Although the British Isles is considered the home of gin, this article is a love letter to a unique collection of eight interesting gins from other world nations that are currently getting noticed. Let’s call it ‘Around the World in Eight Gins’!
Although some may be harder to find than others, once experienced, it won’t be hard to see why each is so highly regarded by judges and why they stand out in the global gin market because of local terroir, botanical herbs, fruit, flowers, or in recognition of their innovation and craftsmanship.
Our tour of these world gins begins in Spain, where gin drinking was first taken to legendary new heights back when gin and tonic was turned into an art form.
GIN MARE MEDITERRANEAN GIN (SPAIN)
Gin Mare is an iconic spirit brand, characterised by its savoury Mediterranean-inspired botanical profile of Spanish Arbequina olives, Greek thyme, rosemary from Turkey and Italian basil. The perfect gin to manage the emotions, this heady herbaceous gin gets you into a holiday spirit. As its aromas heighten the senses, you’re mentally transported to a place in the sun where vistas of azure blue sea brush with mother nature’s herbal bounty and coax you to taste the sunshine. As their marketing states: the Med is more than a place, it’s an attitude.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 42.7%
Find here: £37.50
MONKEY 47 SCHWARZWALD DRY GIN (GERMANY)
Monkey 47 is named after its 47 botanicals (including lingonberries) many of which are sourced from Germany’s Black Forest. What’s special about this dry gin is the obsession with variety and innovation. They’ve fine-tuned a production process involving maceration, batch distillation, percolation and oxidisation. The local water used is soft and high quality and the handcrafted final product is bottled at a healthy 47% ABV. The custom-made, decanter-style bottles are dark glass to keep the exotically aromatic liquid protected from harmful ultraviolet rays. The gin is crisp, citrus-forward, reassuringly heavy and, as you’d expect, complex enough to please a true gin enthusiast’s curiosity.
Size: 500ml
ABV: 47%
Find here: £41.95
DOROTHY PARKER NEW YORK GIN (USA)
Deemed by some as the best American floral gin, Dorothy Parker Gin from the New York Distilling Company is made using a blend of traditional and contemporary botanical ingredients including juniper, elderberries, citrus, cinnamon and hibiscus petals. Although the floral notes are prominent, this is still very much a proper gin. The cinnamon spiciness develops wonderfully and is fantastic in gin cocktails.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 44%
Find here: £34.75
FOUR CORNERS AMERICAN GIN (USA)
Made ‘from America’, this all-American gin is handcrafted using ingredients crisscrossing all four corners of the United States including wild juniper from the Pacific Northwest, yerba santa from the Mojave desert to Maine cranberries and wild cherry bark from Florida. The wide variety of botanicals works in harmony to showcase the best of the nation’s regions in one glass. It’s a terroir gin that celebrates the diverse and vast, iconic landscapes of the country. This gin was created to be a true taste of America and celebrated its success when it won double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: $43.99
AMAZZONI GIN (BRAZIL)
The gin boom in Brazil is in full swing. Made at the first dedicated gin distillery in Brazil, Amázzoni Gin includes five botanical ingredients unique only to Brazil that shine alongside more traditional gin botanicals. These include cocoa, Brazilian chestnut, maxixe (a local cucumber-like vegetable) water lily and cipò cravo, a native flower similar to clove. It’s naturally earthy, floral and has some spice. A must-try.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £37.25
GEELONG GIN (AUSTRALIA)
Adelaide-based Australian Distilling Co’s Geelong Gin out-tasted 60 gins from some of the world’s greatest gin brands this year when it won the overall Best of Class Platinum Award at the 2024 International SIP Awards. Proudly parochial, this uniquely Australian dry gin champions local ingredients to taste of the community that inspired it with overtones of raspberry sweetness to balance its peppermint gum and black pepper flavours. A story of innovation waiting to be discovered, Geelong is designed to be paired with a basil garnish in a G&T served as an aperitif.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 42.7%
Find here: $83.00
ROKU GIN (JAPAN)
In Japan Roku means ‘six’ and each bottle of Suntory Roku Gin is infused with six uniquely Japanese botanicals that ripen throughout the year. Celebrating all four seasons of Japan, harvests occur at the peak of their season or “shun”. They include floral cherry blossom (sakura flowers are handpicked in Spring), and herbal Sencha and Gyokuro teas (plucked in Summer). In autumn it's time for the spicy Sansho pepper and winter is when the zingy yuzu fruit bursts into ripeness. Celebrate the bounty of nature, and careful craftsmanship and experience a year in Japan in every sip. Garnish with thin slices of ginger in a gin and tonic.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £31 (£25 Clubcard Price)
INDLOVU PINK GIN (SOUTH AFRICA)
Don’t poo poo this South African gin until you’ve tried it - it’s made using elephant-foraged botanicals, yes, ingredients eaten - then excreted - by elephants. Despite a varied diet, elephants only digest around 50% of their food which leaves a rich variety of pre-foraged plant life including roots, bark, fruit, flowers and seeds behind for reuse! To make Indlovu Pink Gin (Indlovu means elephant) the dung is collected by hand, GPS coordinates and date of collection noted, then dutifully washed, sterilised and dried for distillation with other ingredients including prickly pear. “The Bare Necessities of life will come to you” and give back as 15% of profits are donated to the Africa Foundation to support wildlife conservation. A gin that encapsulates the spirit of Africa and dares to be different is never to be forgotten. The circle of life.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: R369.00
So, the question is, how adventurous a gin lover are you? What flavours from around the world will you be adding to your home gin collection next and how much will you enjoy sipping these diverse gins that are so deserving of your attention? Happy sipping!
By Robbie Jerram
