Gin and tonic. A classic combination. Refreshing, punchy, and a delight on a warm summer evening.
This wonderful beverage has dramatically increased in popularity in recent years, and it’s not hard to see why!
However, with this increased popularity, has also come an almost overwhelming number of different gin types on the market.
Whether you’re a gin lover or a total newbie, this can be overwhelming and confusing.
That’s why we’re here to help. Take a look at the 12 best gins for gin and tonics below. There’s something for everyone!
The 12 Best Gins For Gin And Tonics
OUR TOP PICK
We just had to kick this list off with the wonderful Hendricks Gin.
Whether you’re a total gin newbie or a bonafide gin aficionado, you’ll be able to recognize the apothecary-style bottle that contains Hendricks gin.
This gin pays homage to the traditional British garden. Rather than keeping with the classic London Dry variety, Hendricks gin boasts a far fresher and more floral style.
It ensures that your G & T is refreshing and botanical.
EDITORS CHOICE
If you are celebrating and fancy splashing the cash on a delicious bottle of gin that is certain to elevate your cocktails to another level, then you should consider purchasing a bottle of Nolet’s Silver gin.
Thanks to its heavy rose, peach, and raspberry notes, this gin works beautifully with tonic.
If you prefer a gin that is more fruit and floral forward than dry, you will absolutely love Nolet’s Silver.
Serve it with tonic, ice, and a few berries or some mint to really bring it to life!
BEST VALUE
If you like your gin to some extent with a punch (and who doesn’t?), then you should definitely check out the Caorunn Highland Strength Scottish Gin.
With a 54% ABV, this gin certainly isn’t to be missed. This is a Scottish gin that is based on 5 traditional Celtic ingredients.
When tasting, you’ll note that heather, Coul Blush apple, and dandelion have a particularly heavy influence.
In turn, this gin has an unrivaled earthy character with fruity overtones. It isn’t to be missed!
RUNNER UP
If you don’t have much of a sweet tooth and prefer savory flavors, you will love the Gin Mare Mediterranean Gin.
It has an array of savory spices that sit front and center on the palate, making it full, warm, and absolutely delicious.
When you open this bottle, you’ll instantly be hit with aromas of fennel seed, coriander, juniper, and rosemary.
On the palate, it has strong notes of pepper and menthol, which work beautifully with any good tonic.
RUNNER UP
Beefeater has an incredible reputation for producing affordable and high-quality London Dry gins, and their London Pink Gin is absolutely no exception.
If you’re a pink gin lover, or you just want to add a twist to your classic dry G & T, this is a great one to try.
Different pink gins tend to use a range of different red and pink vegetables, fruits, and spices to create the gorgeous color.
This pink gin utilizes strawberries to do so, which gives it a subtle sweetness on the palate.
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Sipsmith’s range of gins seems to be growing in popularity exponentially, and it’s not hard to see why!
VJOP stands for ‘Very Junipery Over Proof’, which eludes to the high juniper content of this gin to match its whopping 57.7% ABV.
It is worth mentioning that this isn’t a gin for newbies or people who are just beginning to get used to typical gin flavors. This one is for true gin lovers.
The botanicals have been carefully curated to make a punchy but complex tipple.
RUNNER UP
This gin is perfect for those of you who love a floral and herbal number. In fact, it's a great, high-quality gin to try if you're new to the world of gin.
It is light and refreshing on the palate, but it still has a nice complexity.
The ingredients list for this gin is rather impressive. It includes 22 hand-foraged botanicals that work to create a gorgeous aroma full of wildflowers and juniper.
Every time you open the bottle you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to a Scottish wild meadow!
RUNNER UP
If you’re skeptical when it comes to American gins, this one will definitely quash all of your concerns.
Produced in Brooklyn, the Greenhook Ginsmiths American Dry Gin is truly unique and something that every gin lover needs to try.
On the nose, this gin gives aromas of rosemary pine, and wood chips. However, it is the spicy palate that makes it very special.
If you’re a fan of highball cocktails in addition to classic gin and tonics, this is an excellent choice.
RUNNER UP
This gin is a tribute to juniper. Its focus on the single ingredient makes it a rather spectacular gin.
In fact, if you were thinking that such a drink would be one-dimensional, you couldn’t be more mistaken.
The focus on juniper provides a robust core, on top of which notes of lemon and pepper add a complexity and freshness.
At 49.3% ABV, this gin is stronger than average, but the overall experience is well-balanced.
RUNNER UP
If you know anything about whiskey, you’ll be interested to know that Roku somes from Suntory, the Japanese whiskey giant that has produced iconic brands such as Hakushu and Yamazaki.
And, their gin is also something quite special! If you’re looking for something different to explore, this gin is the perfect choice.
It honestly represents the classic flavors of Japan.
It’s foundation utilizes sakura, yuzu peel, green tea, and sansho pepper, which give this gin a totally unique and delicious flavor.
RUNNER UP
If the thought of a Japanese gin excites you, but you prefer a more fruity gin than the one described above, the Nikka Coffey Gin may just be a perfect match for you.
It is light, sweet, smooth, and slightly spicy on the palate. In fact, the botanical lineup for this gin is quite special.
It includes citrus fruits native to Japan, such as yuzu, kabosu, shequasar, and amanatsu, in addition to more traditional ingredients such as coriander and juniper berries.
RUNNER UP
Finally, we couldn’t finish this list without including the great Stray Dog Wild Gin. This is one of the most innovative and delicious gins on the market today.
It has a well-balanced and smooth finish that works beautifully with tonic and ice.
It has aromas of sage and bay leaf, but a palate that highlights fresh citrus notes and cardamom.
If you opt for this gin, we recommend serving it with tonic, ice, and fresh sage and rosemary for the best results. This combination will wow any guests you have over!
Tips For The Best Gin And Tonic
Making a simple gin and tonic is easy. However, this humble drink can be transformed into something truly special with the right ingredients and methods.
To learn how to elevate your classic gin and tonic, take a look at our favorite tips and tricks below.
Choosing The Right Gin
Obviously, the most important aspect of a gin and tonic is the gin.
This aspect comes down mostly to personal preference - so it may take some trial and error before you find the right gin for you.
As such, it’s important to remember that disliking one type of gin doesn’t mean that you’ll dislike them all.
For instance, if London Dry didn’t work for you, it's likely that a more fruity gin will do the trick!
Choosing The Right Tonic
Tonic water is often overlooked when it comes to making gin and tonics. However, it accounts for most of the drink, and as such, plays a very important role in the overall flavor and experience.
Classic tonic water is the most common type used in gin and tonics. IT tends to have a botanical backdrop and it pairs well with almost all gins.
However, it pairs particularly well with London Dry gins. If you want to try something a little different, you may be more interested in flacvored tonic waters.
You can get tonics flavored with pretty much anything these days, from basil to orange, and everything in between.
If you do want to try out a flavored tonic, we recommend pairing it with a dry gin.
This is because flavored tonics tend to be sweeter, which can be too overwhelming when paired with a sweet or floral gin.
Choosing The Right Garnish
Choosing the right garnish can feel like an intimidating and overwhelming task. However, it doesn’t take an expert gin taster to be able to understand what to pair with which gin.
In fact all you need to do is read the label on the gin bottle!
For example, if the label states that the gin includes orange peel, garnishing with a slice or orange peel will help to elevate those flavors and bring the drink together.
The same goes for lemon peel. You can also use the garnish to create contrasting flavors.
For instance if you notice that your gin has many citrus ingredients, a sweet garnish (e.g. strawberries) may work to bring the gin and tonic to life!
Choosing The Right Glassware
Finally, it’s worth noting that the glassware can make a difference to the experience of drinking a gin and tonic.
Different styles of glassware will have different purposes - they definitely aren’t just made to look pretty!
The traditional style of gin class, called the Copa glass, has a large brim.
This leaves more room for garnishing, and allows the aroma of the drink to concentrate and transport straight to your nose. If your gin is complex, this is the perfect style of glass.
Highball glasses are also great for gin and tonics. The length of the glass works to keep the drink carbonated for longer, and they also have more room for mixers.
As such, if you're a slow drinker or you prefer a weaker tipple, a highball glass is ideal. Finally, you could also use a rockball glass for a gin and tonic.
These are perfect for people who like a stronger gin and tonic, as they fit less tonic.
We recommend using these glasses if you want to savour and really taste a particularly expensive gin.
Conclusion
Gin and tonic is one of the best combinations. We hope that this list of top-quality gins has inspired you to give a new tipple a try!
I want to share with you all of my favorites, as well as share advice on picking certain alcohols and flavors.
I hope you enjoy my articles as much as I enjoyed researching them!
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