The Best Gins to Gift this Mother’s Day

Words by Leigh Andrews

If you want to earn serious brownie points this Mother’s day for that mother figure who loves everything gin, then step away from the toiletries, save the flowers for a garnish and check out these fabulous juniper creations! These ginstastic tipples will get her taste buds tingling and she’ll be bragging to her friends that she got the best Mother’s Day Gift ever!

For the Romantic Gin loving Mum

Eden Mill Love Gin

The bottle screams love - it’s even written on it! Distilled in picturesque St Andrews in Scotland, this is a lightly floral gin with beautifully creamy vanilla sweetness, bursting berries and a slight hint of citrus. Perfect with loads of ice, light tonic and raspberries or neat over ice. Pretty and delicious.
ABV: 42%
Size: 500ml
Find Here: £26.95

Atlas Love Cake Gin

A well-deserved ultimate winner of The People’s Choice Drinks Awards last month, this gin is bound to bring smiles to faces. Influenced by the romantic legend behind Persian Love Cakes, this is a beautiful, lightly sweet gin with deliciously warming spices that linger on the palate. Add hints of icing-sugar dipped Turkish delight and a perfect, light citrusy finish and your mum will soon be asking for a refill.  

ABV: 43% 
Size: 700ml
Find Here: £48

For the Herbaceous Gin loving Mum:

Gin Mare

With Mediterranean vibes sending you to sun, sea, and olive groves this gin is savoury and magnificent! If your Mum loves to be transported to sunnier climates and loves her herby gins, then this one is an absolute winner. It’s fabulous served with loads of ice, some lightly crushed basil, a popped sweet cherry tomato and mediterranean tonic. Sunshine in a glass! 

ABV: 42.7%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find Here: UK £33.95 // US $62.99

Badvo Pitlochry Gin

Imagine walking through the wilds of a Scottish glen with all of the wonderful aromas of the natural botanicals around you. That is this gin! From the very first sip, there is no mistaking this herbaceous gin for a wallflower! Made using only 100% hand foraged botanicals, there’s gorse, heather, a field of cut grass, wild apples, and a subtle finish of mint. GLORIOUS! Serve neat over ice or with tonic and a slice of green apple.

ABV: 45%
Size: 200ml/700ml
Find Here: 200ml £15.95 // 700ml £39.95 

For the Pink Gin loving Mum

Mermaid Pink Gin

Apart from having one of the most ethereal looking gin bottles that anyone in possession of fairy lights will want to fill, this gin is an absolutely outstanding variation of the Isle of Wight distillery’s original Mermaid gin. A light, strawberry sweetness cuts through the savoury saltiness of rock samphire and enhances the citrus finish. Perfect served with your choice of tonic and cut strawberries.

ABV: 38%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: £35.79

Tarsier Oriental Pink Gin

Inspired by the sights and sounds of Southeast Asia, this gin is jam packed full of fabulous exotic flavours such as lychee and red dragon fruits nestling beside peppery juniper and lifted by wonderfully tart raspberries, calamansi lime and a subtly warm, spiced finish. It’s fantastic with tonic, a handful of raspberries and torn mint, and even better when you see the massive smile on your Mum’s face when she takes her first sip!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: £34.95

For the Flavoured Gin loving Mum

Whitley Neill Blood Orange

This one is definitely not a liqueur; it’s a gin that has serious oomph! Full strength and packed with sweet orange citrus, it’s a big and bold flavoured gin that doesn’t forget its gin essence. You still get that punch of juniper but that gorgeous blood orange is unmistakable. Your Mum will love the fact that you didn’t think that all she would want was some delicate little flower of a gin. This is for Mums with zest!

ABV: 43%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find Here: UK £27.95 // US $34.99

Anno B3rry Pink Gin

Apart from looking like fun in a bottle, this glorious gin from Anno distillery in Kent contains all the things to make a pink gin sing… and maybe your Mum too! It’s packed full of strawberries from Kent, cocoa (who doesn't love chocolate strawberries?), elderberries and rosehip. It tastes like the best strawberry candy on the palate, with a fresh, bitter chocolate balance and a soft, smooth finish when mixed with tonic. Fabulous!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: £33.99

For the Navy Strength Gin loving Mum

Locksley Distilling Co VSOT

VSOT means Very Special Old Tom! As far as we know, this is the only Navy Strength Old Tom in existence and it is OUTSTANDING! So smooth with all the incredible depth of velvety sweetness that an Old Tom is known for, the gin is lifted by gentle grapefruit notes and wonderful warming spice on the long finish. It’s one of those Navy Strengths that is easily able to be taken neat, but likewise, makes a killer cocktail like a Gibson or Negroni, or a gorgeous G&T with a wheel of grapefruit.

ABV: 57.5%
Size: 200ml/700ml
Find here: £20/£50

Whittakers Gin Navy Strength

A SUPERBLY smooth gin from the Yorkshire Dales which, despite the hefty ABV ,still lets the flavour shine bright! The fantastic fruitiness of hawthorn berries and bilberries comes right through after the initial hit of that punchy ABV, followed by luscious hints of lemon and a light herbaceous finish. This one will be just the ticket for your Mum to put her feet up and chill out with! It’s perfect in a Martini, neat over ice or with tonic water and a sprig of thyme or lemon.

ABV: 57%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £37.85

For more gin-spirational (see what we did there?!) articles, have a look at What is London Dry Gin and Which Should I Try?, The Most Popular Gin Cocktails or The Best Gin for a G&T!

Irish Spring

It doesn’t get much simpler than this! Using Glendalough’s Wild Botanical gin, sustainably hand foraged from the mountains around the distillery, this cocktail is light, refreshing, and a perfect sip for a Spring day… or any day to be quite honest!

Ingredients
60ml Wild Botanical Gin
20ml Fresh Lime Juice
20ml Simple Syrup
Garnish with Fresh Mint

Method
Shake up all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Or for a longer version, this can be built over ice in a highball glass and topped with soda water.

You can find out more about Glendalough Distillery by watching The Three Drinkers in Ireland on Amazon Prime!

Liked this? Why not check out The Most Popular Gin Cocktails or how about 10 Delicious Martini Variations?!

What is London Dry Gin and which ones should I try?!

Words by Leigh Andrews

Whether you are a classic gin enthusiast or favour the flavour, we are all familiar with the term ‘London Dry’ that graces our bottles - but what does it actually mean? Well, hold on to your school caps folks, here’s what you need to know and some delicious bottles you need to try!

Is London Dry Gin only made in London?

Unlike Plymouth Gin, which can only be made in Plymouth, London Dry doesn’t have to be distilled in London. It actually relates to the distilling process itself, which given the capital’s vast gin making history and the fact that this particular distillation technique (apparently) originated in London, the name stuck.

What is London Dry Gin?

To be called a London Dry, the base neutral spirit must be of an agricultural origin such as grain, potatoes and sometimes, even milk! It needs to be distilled to 96% alcoholic volume. This spirit is then redistilled with its plant botanicals, of which the lead must be juniper to create the gin profile we all know and love. You can’t add any flavourings or botanicals after distillation (sorry flavoured gin fans!) only water, and because it must be dry you can only add a minute amount of sweetening if any. 

So now you can wow your friends with your new found gin geek knowledge, here are some excellent London Dry gins you can impress them with at your next get together!

Which London Dry Gin Should I Try?

Whitby Gin Original

Nestled in the heart of the seaside town that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, this award winning glorious gin has depths deeper than Dracula’s tomb! It’s distilled using locally foraged sugar kelp from the rich seas around Robin Hood’s Bay just 6 miles from Whitby, local honey and heather from the North Yorkshire Moors. The dry juniper is beautifully balanced with a citrus background against a herbaceous floral sweetness. Try it neat over ice (yes it is that smooth) or with your favourite tonic and a slice of red grapefruit or a sprig of rosemary to bring out the herby notes…..no garlic though unless you want to keep Dracula, and all your friends, at bay!

ABV: 42%
Size: 700ml
Find here: UK £37.95

Beefeater London Dry

An absolute classic in the world of London dry, great with a mixer and can hold its head high in a martini. Don’t bypass Beefeater because of its fantastically affordable price point. This gin is steeped in tradition! The botanicals are still weighed out by hand and not to mention it’s full range of gins are stocked in the Yeomans bar within the Tower of London - we have witnessed it first hand, the Beefeaters really do drink Beefeater! Still made in London using the original 200 year old recipe this gin features the zestiness of Seville oranges and lemon peel, the warm spiciness of coriander, liquorice and angelica with beautiful floral notes. All under an umbrella and bowler hat of Juniper, this is what London Drys are made of! Serve in a copa glass full of ice, with tonic and a slice of orange and lemon or in a classic gin martini with dry vermouth and a twist of lemon peel.

ABV: UK 40% // US 45%
Size: UK 700ml // US 1.75L
Find Here: UK £16.78 // US $29.99

Sweet Potato London Dry Gin

Even just the name of this glorious gin makes you want to try it just to see if it really does have sweet potatoes in it! In short, yes it does, and what an addition it is. Whoever thought of putting sweet potato as a gin botanical, together with cardamom, coriander and lemon zest, needs a pat on the back. This gin is smooth and aromatic with a classic strong juniper forefront, a deep earthy vanilla heart and a glorious finish of lemon cheesecake with florals lingering on the palate. With a punchy 45% ABV, this is another London Dry that you can easily have neat as well as in a G&T with a light tonic and a citrus slice, or with soda, grapefruit peel and a sprig of mint.

ABV: 45%
Size: 500ml
Find Here: UK £27.99

NB London Dry Gin

This London Dry comes with some serious credentials! Previously voted the Best London Dry Gin in the world, it was selected by the Royal family to represent her majesty's 90th birthday. More recently it featured at Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding, was listed in the Rolls Royce "Top 100 Brands", AND was selected for the afterparties for ‘The Open’ 2018 and ‘The Brits’ for three consecutive years. This gin can do nothing but live up to the hype! You’d think this was some massive corporate distillery entrenched in a big brand, but no- NB’s distillery is family-run and nestles just off the beautiful coastal town of North Berwick, Scotland. You can happily spend a lost afternoon on their tasting tour in a beautifully relaxing lounge area (which can even be hired for a special occasion!) and enjoy this fantastic London Dry. This is a ‘no messing’ gin with a Juniper and herbal nose, lemon citrus on the palate and a light spicy finish. It is definitely a gin shelf staple! Glorious with a light tonic and a twist of red grapefruit zest.

ABV: 42%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £27.50

Little Bird London Dry

Another of our London based London Dry gins, but we definitely didn’t pick this one purely because of location. This gin sings everything classic vintage and that includes the recipe, the bottle and the foundation of its beginnings. Friends gathered together, chatting about what their perfect gin would be and making it happen. The bottle itself features a 1940’s style redhead tattooed pinup on the label named “Miss Ginger'', and the spirit inside is just as nostalgic. Not surprisingly given the label, ginger features beside pink grapefruit and orange peel for superb crisp citrus on the nose. Glorious grapefruit with the warming ginger on the palate, light florals, juniper and that citrus lingering on. For fans of citrus forward London Dry gins, this one is an absolute cracker. Serve with Mediterranean tonic, loads of ice and a pink grapefruit wheel.

ABV: 40.6%
Size: 700ml
Find here: UK £29.45 

Fuzzy Duck Distillery London Dry (Hero)

There is nothing fuzzy about the fabulous flavours in this new kid on the block. This ethically run distillery, founded by four friends with an aim to use locally sourced, seasonal British produce is more than achieving its aims. Holding on to the forefront of juniper as is classic of a London Dry, we then get aromas of the mediterranean, citrus and a light spice. This is a beautifully bold gin and can hold its own in character and style. The suggested serve with rosemary, blackberries and mediterranean tonic truly compliment the botanicals in this gin and take us from this awful winter weather to sunshine, herb gardens and lazy afternoons.

ABV: 42%
Size: 500ml and 700ml
Find here: UK £27 to £30

Liked this? How about having a read of these 8 delicious Scottish Gins or these Best Gins for a Martini

Fun Drinks Choices for Valentine’s Day

Drinks picked by Helena

Valentine's day, Galentine's day or ‘I'm just going to give myself some love’ day can be a stressful time with all the pressure to HAVE FUN. Fear not, though! I have donned my cupid cape and found 8 fun drinks and drinks gifts that are perfect for Valentine’s Day, whichever element of it you are celebrating!

Spirits

Personalised London Dry Gin & Single Malt Whisky

The Whisky Exchange are offering a customisable London Dry Gin and a stunning, customisable, Sherry finished, single malt whisky for you to gift a loved one this V day. For each, you can choose from six label designs and ten messages - or simply write your own text! The gin is crisp and refreshing; a classic London Dry with lots of citrus and juniper. The whisky is rich and round with notes of dried fruit, caramel and Christmas cake. Prices include personalisation and gift tube.

Gin: ABV 44%, Size 700ml, £39.95
Whisky: ABV 48%, Size 700ml, £54.95 

Ballycastle Red Velvet Cream Liqueur

Fans of Baileys Irish cream will love this, especially those who have enjoyed their new Red Velvet version and are looking for something less pricey. Aldi’s version is an indulgent blend of double cream, spirit and red velvet cake, serve it chilled over ice with a strawberry if you can find one. Forget dessert, This IS your dessert!

Find it in-store for £7.25 (700ml)

Mermaid Pink Gin Gift Set

The Isle of Wight Distillery is rapidly building an excellent reputation thanks to their stunning range of gins, vodka and rum that are all plastic-packaging free. This pink gin combines the flavour of fresh, Isle of Wight strawberries with their famously smooth, aromatic and complex gin and the bottle could not be prettier! If you want to take your gifting to the next level, however, then seek out their gift set, which includes a bottle of the Mermaid Pink Gin (70cl) and two gold-plated, gorgeous, copa glasses. 

Gin: ABV 38%, Size 700ml, £39.90
Gift pack: ABV 44%, Size 700ml, £65.50

Wine

Specially Selected Sparkling Shiraz

A sparkling red? Yes, for something a little different. Try this slightly chilled. It’s one of the rare style of red wine that goes with chocolate too (the darker the better). Sparkling Shiraz has been an Aussie no-so-well-kept-secret for a while! It will take you for Valentine’s day into summer barbecues in the sunshine too and this onen is awesome value.

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Price: £6.99
Find here: Aldi

Coral Ethical Rosé Wine

This delicate, Spanish pink is an organic and vegan-friendly rosé wine with Tempranillo grapes in a carbon-neutral winery and packaged in an ultra-light bottle that uses recycled and recyclable materials. Think aromatic notes of grapefruit and strawberry with a refreshing, peachy palate. 10% of its profits are also donated to the restoration and conservation of coral reefs, which represent 25% of marine biodiversity. A rosé with heart!

ABV: 12.5%
Size: 750ml
Price: From £9.99
Find here: Abel & Cole, Adnams, Amazon.co.uk

W/O Frappato, Terre Siciliane, IGT 2020

A little taste of Sicily in a ‘wild glass’, which means glass bottles that are 100% post-consumer recycled. The first in the UK to do this! It does mean that each bottle is slightly different with a minimalist,easily  biodegradable label. Frappato is a native grape to Sicily and it offers a comforting, rustic red that’s all about spicy red fruit compote notes. It’s an unpretentious, comfort  blanket of a wine! Your new go-to week day favourite. 

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Price: From £11.99/bottle or £9.99 for 6
Find here: Laithwaites

Specially Selected Amarone della Valpolicella D.O.C.G 2018

Amarone is a great choice for those looking for a rich and velvety red wine this Valentine's day. Think dark cherries dipped in melted dark chocolate and spice. Delicious! This is part of Aldi’s impressive ‘Specially Selected’ range and for an Amarone, it is excellent value. It even sounds like the Italian word for love: ‘Amore’. Yes please! I’ll have a glass of that.

ABV: 15%
Size: 750ml
Price: £19.99
Find here: ALDI

Bubbles

Codornìu Cava Rosé  NV

Codornìu is the big name in Cava, producing a fantastic range of traditional method bubbles in all sorts of styles and at all price points. It is fantastic value for some classic Spanish bubbles, with a herbaceous nose and a crunchy, red cherry tang. This is definitely a winner with all sorts of food.  

ABV: 12%
Size: 750ml
Price: £9
Find here: Ocado

Splash out: Veuve Clicquot Rosé

The widow ‘Veuve’ Clicquot invented rosé wine so this really is the original! A super special bottle where the Pinot -Noir dominant wine is the most elegant pink colour and super silky, with delicately complex aromas and flavours of brioche, summer fruits, toast and apricot. This is truly a fizz to savour; give it time to let it open up in the glass and enjoy!

ABV: 12.5%
Size: 750ml
Price: £49
Find here: Tesco

If you enjoyed this, then don’t forget to have a look at our other wine and spirits recommendations!

The Best Gins To Gift This Christmas

Words by Leigh Andrews

With the big day fast approaching and with such an amazing choice of gins and gin gifts on the market, choosing can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming - especially if you’re not clued up on the latest trends and releases. Fear not! We have put together a list of little beauties for you. There are all sorts of gins and gin related gifts in here for gin liqueur lovers to the super geeky gin collectors. Each will make sure that you stay on Santa’s good list for next year!  

TARQUIN’S FIGGY PUDDING GIN

This needs no explanation as a great gin gift for Christmas. it’s called Figgy Pudding after all! The flavours in this little Cornish beauty invoke thoughts of nights sat next to the fire, toasted marshmallows and just one more mince pie (once they’re gone they never existed, right?). Christmas spices, citrus zest, dried figs and even blow-torched, brandy-soaked cherry wood chips are all infused with Tarquin’s original London Dry Gin so yep, that makes this a full strength gin woohoo! Try it with ginger ale, lots of ice and a wedge of orange. Oh, and just one more mince pie!

ABV: 42%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £35.95

ANGEL FEATHERS APPLE GIN

Angelic Angel Feathers is perfect if you’re looking for an eco-friendly gin gift for that special someone, with the flavour to back it up. Produced in Wales using only seasonal fruits and botanicals from their own micro fruitery, the bottles even have compostable seals and are returnable/reusable. You can even contact Katharine, the owner at www.angelfeathers.co.uk, she is full of suggestions for your empties that go way past the usual fairy lights! Also available in a stocking filler size of 200ml, meaning you could try some of her other flavours too. This gin is gorgeous with mulling spices in hot apple juice or over ice as a sipper. 

ABV: 39%
Size: 200ml, 500ml
Find here: £23 - £43.50

ATLAS SHICHIMI GIN

Atlas Gins are inspired by exotic flavours from all around the world and we love them for their complex, unique flavours. Their Shichimi gin (try saying that after having a couple) is inspired by 17th Century, Japanese spice blend, which combines seven spices and is used in traditional cooking. Botanicals in here include Sichuan peppercorn, gyokuro green tea, ginger and nori seaweed, giving it a warm kick with moreish umami notes all freshened up with the juniper and citrus. This is a proper gin to savour!

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: £48

CABBY’S GIN

This small batch gin was distilled in London by almost by mistake! Cabby’s are well known for their rum and they were debating whether or not to put in some juniper, when they discovered an ideal botanical blend for gin. It’s incredibly refreshing and delicately aromatic with notes of lemon balm, dried herbs and lavender, balanced by more exotic spice notes and all underpinned by just the right amount of Juniper. Buying this will also support a black-owned business. Try the rum too!

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: £28.49

TEMPLAR SPIRIT GIN (Daniel Hooper Joker Edition)

If you’re fortunate enough to know a gin collector (they always want to let you taste their latest find!) but are stumped on what to get them for Christmas, then you can’t go wrong with a rare bottle. This striking bottle not only contains a fantastic, classic, smooth London dry gin but how about an actual work of art on the bottle?! Templar Spirits commissioned British artist Daniel Hooper to design and then hand finish each label on this very limited run of 50 bottles of Templar Spirits Gin. If you miss out on this one, fear not, Dan will be working on future limited editions with Templar Spirits.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: £100

GLASWEGIN CHRISTMAS CRACKER

Now, this is the kind of Christmas cracker every gin lover wants to find on the tree! Feel free to add several, dear husband (I hope he’s reading this!). We’ll even let you off that there’s no bad joke or quality plastic jewellery inside! With 8 botanicals including Scottish milk thistle, coriander, orange flower, Italian juniper, angelica, chamomile, bay leaf and pink peppercorns, this smooth and distinct gin is definitely an absolute cracker!

ABV: 41.1%
Size: 50ml
Find here: £7.95

MARKS AND SPENCER SNOW GLOBE GIN

If you’re looking for a gift for that person who loves Christmas, lots of sparkle and a wee liqueur after dinner (gin purists look away!) then they’ll love to receive one of this year’s Marks and Spencer’s collection of Snow Globe Gin Liqueurs. Since they first introduced their sell-out bottles last year, they have expanded their range to include new flavours and even a monster 1.5L bottle that not only lights up to show off the shimmering 24ct edible gold leaf but also plays a festive Christmas tune! From cracker sets to mixed cases, there’s something for everyone on your Christmas list!

ABV: 20%
Size: 50ml to 1.5L
Find here: £32 - £120

CRAFT GIN CLUB SUBSCRIPTION

The gift that keeps on giving! It will give your gin lover surprises all through the year and you MAJOR brownie points! You can purchase a no-contract subscription to the Craft Gin Club that will send that lucky person a gin box from every quarter to every month. This box is great not only for the fabulous gins which are always full size, and often exclusive distillery releases for club members, but the amazing range of extra snacks, cocktail ingredients, tonics, garnishes and the gin magazine that comes with it.

ABV: Variable
Size: 700ml
Find here: £40 per box

ROCK ROSE REFILL REWARDS CLUB

Following on from the subscription idea, Scottish distillers Dunnet Bay have gone one step further and have set up a refill club. All you need is an empty Rock Rose Gin bottle (buy them a full bottle to go with their refill subscription if they don’t already have one) and at intervals of your choosing from 3, 6 and 12 month memberships, they will send a refill pouch along with some other goodies for less than the cost of a bottle. The recipient can change the gins they receive (their Navy strength gin ROCKS) and once they’ve refilled just put the empty pouch directly back in the post to be fully recycled at source….make sure you have drained that pouch!

ABV: 41.5% - 57%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £30-£34 per refill

SECRET GARDEN CHRISTMAS GIN

Working hand in hand with nature being their ethos and with 600 herb varieties in their distillery garden at the foot of the Pentland hills, the folks at The Secret Garden distillery have created this absolute beaut of a Christmas gin that anyone would love to unwrap on the big day. It’s got all of those gorgeous warming Christmas spices, 100% natural ingredients and no added sugar which obviously means extra chocs can be consumed with no guilt, right?! A really simple serve is all that’s needed as this gin speaks for itself so add lots of ice, light tonic and a slice of orange for that perfect festive tipple!

ABV: 39%
Size: 500ml
Find here: £36.95

See our other Christmas guides on red wines, rum, white wine and more!

The Most Popular Gin Cocktails

The distinct, botanical taste of gin is not only something to be admired - but also something that can be built upon in a tasty cocktail. Whether you want something fruity, something bitter, or just something to appreciate the deep flavours of gin, a cocktail is a perfect way to show your love for this beautiful spirit. We’ve lined up our favourite gin cocktails and given you some recipes so you can get cracking!

Martini

Gin at its utmost classiest: the martini is one to drink pensively while sitting in a hotel bar (though a living room will do) thinking of your lost lover and the expanse of poetry yet to be written… Basically, it’s a bit dramatic but seriously cool. Learning how to make the perfect martini is an impressive skill to be proud of, so start practicing now!

Ingredients
50ml gin
12.5ml dry vermouth
lemon twist or olives for garnish 

Method
Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass filled with cracked ice, stir (sorry James B) vigorously for 30 seconds and strain into a pre-cooled martini glass. Garnish with either a twist of lemon or a couple of olives. Enjoy!

Negroni

The negroni, another simple but perfect gin cocktail that’s boozy, bitter and moreish. The blend of gin, sweet vermouth and Campari is enough to make your mouth water just at the stunning, scarlet sight of one! Cheers!

Ingredients
25ml gin
25ml sweet vermouth
25ml Campari
orange slice for garnish 

Method
Add ingredients to a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir for 20-30 seconds until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass. Add large ice cubes and garnish with a slice of orange.

Gin Fizz

If you like frothy, foamy cocktails then the Gin Fizz is for you. It’s sweet with a tart kick from the lemon and a delicate botanical finish from the gin. In our opinion, it’s a bit like a lemon meringue pie in a cocktail! If you love that dessert and also love gin (like us) whip up one of these today for something delicious that will quench your thirst and satisfy your sweet tooth.

Ingredients
50ml gin
25ml lemon juice
2 tsp sugar syrup
1 egg white or 2tbsp aquafaba
lemon slice for garnish 

Method
Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice for 15 seconds. Add ice and shake for another 30 seconds. Strain into a tall glass and carefully garnish with a lemon slice!

French 75

New fact for the day, the French 75 is actually named after a gun that was used by the French and Americans in WW1 and was noted for its speed and accuracy. Why, then, is it used to describe a cocktail?! According to the inventors, this drink hits you as accurately and quickly as the ‘French 75’ - so watch out! Champagne and gin might at first seem like a weird combination, but seeing (or tasting) is believing! Mix up some of these at a party for a proper show stopper!

Ingredients
25ml gin
12.5ml lemon juice
12.5ml simple syrup
champagne
lime twist for garnish 

Method
Add the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice. Double strain into a champagne flute and top up with champagne. Garnish with a lime twist and enjoy!

Gin and Tonic

This is the simplest and simultaneously the most customisable gin cocktail EVER. You won’t have to go hunting for expensive ingredients or spend hours crafting the perfect foam, the G&T is all about you. There’s so many different tonics out there now that we’re certain you’ll find something you’ll adore. If you’re a gin connoisseur, try working out the best pairings of tonics and gins! When it comes to garnishes, it’s again all about personal preference (and what you have in the cupboard/fridge/garden). Go wild and have fun! 

Ingredients
25ml or 50ml gin
any tonic that takes your fancy
any garnish that takes your fancy 

Method
Add the gin to the bottom of a large glass and fill with ice. Top up with tonic until the taste is to your liking, give it a gentle stir and garnish with anything you want! You do you!

Aviation Cocktail

Despite its name, this cocktail won’t induce instant flying abilities. We’re yet to find a cocktail that does - but in the meantime why not crack out the crème de violette and make this beautiful purple cocktail that’ll at least have your heart soaring!

Ingredients
50ml gin
12.5ml crème de violette
12.5ml maraschino liqueur
20ml lemon juice
brandied cherry or lemon twist for garnish 

Method
Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously until cold. Strain into a glass of your choice and garnish with a brandied cherry or lemon twist. Up, up and away!

Bramble

If you want to make the very best version of this cocktail, we suggest you make it with foraged blackberries, but if that’s not an option store bought is completely fine! This cocktail will have you feeling like you’re sitting in the garden of your tiny remote cottage in the woods communicating with your animal friends, dressed head to toe in gingham. Bring out the checkered tablecloth, make a blackberry pie and enjoy this Bramble cocktail with all your foresty foraging friends…

Ingredients
50ml gin
25ml lemon juice
6 blackberries
25ml sugar syrup
lemon slice and blackberries for garnish 

Method
Muddle blackberries in a rocks glass and add gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup. Fill the glass with crushed ice and mix with a bar spoon. Garnish with a lemon slice and blackberries!

Clover Club

Legend has it that the Clover Club is named after a top-secret organisation concerned with, and only with, raspberry liqueur. Okay, maybe that’s made up - but that doesn’t stop this cocktail being our favourite way to use raspberry liqueur! It’s fruity, bright and a little sharp, guaranteed to having you party all night long…

Ingredients
75ml gin
1½ tbsp raspberry liqueur
25ml lemon juice
1 egg white or 2tbsp aquafaba
lemon twist or raspberry for garnish 

Method
Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice for 15 seconds. Add ice and shake for another 30 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist or raspberry!

Not found anything you like here? Make sure to have a look at The Best Gins to Try This Year and What Are Colour Changing Gins?!

What is Sloe Gin?

The most quintessentially British liqueur - sloe gin has been made for hundreds of years all across the country. But what is it exactly? Sloe gin is high-proof gin that has been infused with sloe berries and a little sugar to create a rich, warming liqueur perfect for autumn and winter!

The reason this liqueur is so popular in Britain is because, to put it simply, we’ve got a ton of sloe berries around! Very common in hedgerows, the sloe berry is a purplish blue colour and has a sharp and extremely astringent taste. Perhaps this not so tasty flavour is why they started being used in gin rather than in pies! Because they are so common, they’re quite easy to pick yourself to make a lovely home-cooked liqueur! If that sounds up your street, that’s great - we’ve got a recipe for you. If that sounds incredibly scary, however, fear not, we’ve got a list of some of our favourite pre-made sloe gins! 

How Do You Make Sloe Gin?

Ingredients
500g ripe sloe berries
250g golden caster sugar
1l gin
patience 

Method
Rinse the sloes under cold running water and examine them for any mouldy ones. Pat the sloes dry with a dry tea towel and, using a fork, prick the berries*. Tip the berries into a cooled, sterilized 2L jar, or split between two 1L jars. Add the sugar and gin and close the jar. Shake well. Every day for a week, pick up the jar(s) and give a good shake.
Store the jar(s) in a cool, dark place for 2-3 months to infuse. After the months are up (phew), line a plastic sieve with a muslin cloth and place over a bowl. Strain the gin through the cloth and decant into sterilised bottles. Seal and label! 
You can drink this gin right away, though the flavour will improve over time. If you’d like, try leaving the gin bottled for a year!

*Handy tip - if you freeze the berries they will naturally split themselves.

Which Sloe Gin Should I Try?

For those not feeling the foraging vibe, fear not. There are plenty of places where you can pick up a bottle of ready made sloe gin. Here are four of our favourites…

Hayman’s Sloe Gin

Hayman’s is the longest serving gin distilling family in England, starting in 1863. Their sloe gin is made by steeping their original recipe gin with sloe berries and sugar in the traditional way. Hayman’s is a perfectly balanced, smooth sloe gin with a bittersweet plum flavour that tastes great with lemon, a little sugar syrup and tonic.

ABV: 26%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £25.20

Plymouth Sloe Gin

Plymouth Sloe Gin is a version of their original Plymouth gin steeped in sloe berries and blended with Dartmouth water. It’s a wonderfully crisp and fruity sloe gin and has a natural berry flavour. Plymouth is one of the most popular sloe gins out there and a big favourite of bartenders and sloe gin lovers alike.

ABV: 26%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find it here: UK £25.39 // US $54.99

6 O’Clock Sloe Gin

6 O’Clock Sloe Gin doesn’t have to be drunk at 6pm, but it’s quite cool if you do. Using the tried and tested method of a high sloe to gin ratio, 6 O’Clock Sloe Gin has a dry and fruit flavour with warming spice. All the sloe berries are handpicked near the distillery in Gloucester, Bramley and Gage.

ABV: 26%
Size: 700ml
Find it here: £24.66

Gentleman Badger’s Sloe Gin

We LOVE the label on this sloe gin, the badger just looks so sophisticated in his top hat. From Thames Distillers, Gentleman’s Badger Sloe Gin is made with a base of Colonel Fox London Dry Gin. It’s beautifully fruity and jammy without being too sweet!

ABV: 26%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £25.25

If you are looking for more delicious gin recommendations, then take a look at The Best Gins for a G&T, The Best Gins for a Martini or The Best Ready Made Garnishes for a Gin and Tonic.

The Best Gin for a G&T

The G&T: a timeless drink that isn’t going out of style anytime soon (if ever)! Though its endless combinations of tonic and garnishes make it brilliant for innovation, a good G&T always comes down to a good gin. Here are some of our favourites:

Sing Gin

As its name suggests, this is a gin guaranteed to make you burst into song when you first get a taste of those distinct florals and tantalising freshness. Distilled in small batches, Sing Gin is crafted to perfection in the Dales village of Kettlesing (which is also where it gets its name from). Spin up a ‘Sing and Tonic’ today with Fever-Tree Mediterranean and a mint or orange garnish!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find it here: £38.50

Atlas Chai Gin

Created a mere 6 months ago, Atlas already has an award-winning gin under its belt… and we’ve got to say, we’re not surprised at all! Inspired by Masala Chai, this gin has a mix of the ingredients you would expect to find in a traditional recipe including cinnamon, sweet green cardamom and Assam black tea to name a few. The result is a perfectly balanced, warming and spicy gin with a subtle background sweetness. If you are looking to make a standout G&T then this gin is a great one to experiment with - try mixing it with premium Indian tonic and garnishing with an orange slice and slither of ginger to compliment that spicy warmth of the gin. Nom nom!

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £48

Elephant London Dry Gin

Inspired by South Africa and made in Germany, Elephant London Dry features African botanicals alongside traditional botanicals, giving this gin a fresh and unique flavour. Not only does this gin taste A-MA-ZING, it’s also doing something good for the environment! With each bottle sold, 15% of the profits will go towards elephant conservation charities such as Big Life Foundation. So far, Elephant Gin has raised over €500,000 for these charities. Try this gin with tonic and an apple garnish to elevate the apple flavours throughout!

ABV: 45%
Size: UK 500ml // US 750ml
Find it here: UK £31.80 // US $46.79

Penrhos Limited Edition Hibiscus Gin

Penrhos is already a very well established distillery with beautifully crafted gin, but their Limited Edition Hibiscus for Aldi is a real treat. Penrhos Gin is made by two Herefordshire-based fruit farmers who use unwanted fruit to create the gin, meaning each sip you drink is reducing food waste (we’ll cheers to that)! This Hibiscus Gin has wonderful notes of blueberry, so we recommend garnishing this G&T with a nice helping of blueberries!

ABV: 37.5%
Size: 70cl
Find it here: £17.99

Cantium Gin

From first glance, you might not have realised that Cantium was even a gin! If it looks like it’s masquerading as a flask - that’s because it is! Once finished, the bottle can be used as a reusable flask to keep hot or cold liquids in. A plan is underway for customers who return their flasks to be given a discount on their next purchase, and for these empty flasks to be given to local homelessness charities. Cantium is a bold, citrusy gin underpinned by soft spice, juniper and the feeling that you’ve done a little good in the world… We love this gin with an elderflower tonic and garnish of juniper berries!

ABV: 42%
Size: 500ml
Find it here: £39.95

Ealing Gin

If there’s a theme with many of the gins on this list, it’s a gin that not only tastes great but does some good at the same time. It’s not just the beautiful bottle that Ealing Gin gives to the world, but 20% of Ealing Distillery’s profits go to organisations that help to reduce social isolation (something that is more important now than ever). Ealing Gin has a sophisticated flavour, with a zesty edge mixing with warm spices. We love this gin with a light tonic and a grapefruit and rosemary garnish - YUM!

ABV: 42%
Size: 70cl
Find it here: £44.50

Malfy Gin Rosa

If you’ve missed out on a holiday this year (shakes fist angrily at the sky), just one sip of Malfy Gin Rosa is going to take you on a relaxing European journey that’ll leave you wondering why you’re sitting at home and not on the Amalfi Coast. Malfy Gin Rosa has a beautiful aroma of rhubarb and fresh citrus, with the palate giving rich grapefruit and a long juniper finish. This is served best with Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic, grapefruit, rosemary and massive sunglasses… 

ABV: 41%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find it here: UK £28.85 // US $27.99

Tanqueray No. Ten Gin

You’ll already know this name, but perhaps not this particular bottle. Tanqueray No. 10 is the brand’s small batch gin, and the only gin to be added to the San Francisco World Spirits Competition Hall of Fame. Keeping the same signature green but perhaps offering a more elegant bottle design, Tanqueray No. 10 is distilled with whole citrus fruits and chamomile flavours to give an extra citrusy but smooth feel to this premium gin. Because of the citrus kicks this gin gives you, we can’t help but add a little wedge of grapefruit to our No. 10 G&T - but feel free to experiment with other citrus fruits!

ABV: 47.3%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find it here: UK £30.60 // US $48.99

Lind and Lime Gin

This is not the first time we’ve told you of our passion for Lind and Lime, and it certainly won’t be the last. If anything, the history of this gin is something to be admired. Lind and Lime is named after James Lind, a Scotsman accredited to performing the world’s first clinical trial when he worked towards the eradication of scurvy in the British Navy. The ‘Lime’ in the name refers to a lime cordial that was created based on his findings which helped nurse the sickly sailors back to health. History aside, this gin both looks and tastes great - with a crisp citrus edge surrounding deep juniper notes. To honour the name and the legacy of Lind, garnish your Lind and Lime G&T with a thick wedge of lime.

ABV: 44%
Size: 70cl
Find it here: £34.95

For more gin-spiration, check out our Best Gins to Try This Year or if you’re in more of a cocktail mood how about having a look at these Negroni Cocktail Recipes?