GIN-gle all the way this festive season with our top 12 gins.
The Lakes Gin
The new flagship Lakes Gin is a classic London dry style gin distilled with the luxury of time. Following the philosophy of less is more, The Lakes’ whiskymaker, Dhavall Gandhi, has recreated the original recipe using only a select few botanicals that are also the preferred choice of perfumers and chefs seeking to create the perfect aroma and taste experiences.
Flavour Notes
Dhavall uses the very best ingredients to ensure consistency and year-round freshness and juniper, coriander and angelica provide the gin’s flavour cornerstones. Orris root, cassia bark and liquorice offer complementary flavours, with orange and lemon peel enhancing the gin’s citrus notes.
Where to Buy
The Lakes Gin is £33 for a 70cl.
Isle of Harris
The Isle of Harris is a small island in the Outer Hebrides, off the far north-western coast of Scotland, on the edge of the wild Atlantic Ocean. It is an ancient and elemental place, exposed to wind and waves, with high hills, open moorland, beautiful golden sands and rugged shores. The Isle of Harris Distillery, or the Social Distillery as it is often referred to, was opened in October 2015, in the small harbour village of Tarbert.
The award-winning Isle of Harris Gin is the distillery’s inaugural spirit, distilled in Tarbert in a small copper gin still, known as ‘The Dottach’. Juniper, Coriander, Angelica Root, Orris Root, Cubebs, Bitter Orange Peel, Liquorice and Cassia Bark all play their role in defining the taste of the gin, but it is Sugar kelp that marks out this spirit.
Sustainably harvested by a local diver from around the seas of the Outer Hebrides, the Sugar kelp creates subtle coastal notes.
Flavour Notes
Refreshing, with good balance between the bitter juniper and pine and the sweet fruit flavours of mango, grapefruit and orange. A green herb flavour develops with crushed coriander. Distinctive and smooth with a dry, flinty taste.
Where to Buy
Each bottle is sent directly from the distillery, in the Outer Hebrides and is also available for immediate pick-up across the UK through the Click & Collect service for a £2.00 per bottle handling fee.
Noveltea – Alcoholic Tea
It’s refreshing, sophisticated and perfect for any festive soiree. Noveltea: The Taste of Earl Grey – that’s tea with gin – will take your taste buds on an adventure.
Drink it cold – with a slice of orange – or heat it up for a winter warmer of a drink.
Flavour Notes
Aromatic and slightly dry, touches of bitter basil leaf complement subtle sweetness and spices alongside elegant tea notes.
Where to Buy
Noveltea A Taste of Earl Grey, £24,95
Hedgerow Gin – Blackberry and Apple
Born and raised in the countryside of Yorkshire is Hedgerow Gin – and the Blackberry and Apple is a delightful and delicious must-have for any gin lover.
Flavour Notes
Its subtle fruit flavour is ideal for those with a drier palate. Pair with an original tonic or ginger ale to enhance the juiciness of the plumb berries.
Where to Buy
Hedgerow Gin – Blackberry and Apple, £37.95
Durham Gin
Founded in 2014 by Jon Chadwick, Durham Distillery was born after Jon enjoyed a fair amount of craft spirits along America’s East Coast during a road trip.
Jon decided to put his skills to use setting up a distillery in his hometown of Durham, initially launching with Durham Gin.
Jon wanted to stay true to gin’s traditional characteristics whilst offering a reflection of the city in which it was being produced.
After building a micro-still from laboratory glass to test combinations and sampling dozens of gins from around the world, it wasn’t long before the distinctive taste of Durham Gin was born.
Flavour Notes
Soft juniper with a spicy edge, paired wonderfully with savoury cooking herbs and light, fruity sweetness.
Where to Buy
Newcastle Gin – Rhubarb and Ginger
Newcastle Rhubarb and Ginger Gin 40% full strength flavoured gin packs a punch with plenty of rhubarb – but backed up with a smack of ginger.
Flavour Notes
A dryer overall taste with a subtle sweetness from the rhubarb
Where to Buy
Newcastle Gin – Rhubarb and Ginger, £31.95
Poetic License
Poetic License Independent Small Batch Distillery is based in the North East of England. Its new gin liqueur “Tutti Frutti” is the first one produced with the new Head Distiller, Ben Murphy and Senior Distiller, Lewis Hendry. The gin liqueur has an ABV of 21% and is available in a 70cl bottle, a departure from their normal range of gin liqueurs which are available in 50cl bottles only.
Flavour Notes
It features the brilliant, zingy flavours of pineapple, kiwi, cherry, apple and peach.
Where to Buy
Tutti Frutti, £21.95 for the 70cl bottle.
Hepple Gin
From the Moorland Spirit Co comes Hepple Gin Sloe and Hawthorn. A well rounded twist on the classic sloe gin, the intense flavours have been captured through Hepple’s triple distilling technique.
Flavour Notes
Earthy notes of dry hawthorn and spicy, piney juniper alongside rich and sweet sloe berries.
Where to Buy
Hepple Gin Sloe and Hawthorn, £28.95
Quaker Gin
It’s been a dream come true for Paul and Leanne Colman who set up The Little Quaker Distillery two years ago. Expect bold flavours from Quaker Gin, which is produced in the UK’s smallest craft distillery. The gin won a bronze medal in the 2019 International Wine and Spirits competition.
Flavour Notes
Quaker gin is a cool refreshing gin that hits the senses with fresh citrus flavours that come from the lemon, orange and grapefruit. The citrus is followed by a smooth lingering cultured taste of summer fruits that comes from the injection of the Morello cherries with hints of blackcurrant and strawberry undertones.
Where to Buy
The Botanist Gin
An exploration of the botanical heritage of the Isle of Islay, The Botanist features 22 locally-foraged botanicals. An absolute corker of a gin that will pull out all the punches at any festive bash.
Flavour Notes
Big notes of citrus, delicate menthol and flowers.
Where to Buy
Masons Yorkshire Gin
Masons Yorkshire Gin was created by Karl and Cathy Mason, gin enthusiasts with no prior knowledge of the industry, who set out to produce a drink that stood out from the crowd – a unique gin with more character and more taste.
Flavour Notes
Bold and aromatic, with smooth juniper, rich cardamom, fennel, coriander and warm spiced flavours leading to a refreshing orange and juniper finish.
Where to Buy
Bombay Sapphire
It’s a household name and the spirit of innovation and inspiration is not only embodied in this gin, but in the Master of Botanicals himself, Ivano Tonutti. Travelling to the four corners of the world, Ivano has developed personal relationships with each and every supplier, some going back decades.
He uses up to 12 botanicals in the gin – which is excellent in a Martini.
Flavour Notes
Light and piney juniper, with a soft peppery warmth and subtle sweetness of sugared almond and angelica.
Where to Buy
