a zingy G&T - pair it with a premium tonic and garnish with a twist of orange.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41.3%
Find here: £24.99

The Best fruity Gin to pair with lemonade/ginger ale

A fruity gin is just the ticket for the more sweet-toothed drinkers out there, especially paired with mixers such as ginger ale instead of tonic.

Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger Gin

Rhubarb and Ginger has become one of the country’s most beloved flavours of gin thanks to this creation from Whitley Neill. Bringing together the hearty spice of ginger with the complex fruitiness of rhubarb, it pairs beautifully with Franklin & Sons Original Ginger Ale and plenty of ice.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £29

Floral gins are an amazing addition to your collection and pairing perfectly with mixers such as rose lemonade, they are a great choice for those drinkers who don’t like the bitterness of quinine in tonic.

The Best floral Gin to pair with rose lemonade

Glendalough Wild Rose Irish Gin

From five friends founded Glendalough Distillery with a vision to revive craft distilling in Ireland, this gin won the Country Gold Award in the World Gin Awards in 2021 for the flavoured gins category. Three types of wild rose from the Wicklow mountains are foraged to create this fragrant gin. It pairs really well with lemonade or rose lemonade.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £31.62 (usually more!)

Inclusivity in a gin collection is important. Try to balance the needs of both yourself and guests. Your collection of classic and contemporary gins should feel good to open up, you should love every bottle in there and know that all five senses are stimulated. By embracing the richness of gin diversity across the British Isles and beyond we can support the gin distillers, our ecosystem, and stimulate the economy in UK. Long may the success of gin continue!

By Robbie Jerram

Last Minute Gift Ideas for Drinks Lovers: Distillery Tours in the UK & Ireland

Distillery and winery tours make for amazing gifts for anyone who’s into their drinks, and they’re usually not as expensive as you might think. Getting up close and personal with whisky, gin or wine production really brings the drink to life, and these tours from across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland do exactly that, each with rave reviews and in spectacular locations.

Whisky Distillery Tours

Jameson Distillery Bow Street, Dublin

This place is an absolute monument to Irish Whiskey. If you didn’t know, then Jameson is the best-selling Irish whiskey in the world, so it’s no surprise that they have a top notch set up to explore it. Conveniently, it’s also in Dublin so easy to get to. John Jameson founded this former factory in 1780, and you can tailor your experience there by budget and activities. Options include all kinds of tasting sessions at the Jameson centrepiece bar, how to blend your own whiskey, a big focus on whiskey cocktails, and all the rich history too.

Find more info here

Glenfiddich, Dufftown

William Grant laid the first stones to this distillery in 1886, making it one of the oldest family-owned Scotch whisky distilleries going. It’s world-renowned, and the 35-hectare site in the Valley of the Deer (between Aberdeen and Inverness) is one of the most impressive distilleries to explore. Explore picturesque pagodas, a traditional aging warehouse, giant stillhouses and bottling lines, with rich details every step of the way, that only come with so much heritage and experience. The guides have a great reputation, opening up the world of Glenfiddich for you, and all before a generous taste of the good stuff – golden Speyside Scotch. There are so many wonderful distilleries, but if we have to pick one, this is probably the one to visit.

Find more info here

Penderyn, Brecon Beacons

Though they have two other distilleries in Swansea and Llandudno, Brecon Beacons is the original 2004 site for Penderyn, the distillery that brought whisky back to Wales. This award-winning 1-hour tour welcomes more than 40,000 visitors a year to the easy-on-the-eye Brecon Beacons. Visitors see everything – the mill, the mash turn, the state-of-the-art stills, and it’s all finished with a sample of the acclaimed whisky itself. It’s not got centuries behind it like some distilleries in the UK, but it’s making history all the same.

Find more info here

The English Distillery, Norfolk

Just like Wales, whisky distilleries have been popping up in England over the last two decades, and the more relaxed manufacturing rules and warmer climate allow for different, experimental whiskies. When King (then Prince) Charles opened The English Distillery in rural Norfolk in 2005, it was the first of its kind in a century. A prolific and acclaimed malt whisky producer, the tour operates 7 days a week, showcasing the magnificent distilling floor, barrel warehouse and more. The tour is known for devilish detail whilst also being easy to follow, and those that don’t wish to take part can take a stroll by the stunning nearby river.

Find more info here

Gin Distillery Tours

Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Hampshire

World-famous, the Bombay Sapphire Distillery in Hampshire is a must for any gin lover. The site once housed a Victorian paper mill, and the derelict redbrick has been intertwined with modern architectural beauty, like the glasshouse centrepiece, which contains all the Bombay botanicals. The reviews are impressive, the pictures are stunning, and a recent 2021 upgrade brought in a cinema room and refreshed cocktail menu to match the interactive cocktail bar. It’s a botanical paradise, exploring the masterful details of how the ingredients become the liquid, as well as fascinating ecology and sustainability tricks. There are plenty of tour options too for flexibility.

Find more info here

Edinburgh Gin, Edinburgh

This is the place to go for insight into the Scottish capital’s rich history with juniper, and you also get to visit one of the most stunning cities in Europe. The working distillery has such an atmosphere that its one of the top ranked attractions a city full of them. The bar and visitor centre is subterranean enhancing the vibe, where you can taste their award-winning gins (the Rhubarb is a favourite of ours), and exactly what you try (or your giftee if you’re still feeling selfless) is up to you – there’s chocolate pairings, mixology adventures, or the classic distillery tasting experience.

Find more info here

Gower Gin, Swansea

We love Gower’s GWYR gin for its pure feel, and it turns out that their tour experience is just as good. A far cry form giant distillery tours, this is intimate. The husband-and-wife team behind this Welsh gin started in a ‘bike shed’ at the end of their garden, and still do things on a small scale at their charming micro-distillery. Foraged botanicals like gorse flower, sea buckthorn and linen meet quirky additions such as teas and cubeb pepper, and everything is inspired by the seaside or Welsh influences. They now have their peaceful tasting garden available… and you get all of that for free! Yep, free. So if you’re gifting it, maybe you can give them money to buy a bottle at the end… because they’ll definitely want to.

Find more info here

Dingle Distillery, County Kerry

The great thing about Dingle Distillery in Ireland is that it’s not just award-winning gin produced there, but whiskey and vodka too, so you get a unique insight into what it takes to master different spirits up close. The generous guided tour covers the entire production process, from working with local farms to finessing the final product… which you will get to sample of course. It’s a really well put together enthusiastic and informative experience, and the local port town of Dingle is well worth a visit too.

Find more info here

Winery and Vineyard Tours

Simpsons Estate, Kent

If anywhere is the home of English wine, it has to be Kent. Nestled covertly amongst the North Downs slopes, not far from Canterbury, lies the Simpsons Estate, headed up by Charles and Ruth, veterans of the English wine revival. The area itself is already an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and that’s before the vineyard, where you’ll walk the iconic Roman Road and learn everything from in the vine to wine process. To finish, the Glass House Tasting Room looks out over the winery, where visitors can try the traditional method fizz or innovative 100% Pinot Meunier. The sunset session is very memorable indeed, if it’s available.

Find more info here

Camel Valley, Cornwall

This stunning Cornish vineyard was the first in the UK to be awarded a PDO (Protected Designation Origin) from the EU for its Darnibole vineyard, so it really is special and unique. It’s been refined since the 80s, when English wine was dismissed by many… but they are one of the wineries that have blazed a trail for it. Their Cornwall Brut is famous, they produce a range of red, white, and sparkling wines. Different tastings and tours can be booked, from Daily Guides which cover the fascinating fundamentals of winemaking, to the special Grand Tour.

Find more info here

Glyndwr Vineyard, Wales

In the utterly beautiful Vale of Glenmorgan is Wales’ oldest vineyard, Glyndwr Vineyard, family run since 1979. Their production portfolio is expansive, and features wines that have been picked for the Parliament, the Ryder Cup and NATO. The quaint setting would make for a delightful walk even without the vineyard, but the tour is such good value. The owner does the tour, so knows the place inside out, from the history to the vines to the lamas also on site! The reviews speak for themselves – the tour is so informative, personal and generous, and the setting couldn’t be prettier.

Find more info here

Wicklow Wines, Ireland

You might not think of Ireland when you think of wineries, but Wicklow Wines are the exception. They’ve been lauded over by TripAdvisor, Vogue, Lonely Planet and Michelin star restaurants, offering a behind-the-scenes tour of their small, working winery. They make incredible berried wines, which will be tasted alongside Irish cheeses and chocolates. It was even voted the 2nd best food and drink experience in Ireland!

Find more info here

Of course, this is just a taste of some of the best wineries, vineyards and distilleries in the UK and Ireland, but there are more offering fabulous experiences, many of which we visited in previous series of The Three Drinkers! You can find more Scotch Whisky tours here, more Irish Whiskey tours here, and more English wineries here!

The Best UK Vineyard Stays

What’s better than a visit to a UK winery? An overnight stay at one. Book into the best, and after the daytrippers head home you’ll be left to bed down with bottles of fine English fizz – and to wake to a sunrise over sleepy rows of vines. If it wasn’t for that hallmark British summer weather (ahem), you’d swear you were in the south of France…

Rathfinny Wine Estate, East Sussex

Encircled by gently sloping vineyards and open Sussex skies, Rathfinny’s historic Flint Barns are Instagram-perfect inside and out. Ten rooms come with a shared snug – accented with exposed brick walls, cushy leather sofas and a wood burner – though better for summertime is the courtyard, a dreamy place to savour the Classic Cuvée sparkling, a typical Champagne blend aged for 36 months in bottle. Given you’re just three miles from the coast, break up sipping sessions with strolls to nearby chalk cliffs and beaches. Return for gastropub-style cooking in the onsite restaurant, plus hearty breakfasts of shakshuka or oozy Burford Brown eggs.

Book here

Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey

One of England’s oldest and best-known wineries, Denbies gives good vineyard: 265 acres of it, to be specific. And tucked among the manicured rows of Bacchus, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rondo you’ll find a properly lovely hotel. Seventeen rooms, dressed in contemporary stylings with citrussy pops of colour, stripey hues and (as you’d expect) enticing views over the estate, are split between an 1850s restored farmhouse and a new extension, The Brokes. Pick the wing that suits you best, drop your bags, then head off on a tour and tasting – there are several to chose from – or for a lazy meal at one of the multiple on-site restaurants. 

Book here

Three Choirs, Gloucestershire

Get that camera ready. Floor-to-ceiling – and wall-to-wall – windows on the contemporary lodges at Three Choirs mean that scenic vistas to vineyard and lake pervade every minute of your stay. Just a short stroll from the winery’s popular tasting area – but pleasantly private – the lodges also come with wraparound verandas, so you can soak up the summer sunshine over a glass of Three Choirs elderflower and nettle-scented Bacchus, or strawberry-bright Pinot Noir Rosé Sparkling. You’ll get a discount on the informative afternoon vineyard tour, too, a natural follow up to a tapas lunch of patatas bravas, blackened padrón peppers and smoked mackerel pâté.

Book here 

The Fallow Treehouse, Hampshire

How to make a vineyard stay even more spectacular? Combine it with an epic, luxury treehouse. This glam pad in the Test Valley, on the edge of award-winning Black Chalk Wine’s vineyard, is built around a mature tree and comes with an outdoor bathtub, herringbone wood floors, button-back sofas and a toilet straight out of a glossy interiors mag. (And, of course, a bottle of Black Chalk Classic 2015 sparkling, a crisp blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.) Visit during harvest and you can watch the grapes being plucked over your morning cuppa; come in November, and you can partake in truffle hunting tours among the neighbouring trees.

Book here

Oxney Organic, East Sussex

The very picture of a cutesy English cottage, Oxney’s Vineyard House is perfect for a small crowd – it will sleep you plus seven of your nearest and dearest, across three bedrooms within grape’s toss of the vines. Tumble out from the beamed-ceiling interior on a Saturday morning to join a tour around the vineyards, then return for a BBQ feast in the sprawling garden. Travelling as a twosome? Book the quaint shepherd’s hut instead, set in a small paddock near Pinot Noir grapes. Throw open the French doors, then enjoy your complimentary bottle of wine in a cute picnic area, complete with fire pit. When darkness falls, there’s a wood burner to keep you cosy.

Book here

Llanerch Vineyard Hotel, Wales

It’s not just the rows of photogenic vines – taken in through floor-to-ceiling windows from homely but contemporary rooms – that draw visitors to this hotel. There’s the slick restaurant, serving up fluffy scones at afternoon tea and heirloom beetroot tarts at dinner. And, of course, the top-notch cookery school from chef Angela Gray, where you’ll learn to whip up barbecue fish tacos or grilled mascarpone peaches with bourbon caramel. Join a tour around the vines, sip your way through the Cariad wine range, then retire to a suite, dressed in white walls, countryside prints and cushy throw pillows.

Book here

Don’t fancy a stay but still want to enjoy yourself? Then how about checking out some of the Best Cocktail Terraces in London? Or if it’s a city stay you are looking for, click here for more hotel inspiration!