Alongside Dry January, there was also Ginuary for those of us still heartily sipping away. Gin has been massively popular for years now, with a steady stream of botanical beauties focusing on sustainability, local ingredients, unique terroir, and innovative, fresh flavours. It helps that the bottles tend to be easy on the eye too.
But, as with any drinks trend, there are some not so impressive bottles sneaking in. With another gincredible year ahead of us, these are some of the bottles we really enjoyed this Ginuary to look out for in 2024.
Sassenach Wild Scottish Gin
We’ve featured some of the Sassenach portfolio a few times because it really is one of the finest ‘celebrity drinks’ going. If you don’t know, it’s the passion project of Outlander star Sam Heughan (aka Jamie Fraser). It’s a London Dry style that brings together 8 Dumfries and Galloway botanicals for remarkable freshness with rhubarb, bramble leaf, crabapple, toasted oats, and heather to name a few. The juniper heart is stunning. From the bottle to the last sip, everything about this gin is stunning.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £44.90
Greater Than Broken Bat Gin
The winner of the Gin Guide Awards for India last year, this is a really interesting London dry style gin because it’s infused with toasted Kashmir willow... sourced from broken cricket bats. The resulting notes of mellow, woody vanilla intertwine with a little sweet spice for a distinct sipper that, at 47%, won’t go unnoticed. More Asian botanical based gins are expected in 2024, and this could be one of the most popular.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 47%
Find here: £36.95
Sir Edmond Gin
This is an incredible smooth Dutch gin with that has picked up some of the most prestigious awards going. If you like vanilla, then you will love this because Réunion Island vanilla takes centre stage alongside prominent juniper. The fundamental botanical backdrop (angelica and cardamom) lay in the wings alongside the warmth of ginger and cinnamon for sweet and earthy gem.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £38.82
Henstone Rosè Gin
There is so much going on with this gin, which goes some way to explaining its emphatic victory in the highly competitive British category at Gin Guide Awards last year. First off, and what hits you on the nose, the oak. It’s aged in American oak giving a richness normally associated with whisky. These earthy woody notes carry a little spice with coriander and cardamom, and in terms of Rosé, expect less berries and more vanilla florality.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 44.9%
Find here: £38.50
Blackeye Gin
Behind this gin are rugby legends Alex Payne, James Haskell, and Mike Tindall, and £1.50 from each sale goes to the Blackeye Rugby Fund to aid research and recovery. It’s citrus forward this one, with a scrum of botanicals from some of the world’s biggest rugby playing nations. It’s even got a secret ingredient don’t you know! For a citrussy G&T, there’s not much better.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £35.95
Sky Wave Signature London Dry Gin
If you’re into gin, then there’s a good chance you’re on board with Sky Wave already, but if not then 2024 is the year for it. A craft distillery from two adventures in Oxfordshire, they celebrate the places they’ve been as well as their home country. They’ve just had a premium rebrand that looks stunning, but more importantly the liquid inside is amazing. Winning gong after gong, their signature London Dry is zinging with crisp and tangy notes and balanced sweetness with locally foraged blackberries and raspberries. It used to be 500ml, but now it’s 700ml, which you will be very grateful for after that first sip.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £41.84 (usually more!)
Ukiyo Yuzu Gin
Yuzu has been one of the botanicals blazing a trail for Asian gins, and we expect that to continue because it is delicious. This Japanese gin makes the most of it, delivering a citrus explosion (similar to grapefruit and mandarin). The base spirit uses distilled shochu, which is redistilled with juniper, mandarin and of course, yuzu. Expect aromatic zest and elegant tang. One for summer.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £36.90
Broken Bones Old Tom Gin
This is one of the best Old Toms we’ve tried. Distilled in Ljublijana, Slovenia, it focuses on local juniper and a big hit of floral botanicals with rosehips and linden flowers. Slovenian honey is added for signature Old Tom sweetness, and it is just so difficult not to love the final expression. Serial award winner, bright with florality and citrus, a little juniper spice – nom. It costs a bit more than most at 500ml, but it is so worth it, honestly.
Size: 500ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £44.49
These are the gins we think have a big year ahead of them, but of course there are many more that we loved last year. If a classic G&T is your go to, then what about these beauties?