I used to think I didn't like gin as all you could really get was Gordan's with Schweppes tonic (a combination that I still hate with a passion). However, my Grandad introduced me to some different options and showed me that gin was definitely my drink.
When I moved up to Leeds, it was a bit eye-opening, as there were way more types of gin available than in the south-west at the time. This is when I started trying more varieties and first signed up to Craft Gin Club, which is now a monthly treat that I always look forward to. When my Grandad gave me the antique drink cabinet I had always liked, I promised that one day I would totally fill it.
In the end, not only did I fill it, but I also ended up buying two more drinks cabinets that are also completely full.
Over the years, I've tried some good, bad and amazing gins that I can't get enough of. Even though I tend to have a lot of bottles at any one time, here are 10 gins (in no particular order) that I really love and come back to time and time again.
1. Plymouth Gin
While I have "fancier" gins than Plymouth Gin, there's something to be said for a great gin that stands strong in a G&T without the need for bells and whistles. Even better, Plymouth Gin won't break the bank, so I never feel too guilty about stocking up on another bottle.
I also strongly recommend Plymouth Gin's navy strength and sloe gins, both of which are just as delicious.
2. Whitby Demeter Gin
It's a lovely juniper-forward gin that has sweet notes of plum and vanilla (plum was chosen because they are loved by bats, which is another clever Dracula reference). The aftertaste is slightly spiced but not overly so, meaning you still get to enjoy the beautiful coastal and floral botanicals.
While Whitby Gin The Demeter Edition is lovely with a plain tonic, my favourite serve is with Merchant's Heart Pink Peppercorn tonic. Sometimes I'll also garnish with pink peppercorns but it's also beautiful with a slice of orange.
As this gin was originally a limited edition for Craft Gin Club, I stocked up on several bottles afraid that I wouldn't be able to get it for much longer. Luckily, it was so popular that it is now a permanent member of the Whitby Gin store.
3. Warner's Rhubarb Gin
I've tried a few different rhubarb gins over the years and while they're nice, they are usually on the sweet side and don't quite taste of real rhubarb. This is why I was so happy to discover Warner's Rhubarb Gin.
The first time I tried this gin was during a virtual gin taste in the midst of one of the Covid-19 lockdowns and it was an instant hit. This beautiful gin is made with real rhubarb, giving it that authentic slightly tart rhubarb taste. In fact, a third of every bottle is rhubarb juice, which is why it has a lovely natural pink colour (which can change from bottle to bottle) and a beautiful flavour.
What's also great is that this is a full-strength gin rather than a gin liqueur, so it doesn't have a tonne of added sugar. This really allows the rhubarb to shine through and is one of the reasons it has even beaten my homemade rhubarb gin - not to mention why it has won a lot of awards.
I've served this gin up in several different ways and have to say I have loved it every time. It is perfect with ginger ale, Mediterranean tonic, lemonade and Artisan Pink Citrus Tonic. However, I have to say that my absolute favourite way to drink this gin is with Double Dutch Pomegranate and Basil Tonic - it may sound strange, but it is honestly delicious and you ned to try it!
4. One Gin Sage and Apple Gin
You might think from the name of One Sage and Apple Gin that it is a savoury gin, but this really isn't the case. It has a wonderful fresh taste that combines woody and juniper notes with apple, ending with a subtle herb taste. It's quite a hard one to describe really but trust me when I say you won't be disappointed in this gin.
I also have to give a shout out to One Sage Gin, which is also beautiful. This is a slightly herbier offering with a bit of spice. I picked this one up by accident when intending to get the sage and apple one but didn't regret it and will happily drink it too.
Both of these are fabulous with a a really good tonic, a slice of apple and some fresh sage leaves. However, my favourite way to serve them is in a sage smash cocktail, which is basically the same as a basil smash but with fresh sage. This is the recipe I use, which is delicious (just swap the herb).
5. 58 Gin Apple and Hibiscus Gin
There is a lot I love about this gin, from the drink itself to the fact that the beautiful bottle has been designed with smaller women's hands in mind so it is easier to hold and pour. I'm also a huge fan of the fact that all of the Cox apples that are used to make this gin are waste or surplus, helping to stop them go to landfill while making sure to use their delicious flavour.
Rather than the sickly sweet taste of far too many pink gins, this one is crisp and fresh. As well as the sharpness of the apple, which does add some sweetness to the gin in a natural way, the addition of hibiscus gives it a nice bitterness (as well as the beautiful colour) to create a perfectly balanced gin.
Overall, it's a gorgeously smooth gin that I will happily recommend to anyone - whether they like pink gin or not! My favourite way of serving Apple and Hibiscus gin is actually the way I was recommended by one of the founders of 58 Gin - with Artisan Pink Citrus Tonic. Why try and improve on perfection?
6. Tarquin's Gin
I have a soft spot for Cornwall as my family comes from there, we used to spend a lot of time in the county when I was a child, I went to university there and I just happened to meet my husband in Cornwall (which means we get to go back regularly to see family and friends). So for me, Tarquin's Cornish Dry Gin is a little taste of home.
While Tarquin's bring out a lot of different flavours and interesting gins, I always find myself coming back to this beautiful blue bottle. It very much makes me think of sitting next to the River Fal on a sunny day, which is always a good thing.
Featuring botanicals from Cornwall and around the world, the gin is a beautifully crisp one that gives a great juniper hit along with a well balanced citrus and spice flavour. You get a nice hint of orange and cardamom (a common theme in this list) and it has a wonderful lingering flavour.
I highly recommend giving it a try with a good plain tonic and a slice of orange first to really appreciate the flavour, however, I do agree that Tarquin's perfect serve is Mediterranean tonic, a slice of fresh grapefruit and a sprig or thyme. It will make you feel like you're beside the seaside.
7. Shetland Reel Ocean Sent
Shetland Reel Ocean Sent Gin is basically the sea in a bottle, which I absolutely love. As someone who was born and raised next to the beach and is now living in landlocked Leeds, I love anything that reminds me of the sea.
It's made with seaweed from the Shetland coastline so while it has a nice juniper flavour, it also has salty notes that remind me of walking along the seafront when the sea is wild and spraying. It reminds me of the sea and of home even more when I serve it with a good Indian tonic, a slice of fresh grapefruit and sprig of fresh rosemary.
One thing that is worth noting is the fact that this gin is a strong one. It is easy to drink but at 49% ABV, you can easily find that your legs don't want to work after a few. That being said, there's nothing better than pouring a big glass and sitting outside in the sunshine to enjoy it.
8. Thunderflower Gin
This wonderful craft flower isn't just made in my Devon hometown, it uses local botanicals and Dartmoor spring water. I am a big fan of the legend behind thunder flowers too, which are said to be small white flowers that sometimes grow on thatched roofs and across Dartmoor. These flowers are meant to ward off lightning and witchcraft, so there is definitely a bit of magic in this gin!
It has a lot of flavour, offering up the juniper you expect from a gin made using the London Dry method, as well as earthy notes and a beautiful spiced finish with a cardamom and pink peppercorn taste. It's basically all the things I love about a good gin in one brilliant bottle.
Even better, once I finish a bottle off, I only need to take it with me on my next trip to Devon so I can get it refilled! Maudsleys of Teignmouth stocks a lot of local spirits but also offers a Thunderflower refilling station, which I love as I can keep using the same bottle and avoid waste.
In terms of the perfect serve for this beautiful gin, I like to keep things simple in order to fully enjoy it's flavour. I stick with a good quality Indian tonic and a slice of citrus, which can be lemon, lime, grapefruit or orange as all work perfectly.
9. Lone Wolf Cloudy Lemon Gin
I've had a few lemon gins in the past (one is sat in my cupboard mostly undrunk) but they never really impress me. Often you don't get that sharp lemon flavour or it tastes a bit artificial. Lone Wolf seriously blows all over lemon gins out of the water and is no my go-to fruit gin.
As well as really satisfying natural yellow colour that can change from bottle to bottle, the gin tastes like real lemons. You still get a nice juniper hit and it has the bitterness of a gin rather than the sweetness of a liqueur. It really reminds me of sunny summer days and the cloudy lemonade I used to have as a kid - except it's boozy.
I really enjoy this gin with Fever-Tree's Sicilian Lemon Tonic and a slice of fresh lemon, however, my favourite way of serving it is with Thatcher's Cloudy Lemon Cider and a few slices of frozen lemon. This is my summer-in-the-back-garden drink of choice.
The only downside is that Brew Dog has had a bottle redesign so rather than the cool and striking label featuring a wolf, this and the rest of their gins now looks a bit more non-descript, which is a shame.
10. Grandad's Revenge Gin
I first tried this gin a pub in my hometown on an evening out with my husband to celebrate the anniversary of our very first date. I was intrigued by the name, as it was my Grandad Ron who got me into gin, and ordered a double, only to find that I was soon rather tipsy - not surprising considering it's a navy strength gin at 57%! I ended up not being able to remember the name of it for ages and it wasn't until I went to Maudsleys to refill my Thunderflower Gin that I realised I had finally found the right gin
It's one of the most unusual gins I've tried and actually made me feel a bit emotional (not just because it got me drunk). It genuinely tastes like my Grandad Frank's garden used to smell in the summer. Essentially, this bottle reminds me of both of my grandads who are no longer with us but could both pour a dangerous serve. It's also made not far from where I grew up in Exeter, which is actually where I was born. All of this is why it is so very special to me and why I tend to have a glass when I feel like I could do with a bit of comforting.
Grandad's Revenge Gin is the navy strength version of Granny Garbutt's Gin and is a great way to enjoy amplified flavours if you are a fan. It has a really rich flavour with a lot of depth, combining beautiful juniper with citrus and really earthy notes of spice. It's one of the most complex gins I've tried and is far too drinkable to be as strong as it is.
It's another gin that needs to shine, so it's best served with a premium tonic and a slice of grapefruit to really bring out the flavours. I will say that this is a gin that benefits from being really cold, as it just gets smoother. So as well as ensuring your tonic is cold and you've got plenty of ice, it is well worth sticking the gin itself in the fridge for a few hours before you intend to pour a glass.