The gin-naissance shows no signs of stopping, and more brands are competing to be best gin than ever before. Dozens of new brands have launched over the past 15 years, and while that means plenty of great gins to try, too much choice can be overwhelming.
Part of the problem is that gin is so diverse. Juniper and a minimum 37.5 per cent alcohol percentage are the only requirements for a gin; the bets are off with all of the other ingredients. These days, you’ll find everything from the ever-popular pink gin to rhubarb varieties and even dandelion.
This variety makes gin one of the most exciting drinks on a bar cart. Gin makers can experiment with native botanicals from across the world to express a truly diverse terroir. These experiments aren’t always successful – or even drinkable – but they can lead to unique flavours.
However, gin marketing means that it’s hard to sort the best gins from the worst. There are some beautiful gin bottles lining the shelves, but good looks don’t always make for a great drink.
I’m here to find out whether the contents live up to the packaging. Whether you like it with tonic, on the rocks or in a cocktail, I’ve tested the best gins for every budget, finding exceptional bottles both well-known and underrated.
How we tested
Each gin was tasted and tested across three different serves to establish the following:
- Botanics: Firstly, I tasted the gin neat to get a taste of the botanicals used while distilling the gin. This can range from the essential juniper berries to milk thistle, citrus and even liquorice.
- G&T suitability: I paired each gin with a standard tonic water to see how it performed in its usual setting, judging everything from standout flavours to the smoothness of the drink.
- Other classic cocktails: Plenty of gin lovers opt to use the spirit within a gin sour or martini, so I put each brand to the test in these cocktails to gauge whether they worked best solo or alongside other aromatics, alcohols and mixers.
It sounds like a lot to drink, but I made sure to spit in between each taste test to ensure a fair judgement across the board.
Why you can trust us
Aidy Smith is an award-winning TV presenter, broadcaster and journalist. He is the presenter of Amazon Prime’s award-winning drinks-themed travel series The Three Drinkers and is frequently heard across TV and radio. For IndyBest, he’s tested the best Champagnes, proseccos, whiskies and more, and is well-versed in the latest alcohol launches, from limited edition flavours to new vintage releases.
The best gins for 2025 are:
- Best overall – The Botanist Islay dry gin: £35.25, Thewhiskyexchange.com
- Best budget buy – Beefeater London dry gin: £19.95, Thewhiskyexchange.com
- Best for floral intensity – Ukiyo Japanese blossom gin: £37.99, Thebottleclub.com
- Best for martinis – Papa Salt coastal gin: £34, Masterofmalt.com
- Best for G&Ts – Whitley Neill distillers cut dry gin: £23.75, Thewhiskyexchange.com
The Botanist Islay dry gin
Best: Gin overall
ABV: 46%
Size: 70cl
Country: Scotland
Why we love it
- Wonderfully unique botanical blend
- Silky smooth
This bottle has become a staple on gin lists across Britain, and it's no wonder. Hailing from the remote island of Islay, better known for its whisky output, the Bruichladdich distillery has expertly blended 31 botanicals – 22 of which are hand-foraged from the island itself.
From classics like coriander seed and lemon peel to local gems such as apple mint, creeping thistle, and mugwort leaves, this gin is a wonderful celebration of Islay’s unique flora. All of that effort and expertise leads to a silky smooth spirit with a balanced earthy, sweet, floral and herbal profile. A truly beautiful bottle, inside and out.
Buy now £35.25, Thewhiskyexchange.com
Beefeater London dry gin
Best: Budget gin
ABV: 40%
Size: 70cl
Country: England
Why we love it
- Zesty brightness
- Vibrant
An absolute classic, this gin is still made in London from a recipe that dates back more than 200 years. The award-winning gin is packed with tradition – each botanical is weighed by hand, and the result is a spirit that’s as vibrant as it is reliable.
With bold notes of juniper leading the charge, it combines the zesty brightness of Seville oranges and lemon peel with the warm spiciness of coriander and liquorice, all underpinned by subtle floral tones. Whether in a G&T garnished with orange and lemon slices or stirred into a martini, Beefeater stands proudly as a quintessential London dry gin that delivers on flavour and history without breaking the bank.
Buy now £19.95, Thewhiskyexchange.com
Whitley Neill Distillers cut dry gin
Best: Gin for G&Ts
ABV: 43%
Size: 70cl
Country: England
Why we love it
- Bursting with citrus
This bottle is a love letter to the classic London dry style from distillers that have been in the business for eight generations. Expect a robust juniper backbone complemented by a citrusy burst from dried orange peel. The result is a smooth, bittersweet gin that balances earthiness with delicate florals and subtle white pepper spice.
A double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023 attests to its quality, making it an excellent starting point for those new to the London dry category, or a comforting staple for seasoned gin-drinkers.
Buy now £23.75, Thewhiskyexchange.com
Tarsier southeast Asian dry gin
Best: Gin for standout flavours
ABV: 45%
Size: 70cl
Country: England
Why we love it
- Adventurous flavour profile
- A delicate balance of earthy and citrusy
With so many gins on the market, many fall foul of simply blending into the rest, especially when it comes to flavours – not so with Tarsier. Made in Manchester but with southeast Asian heritage and influence, it’s created with an adventurous blend of traditional gin botanicals and regional treasures such as calamansi, Thai sweet basil, Kampot pepper, and galangal.
The result is a citrus-forward gin with distinct aromatic and savoury notes that give way to a long, peppery finish. The delicate balancing of those punchy citrus notes with the earthy herbs and pepper is an absolute joy.
Buy now £34.99, Masterofmalt.com
Tanqueray paradiso
Best: Lower-alcohol gin
ABV: 30%
Size: 70cl
Country: England
Why we love it
- Light and fresh
- Easy-drinking
Scanning the bottle quickly on the shelf, you’d be forgiven for thinking this is a classic 40 per cent-ish gin, but get closer and you’ll see Tanqueray has added a 30 per cent ‘gin’ (or “spirit drink”, as it says on the label) to its portfolio. With that stunning Copacabana-inspired mosaic and enchanting pale rose hue, you’ll certainly want to take a closer look.
This brand has taken its classic London dry and intertwined it with guava and lemongrass for a taste of Brazilian summer here in the UK. The result is fabulously light and fresh, taming boozy intensity in favour of easy-drinking fruitiness.
Buy now £14.99, Thebottleclub.com
Papa Salt coastal gin
Best: Gin for martinis
ABV: 43%
Size: 70cl
Country: Australia
Why we love it
- Native Australian botanicals
- Silky smooth
This Byron Bay beauty is the passion project of actress Margot Robbie and her friends, with the tipple designed to evoke the sunny Australian coastline – and it certainly does. It combines native Australian botanicals, including zesty wax flower, hibiscus, and citrus peel, which give it a bright, vibrant character, with pink peppercorn and nutty wattleseed adding complex depth.
However, it’s the salty minerality with a subtle hint of oyster shell on the finish that steals the show. It’s precise but perfectly poised. The silky smooth mouthfeel demands praise, too. While the aesthetic is a rugged, washed-up bottle from the past, the liquid inside is so sophisticated and elegant. Dry or dirty martini? Yes, please.
Buy now £34.00, Masterofmalt.com
Hendrick's grand cabaret gin
Best: Fruity gin
ABV: 43.4%
Size: 70cl
Country: Scotland
Why we love it
- Limited edition
- Super drinkable
From the imagination of master distiller Lesley Gracie, and inspired by Parisian drinking trends many moons ago, this limited edition gin is a gem. It hosts a vibrant medley of decadent stone fruits, richly layered but retaining a super drinkable lightness.
Meanwhile, mellow but sweet herbs lurk in the background. As bold and decadent as Paris’s Belle Époque itself, that first sip really is so seductively lavish.
Buy now £34.49, Thebottleclub.com
Ukiyo Japanese blossom gin
Best: Gin for floral intensity
ABV: 40%
Size: 70cl
Country: Japan
Why we love it
- Unapologetic intensity of flavour
- Stunning bottle inside and out
Japan’s radiant cherry blossoms, or sakura, represent the fragility and beauty of life. Here, they are beautiful but fragile they are not. The aromatic sakura and yuzu fruit bring a wonderful, unapologetic intensity to the flavour, rather than the mellow profile you sometimes get with floral gins.
Ukiyo uses a traditional Japanese rice spirit base, which is then distilled with shochu, juniper, mandarin, and those standout native botanicals. The earthiness of the juniper and the angelica root anchor this intense bouquet nicely. Plus, the stunning bottle is a keeper, making this not just a treat for your taste buds but for your bar shelf, too.
Buy now £37.99, Thebottleclub.com
Malfy originale
Best: Crisp and clean gin
ABV: 41%
Size: 70cl
Country: Italy
Why we love it
- Herbaceous, spiced and bitter
- Simple excellence
- Perfect dry gin
Malfy is probably better known for its flavoured gins but this bottle is a true homage to traditional gin-making, featuring a simple yet refined selection of fundamental botanicals reminiscent of 19th-century London dry gins. Distilled at Torino Distillati, just outside Turin, this gin is inspired by the majestic Monviso mountain – the blue bottle reflecting the lakes, the wild juniper that grows on its slopes, and the pure spring water used in distillation.
On the nose, it bursts with herbaceous juniper, supported by subtle spice notes and hints of bitter lemon peel. The palate follows with a robust juniper-forward profile, accented by coriander, grapefruit, and a whisper of aniseed. If you like your gins dry, this is a must. Excellence in simplicity.
Buy now £29.49, Thebottleclub.com
Alkkemist gin
Best: Gin for wine-drinkers
ABV: 40%
Size: 70cl
Country: Spain
Why we love it
- Specially distilled
- Expert craftsmanship
This is a curiosity-sparking gin if ever there was one. Spain isn’t known in the UK for its gin output (despite having some epic examples), but it is known for its grapes, and that’s where Alkkemist comes in. This tipple features a base of triple-distilled grain spirit and a medley of 21 botanicals, including the standout muscat grape, which adds a subtle sweetness not commonly found in gin.
It gets even more over-the-top: the brand claims that this gin is only distilled on a full moon. Accompanied by orange and lemon peel, rose petals, samphire, fennel, thyme, and mint, it delivers an enchanting bouquet. In the mouth, there are gentle floral notes, delicate saline touches and a gorgeously light and soft texture.
Buy now £44.99, Thebottleclub
Hernö old tom gin
Best: Old-tom-style gin
ABV: 43%
Size: 50cl
Country: Sweden
Why we love it
- Yummy sweetness
A take on the classic old tom style of gin, this award-winning bottle hails from Sweden’s Hernö Distillery, which is renowned for its dedication to organic, small-batch gin craftsmanship. Old tom gins are sweetened with sugar, and a kiss of honey and sugar post-distillation give this a yummy sweetness and a seductive light golden hue.
Curiously, green notes waft up after the pour, with subtle grass, herbaceous cassia, and coriander. The first sip brings forth pine resin, lingonberries and chewy juniper, with a zip of lemon zest cutting through.
Buy now £37.95, Thewhiskyexchange
St George terroir gin
Best: Herby gin
ABV: 45%
Size: 70cl
Country: USA
Why we love it
- Transportive scent
- Refreshing
- Perfect for autumn and winter cocktails
This distinctive gin will whisk you off to the Californian wilderness. Douglas fir, coastal sage, and California bay laurel intertwine for an aromatic journey from the first sniff, which is reminiscent of a fresh pine forest with pronounced notes of fir and woodsy herbs. You can’t help but think of Christmas trees.
On the finish, these pronounced notes retreat a little, making room for coriander spice and lemony citrus. Minty sage results in a cool, long finish that refreshes the palate for the next sip. It’s crying out to be added to autumn and winter cocktails.
Buy now £39.95, Masterofmalt.com
Boatyard double gin
Best: Gin for juniper favour
ABV: 46%
Size: 70cl
Country: Northern Ireland
Why we love it
- Unapologetically robust
- Silky mouthfeel
For the true juniper enthusiasts out there, this Northern Irish gem takes a bold approach, doubling up on juniper during production – once during maceration and again during distillation – drawing inspiration from traditional Dutch genever. The result? A resinous, piney punch.
With an impressive ABV of 46 per cent, it’s a powerhouse in a G&T, and while the juniper is the star, it’s supported by elegant layers of lemon and coriander, all delivered with a silky mouthfeel, making it the perfect match for a martini, too.
Buy now £36.75, Thewhiskyexchange.com
Aviation American gin
Best: Juniper-shy gin
ABV: 42%
Size: 70cl
Country: USA
Why we love it
- Exceptionally smooth and clean feel
- Very approachable and extremely versatile
Crafted in small batches in Portland, Oregon, this American gin is best known for being owned by actor Ryan Reynolds… until he sold it a few years ago. Named after the early 20th-century aviation cocktail, this gin veers away from the juniper-heavy London dry style, favouring a more balanced approach, where juniper shares the stage with other botanicals.
With a Dutch-style rye spirit base, its botanical mix includes lavender, sarsaparilla, cardamom, and orange peel, steeped for 48 hours before redistillation. What stands out most about the final liquid is the exceptionally smooth and clean feel, comparable to vodka. The flavour is the epitome of balance, with no one botanical leading the way – instead there’s subtle citrus, vegetal, spice and floral notes. It’s very approachable and extremely versatile, so you can rely on it for any cocktail or when drinking it on the rocks.
Buy now £26.30, Amazon.co.uk
Graham Norton's own Irish gin
Best: Irish gin
ABV: 40%
Size: 70cl
Country: Ireland
Why we love it
- Complex yet well-balanced
- Playful
- Slightly sweet finish
Comedian and presenter Graham Norton has put his name to several successful wines, but he’s also partnered with a London dry-style gin. Made in partnership with a distillery near Norton’s hometown in Cork, it features a harmonious blend of 12 botanicals, including locally foraged ingredients, with kaffir lime, citrus peel, juniper, and coriander root creating a complex yet well-balanced spirit.
Praising a gin’s balance can go under the radar but, with so many botanicals in play, it’s more difficult than it sounds. The result of that masterful equilibrium is playful zest, subtle florality, gentle spice and a smooth, ever so slightly sweet, finish. Just like Norton’s chat show, this is a rock-solid gin that would please almost everyone.
Buy now £29.00, Winedelivered.co.uk
Session Spirit London dry gin
Best: Gin for mindful drinkers
ABV: 25%
Size: 70cl
Country: England
Why we love it
- Lower alcohol content
- Complex flavour profile
Session Spirit takes inspiration from the London dry style, with key botanicals of juniper, cardamom, black pepper and coriander seed. Bottled at 25 per cent ABV, it bridges the gap perfectly between a full-strength gin and a no-lo option.
Expect a complex flavour profile bursting with citrusy notes and a subtle spicy kick, without any compromise on mouthfeel. It’s the perfect choice for your next G&T.
Buy now £29.95, Sessionspirit.com
Your gin questions answered
What is the best gin?
Given there are so many gins on the global market, it was a tough decision to narrow my choices down but after a lot of tasting and testing, I got there. I was particularly impressed by the value and affordability of many gins within this year's list. Tanqueray paradiso, Whitley Neill, Malfy originale, and Beefeater gin showcased fantastic value for money within this category. Double points to Tanqueray for creating a lower ABV gin that still packs just as much flavour into each sip.
With an incredibly friendly price point, and ticking all of my boxes, The Botanist takes the top spot. An incredible medley of botanicals, most of which are native to its Islay home, has allowed this gin to truly shine. Whether you’re shaking up a cocktail, stirring a martini, or just want a nice and easy G&T, this bottle will never disappoint. Cheers!
What is gin made from?
Gin is made from a distilled grain spirit with juniper berries.
Does gin go off?
The great thing about gin is it can be stored for years without going off, but it’s recommended to drink it within two years of opening. Even if you tightly reseal it, it’ll likely lose taste and quality if you leave it any longer.
What are the different types of gin?
There are four different types of gin: London dry gin, old tom, Plymouth and navy strength gin.
Is gin gluten-free?
While gin is made from distilled grain spirit, it doesn’t contain gluten peptides and is therefore gluten-free and safe for coeliacs.
For something a little different, team IndyBest has rounded up the best flavoured gins to upstage the classic G&T
