8 Fantastic Gins to Gift this Father’s Day

Words by Leigh Andrews

Whether your Dad is the chief cook and bottle washer, head gardener, family taxi driver or the world’s best storyteller, they all have one thing in common, they love to feel appreciated! With this fantastic selection of gins we’ve picked out he most definitely will, so step away from the socks and check out these little beauties!

Keepr’s Honey Infused Gin

This is a gardening and nature lover’s dream tipple! This classic multi-award winning London Dry is delicately infused with 100% pure British honey, supporting our British beekeepers. The absolutely stunning honeycomb design bottle is made from 50% recycled glass and even the label is made from recycled paper. It is full of those gorgeous light, sweet, floral honey flavours, juniper, a hint of vanilla, citrus, and a wonderful kick of spiciness. Try the perfect serve of lots of ice, premium tonic and a sprig of rosemary or even neat over ice with a squeezed wedge of lemon to perfectly balance that sweetness.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £34.00

Abingdon Single Malt Barrel-Aged Gin

Nope, we haven’t accidentally put a whisky in the mix, but if your Dad loves a ‘wee nip’ he will LOVE this! A multi-gold medal award winner, this gin is aged for a secret length of time in Speyside single malt whisky casks. The casks themselves were originally sherry casks, then used to mature single malt whisky for over 10 years so this imparts incredible flavours in this gin. Light woody notes, warming fruity spice, caramel and juniper make this a taste sensation. Enjoy with ginger ale, neat like a whisky or it is excellent in a martini!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £35.95

Dà Mhìle Organic Seaweed Gin

This is a SPECTACULAR Welsh savoury gin. Infused with organic seaweed from Cornwall after distillation, and with several garden herb botanicals used in producing this gin, they are all stars in their own right…just like your Dads are! Without losing its dry juniper base this gin evokes memories of day trips to the seaside, with that salinity on the palate, or sitting relaxing in the garden with aromas of fresh mint and garden herbs. This gin is just gorgeous as a G&T with a slice of lemon/rosemary or an olive. We were even recommended, by a Welsh mixologist nonetheless, to try it with a pickled onion (tell your Dad it’s an actual onion, pickled onion crisps will not do!) which worked fabulously and set it right up for a gorgeous Gibson Martini! 

Size: 50ml, 350ml and 700ml 
ABV: 42%
Find here: £28.80 (smaller sizes available directly from Dà Mhìle )

Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin

If your Dad loves a great story along with a great gin he will love this! The story goes that this gin was originally created by Royal Air Force Wing Commander Montgomery “Monty” Collins, who, after WW2, helped rebuild Berlin Zoo where he sponsored an Egret Monkey named Max. After moving to the Black Forest he ran a guesthouse producing his own gin, using the natural abundance of botanicals and juniper in the area. At the turn of the century during renovations of the house a box containing an ingredients list and an old dusty bottle of gin was found, with a hand-drawn label saying “Max the Monkey-Schwarzwald Dry Gin”. Containing 47 botanicals and at 47% ABV, it was renamed Monkey 47! A complex, beautifully smooth, refreshing gin, it’s perfect in a gin and tonic, with lots of ice and a slice of orange and can hold its own in any Martini!

Size: UK 500ml // US 375ml
ABV: 47%
Find Here: UK £36.99 // USA from $46.99

Upperhand Irish Craft Gin

Those sport loving Dads may be interested to know that this gin, in its beautifully stylish ocean blue bottle, was co-founded by Italian Judo Champion Alberto Borin. On meeting Alberto he is as passionate about this gin, which he produces with his wife Claudia, as he is about sport. It isn't surprising then that this new gin on the block has a massive Mediterranean influence with Sicilian lemon, dill and basil taking centre stage to the juniper. They are, in fact, the only botanicals in this intriguing spirit. A truly distinctive gin, distilled in Ireland, this is definitely one for the herb lovers and tastes absolutely delicious with a good quality tonic garnished with a slice of lemon or a few basil leaves, just leave the judo moves to Alberto!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £35.00

Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin

If your Dad likes his gins with more punch than pinch then this is the gin you’ve been looking for! This multi-award winning Australian beaut is distilled at a whopping 58.8% ABV but still manages to retain an incredibly smooth mouthfeel as well as superb flavour intensity. Distilled with finger limes it retains incredible fresh citrus with all of the warmth of ginger and earthy turmeric in the mix. A gin like this is perfect for cocktails, so your Dad can pretend he is James Bond to his heart’s content and ask for a ‘shaken not shtirred’ in his best Sean Connery impersonation!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 58.8%
Find here: UK £42.00

Templar Spirit Daniel Hooper Lion Edition

We have featured the exemplary Templar Spirit Gin before, with their previous Limited edition hand finished Joker bottle by renowned British artist Daniel Hooper. As if by fate, this one is perfect timing for those avid collector Dads out there! The bottle’s label features an incredible depiction of a lion in Hooper’s distinctive style and contains their classic smooth, lightly sweet London Dry Gin. This time not only are there just 50 bottles but some of them will be a surprise Navy Strength edition! Founded by an ex-Matelot and Royal Marine Commando, a percentage of all sales will be donated to military charities to support veterans and their families.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% or 57%
Find here: £100.00

Tayport Distillery Scots Pine Gin

A beautifully stylish, elegant bottle of gin, distilled, bottled and labelled on-site at Tayport Distillery. Inspired by the stunning coastline of Fife and the local Tentsmuir Forest this gin is a soft bed of pine needles underfoot, the smell of the fir trees and fallen wood. A gorgeously flavourful gin, with eight botanicals of Juniper, Scots Pine, Coriander, Cassia, Cardamom, Orange Peel, Angelica and Almond. This wonderfully warm, citrus gin is perfect for the Dads who love a bit of spice in their life and perfect to sit down, glass in hand in front of the fire with, after a long country walk with the family. Serve with either premium light tonic and a slice of orange, or with premium ginger ale and a slice of orange.

Size: 200ml and 500ml
ABV: 40% 
Find here: £15.00 - £25.00

Alnwick Sloe Gin

Sloe gin is for life, not just for Christmas! This stunning bottle of Sloe gin from award-winning Northumberland Spirit Co. is perfect. It’s not only fantastic for those Dads who love a little after-dinner Port but how about a gorgeous summer cocktail with Prosecco while the barbecue is on! It’s a beautiful combination of Northumbrian sloes, natural sloe concentrate perfectly blended with their fabulous Alnwick gin creating a delicious gin bursting with fruit flavours and warmth. Try it neat, with a crisp, cold Prosecco or pack a jug with summer fruits, cucumber, mint, ice and cloudy lemonade and create your own Summer refresher! Dad’s barbecues will be taken to another level!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 26%
Find here: £29.00

If you’re looking for a different sort of gift for Dad then we have plenty of suggestions in this wine and spirits gift guide or you can find plenty more tasty treats here.

Great Wine and Spirits to Gift this Father's Day

Words by Colin Hampden-White

With so many choices of premium sparkling wine and Champagne on the market, I wanted to highlight two I’ve had recently. One traditional, and one non-alcoholic and from England. Both excellent. I have also found some amazing rum, cocktail pouches, a big, luscious, marvellous Malbec, and a couple of gins, one with sweet pineapple and ginger because dads like sweet things too!

Roger Daltray

I first tasted this on release before the pandemic. It was released for The Who on their 50th anniversary and having tasted it again a few days ago, I am pleased I thought so much of it in 2019, because I am still hugely impressed. Sometimes when a celebrity has a bottle made for them, it can go horribly wrong, and the juice in the bottle isn’t that good, but in this instance it is excellent. The design is also excellent giving the impression of a premium product yet not being overly showy. The design holds onto the brand identity of The Who well. The Champagne itself made by Charles Orban, has finesse and intensity. Made with 45% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier, there is good complexity with lots of citrus notes and hints of vanilla and brioche. A percentage of the price of each bottle goes to Teen Cancer America too so should you find yourself with your hands on a bottle, you can sip knowing you are doing good.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £95

Wild Idol

A little while ago I tried and very much liked the Wild Idol Rosé, and the white takes off where that left off. There is the same elegance of fruit and balanced acidity giving a satisfying drink, not too acidic like a lot of sparkling wine and not too sweet. Lots of floral aromas and delicate fruit give elegance. This is the second time I’ve tried a non-alcoholic sparkling and thought it benefited from not having any alcohol and the first time was its pink sibling. Bravo Wild Idol!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 0.0%
Find here: £35

 

Santiago de Cuba 11 Years Old Extra Añejo

11 years old is old for a tropically aged rum. So when one comes along from one of the best Cuban brands one expects it to be very good, and this is certainly that. It’s rich with lots of fruity esters and brown sugar flavours which perfectly balance each other, there is huge complexity with pineapple, and spices including cinnamon and cumin. A little banana and caramel and a touch of black cracked pepper on the finish. A decadent rum perfect for decadent dads.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £39.83

Luigi Bosca | Malbec Selección de Vistalba 2020

This is a stonking wine for the price. Wines from Argentina are always good value as they are subsidised for the UK market but this wine punches way above its price mark. It’s a big rich wine with lots of red fruit and floral aromas and dark fruit flavours. There is some spice and liquorice too. It is drinking now but will certainly age for at least 5 years and is a perfect wine to serve up with a big steak or a hearty bean casserole. You might want to pick up two bottles though because once dad gets a taste we’re not sure he’ll want to share!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £16.99

MYXD Dad Box

A box full of cocktails! What’s not to like? Well, not a lot really. Finally, cocktail pouches are delivering very good cocktails akin to one you would receive from a good bartender, and in a lot of cases even better. I’ve been served some pretty dodgy cocktails in my time, and with these pouches not only do you get a good cocktail, but you also get them consistently. Super for sharing and easy to put together. Literally, chill add soda to some and pour. What could be easier?!

In the box:

Long Island Iced Tea where they have combined Flor de Caña 4 year old white rum with vodka, gin, tequila, triple sec, sugar syrup, organic citric acid, lemon bitters and cola reduction.

Smoked Banana Colada combining coconut rum, single cream, banana syrup, coconut syrup and smoky Scotch whisky.

Pinapple & Jalapeno Mai Tai where Flor de Caña 7 Gran Reserva Rum is the star of the show, accompanied by triple sec, jalapeno syrup, orgeat, organic citric acid and pineapple juice.

Popcorn Old Fashioned mixing Benchmark 8-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon, popcorn syrup and fragrant Angostura bitters.

Penicillin combining Benchmark 8-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon with Smokehead peated single malt whisky, ginger and honey syrups, organic citric acid and lemon bitters.

If you wanted to you could add garnishes like orange for the Old Fashioned or Pineapple leaves for the Colada, they make them look pretty, but if you can’t be bothered, they are still going to taste great.

Size: 100ml - 150ml
ABV: 13.7% - 26.5%
Find here: £28.95

 

Bullards Pineapple, Ginger and Lime Gin

Pineapple is a flavour I would normally associate with rum rather than gin, but in this case, it works beautifully giving tropical sweetness to balance the lime and the ginger that comes through to give a little heat and spice. The gin is very smooth and makes a very good G&T, but where it shines for me is with ginger ale. Again, something I’d normally mix with rum or whisky, but with this gin, it makes a great spicy long drink and remains fresh which is perfect for this time of year.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £40

Lind and Lime Gin

A gin with a very nautical feel. This is the first spirit to come from the Port of Leith distillery in Edinburgh and is inspired by Dr James Lind who came from Edinburgh. He noticed that patients who had scurvy and were eating citrus fruits were showing good signs, which explains the lime in the gin, and how we know how to cure scurvy today. Not that I think there is enough lime in the gin to cure scurvy! But it certainly tastes good. The cap label says there are flavours of lime, pink peppercorn and juniper, and that’s the perfect tasting note for this gin. It literally “does what it says on the tin”, and with 44% abv, those flavours are delivered effortlessly. My gin of the moment, and a perfect dad day present for a gin loving dad.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 44%
Find here: £34.95

If you still don’t feel like you’ve found the perfect present, have a browse through our wine and spirits pages as they’re packed full of delicious drinks to try!

Great Gins for the Jubilee

As the long bank holiday celebrating her Majesty's platinum jubilee rolls around, our thoughts turn to street parties and boozy celebrations. Will you be getting festive with fizz? Patriotic with Pimm’s or raising spirits with whisky, gin, rum and the rest? Of all the spirits, gin is the most quintessentially British, so we’ve picked out eight Jubilee-tastic gins to celebrate the Queen (and our extra time off work) this long weekend. 

Beefeater London Garden Gin

This gin is so good, it needs its own royal security. Inspired by the famous botanical Chelsea Physic Gardens that were said to inspire Beefeater’s original recipe, this stunning sipper has all the citrus and zest of classic Beefeater with luscious, lemon verbena, basil and thyme notes. Classic and classy. A great garden gin for your garden party!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £25

Cotswolds Distillery Jubilee Gin

This limited edition, regal looking tipple tastes as good as it looks in its royal purple bottle. It’s gin with a British summer twist as bramble fruit bursts from the glass, buddying up with the juniper without being cloying. You can sip this alone thanks to its creamy mouthfeel and it's awesome with a rhubarb tonic. Garnish with blackberries for a right royal knees up.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £34

Windsor Great Park Gin

Distilled from Windsor Great Park Vineyard’s award-winning Chardonnay using herbs and flowers grown in the royal Savill Gardens just next door, this booze is bursting with botanical beauty. Think fresh herbs and elderflower in a shower of lemon citrus. Rich and creamy to boot, you could sip this alone. Very smart label too. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £35.95

Buckingham Palace Gin

A more floral and savoury twist on a classic London Dry, this super refreshing sip is made with twelve botanicals foraged from the Queen’s own palace garden including hawthorn and mulberry. Flavoursome but subtle, this gin gets extra points for its posh, perfume-like bottle too! A great gifting option, though a tad pricey.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £40

Whitley Neill Gin, Jubilee Edition

If you’re looking for a brilliant, benchmark London Dry Gin, this is it. Pure spirit on those nose with gentle juniper and a slick of moreish saltiness. This is a gin for gin purists not keen on the extra bells and whistles. The iconic mirror and flags bottle will grab attention too. Well worth a place at the party. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £25

Hortus London Dry Gin

For the price, you can’t knock it. Hortus is Lidl’s own gin brand and this is a decent London Dry that’s pretty classic in an attractive bottle. Compared to some of the others it’s not as smooth or as complex but a punchy tonic will cover any sins. Throw in some fresh fruit and you’ll be laughing. A pocket friendly choice when you need a few for that street party! 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £15.99

Sainsbury's Limited Edition, Blackfriars Scottish Raspberry & Rhubarb Gin

Rhubarb crumble in spirit form! This limited edition sipper is a good choice for those not so keen on juniper who want to jump on the gin train. Not one for the purists, it’s very heavy on the rhubarb with a ripple of raspberry, but tastes bone dry and is terrific with tonic. Serve with a small stick of rhubarb or a handful of raspberries with lots of ice.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £16

M&S Jubilee Gin  

This is a gin liqueur rather than a straight gin so as expected, it’s very sweet like strawberry candy and not very gin-like at all. In fact, you really can’t taste any juniper. Having said that, it’s gotta lotta bottle appeal. Pour it over your summer pudding or sip it cool over ice with a fruit tonic and it's a bit of a guilty pleasure.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 20%
Find here: £16

Pinkster pink Gin

Don’t let the colour put you off - Pinkster pink gin is well worth a try. It gets its pink hue from fresh raspberries which are steeped in the gin. The use of fresh fruit rather than flavourings leads to a subtle, smooth gin with just the right amount of raspberry making for a perfect G&T (or two!). Try it with fresh raspberries and mint as a garnish and you won’t look back!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: UK £35

Beefeater London Dry Gin

First made by James Burroughs in 1820, Beefeater London Dry Gin is still made using exactly the same recipe today. It’s fresh with big juniper character and strong bursts of citrus, and for its price point, it is an exceptionally good gin. Try it with a good quality tonic and a slice of lemon or orange!

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £16 // US $24.99

Crazy Lassi Gin

Inspired by the fusion of British and Indian cultures through food, Crazy gin follows the same idea and pushes flavours that people wouldn’t normally associate working together in their gin. Botanicals of turmeric, coriander and black pepper inspired by base ingredients of Punjabi cooking, along with the more British botanicals of juniper and pomegranate are harmoniously joined together before the whole gin is fat washed with ghee to make for a beautifully flavoursome, really smooth gin that does just what it intended.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: £39.95

London No. 1 Gin

Whether sipping neat or mixing this gin into a cocktail, you will not be disappointed. It’s a quadruple-distilled, small batch gin flavoured with botanicals including cinnamon, angelica, bergamot and gardenia. Check out its subtle blue hue - that’s bound to be a conversation starter during your Jubilee party!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 47%
Find here: £29.77

For more gin-spiration, check out The Best Gins for a G&T or The Most Popular Gin Cocktails!

Have you tried the Queen's Gin?

Are you still looking for that perfect sip for the Jubilee weekend? Could there be a more fitting choice than sipping on a gin from the Queen’s very own garden?! We don’t think so!

It turns out that during the reign of James I, planting Mulberry trees became a very popular tradition in England that is still upheld today, and 40 different species of these trees can be found in the Palace gardens. It is these mulberry leaves, along with 11 other botanicals including lemon verbena, hawthorn berries and bay leaves that are used to produce this special gin with nearly every botanical being taken from the grounds of Buckingham Palace itself.

The gin is a premium small-batch London dry gin and can be found at the Royal Collection Trust shops for £40 a bottle. For those, who are lucky enough to be invited to the palace, you may be able to sip it while you socialise. For those of us still waiting for our invite to rock up in the post, try mixing the gin in a simple G&T. We’d recommend Franklin & Sons Natural Indian Tonic Water with a slice of lemon for the perfect thirst-quencher. 

Producer: The Queen (kind of)
Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Price: £40

Top Jubilee Tipples for Every Budget

Whether you’re having a street party or not, with a double bank holiday, chances are there will be some celebrating going on! Here are a few Jubilee- tastic drinkies that will suit every budget. 

La Gioiosa Prosecco Rosé Millesimato Brut

La Gioiosa Prosecco has released a Limited-Edition Prosecco Rosé Millesimato in collaboration with British designer Yvonne Ellen just in time for us to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee!

The label features Yvonne’s pet budgies, Paul and Simon as well as a parakeet - a breed found in abundance in London’s Hyde Park. The flowers are versions of some beautiful native Italian plants intertwined with leaves from Glera and Pinot Nero grape which are the two grapes used to make this fizz. It’s elegant and aromatic with notes of pear, cherry and almond. 

Find it for £9.50 - £10.99 at Sainsbury’s (on offer),  Waitrose and various supermarkets.

Lateral Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile 2021

With the cost of living crisis, everything is getting more expensive. Enter Tesco to save the day, with a range of wines for £5 and under. This Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon does a great job of actually tasting like the grape it’s made from with notes of ripe blackcurrant, mocha and spice. It’s smooth and medium-bodied - awesome with steak and grilled meats. There are 11 wines in the range from Malbec to Pinot Grigio and Chenin Blanc. 

Find it for £3.89 at  Tesco

M&S Strawberry Gin Liqueur (20% abv)

With a bottle that is so pretty you might not want to open it, M&S are offering a sweet, Strawberry gin with very very subtle juniper notes that’s a bit of a guilty pleasure. Try it neat over ice, with lemonade or in cocktails. Made by the famous Warner’s Distillery in Northamptonshire and a great idea for gifting. 

Find it for £16 at M&S in stores only

Buckingham Palace Gin (42%)

Your splash out option is this small batch, elegant and aromatic gin that has been made with botanicals hand-picked from Buckingham palace’s very own grand including Lemon verbena, hawthorn berries and mulberry leaves. This is an exclusive bottling for Waitrose and it would make the perfect gift. You’ll want to keep the bottle afterwards too.

Find it for £40 exclusively at Waitrose

See what else we’ve been tasting on talkTV here. 

The Best Eco-Friendly Gins

Words by Leigh Andrews

With us all having to be more aware of the effect our lives have on our precious planet, we’ve found some great gins whose distillers are making a conscious effort to help us look after our environmental impact! From gin pouches through your letterbox, to refilling your bottle directly at the distillery, and even an innovative aluminium refill bottle, we’ve got a great selection so you can keep enjoying your gin knowing you’re doing your bit to help!

Rock Rose Pink Grapefruit Old Tom

Dunnet Bay Distillers, the super talented bunch behind Rock Rose, and recent winners of an Environmental/Sustainability award are stepping ever closer to their net-zero ambition with their fantastic fully recyclable pouches. They also have a refill rewards club where you can choose any one of their gorgeous gin pouches (or vodka) to be delivered with some extra little delicious free goodies including tonics, at intervals of your choice directly to your door! We chose this SUPERB Pink Grapefruit Old Tom, an incredibly well-balanced gin, with the delicious zest of fresh organic pink grapefruit peel and that gorgeous Old Tom signature sweetness lingering on the palate. Enjoy with a light tonic garnished with fresh pink grapefruit peel.

ABV: 41.5%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £32

Glaswegin Original London Dry Gin

One of those iconic bottles you want to keep on your shelf forever and the gin inside is no less of a talking point. Winner of World Gin Awards Best Scottish London Dry, Glaswegin not only provides a refill pouch for their amazing bottles, they also supply upcycling kits to turn your bottle into a soap dispenser (which they also sell refills for) or to keep the spotlight on that design winner….a Glaswegin Lamp Upcycling kit! To calm you down after all that homeware excitement, how about filling up your bottle and enjoying a bold, lightly sweet citrus gin that has an exceptionally smooth mouthfeel and a fresh finish, this is a no nonsense gin so serve simply with ice and tonic or we absolutely LOVE it with a sprig of fresh mint!

ABV: 41.1%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £32.95

Darnley's London Dry Gin

Truly a cottage industry, Darnley’s established their gin making in a cottage right next door to their Kingsbarns whisky distillery. Passionate about using all natural ingredients, many of their botanicals, including the feature Elderflower in their London Dry, are growing wild in their surrounding area. In their drive for sustainability, all of their original gins including their Spiced and Navy Strength are available in refill pouches. So how about popping a pouch of this fabulously floral London Dry into a picnic basket and enjoying a glorious lazy afternoon sipping on a Darnley’s and light tonic with a slice of lemon and a big dose of sunshine?!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £28

Bullards Old Tom Gin

2020 Winners of The Gin Guide Sustainability Award, Bullards, as well as making AMAZING award winning Norwich gin are also passionate about reducing their carbon footprint. Encouraging their customers to keep their stunning bottles for life, Bullards has produced what we think is an exceptionally ergonomic refill pouch. Easy to pour and even easier to drink! You can choose from any one of their 4 exceptional gins, or why not try all of them, it would be rude not to! This Old Tom is wonderfully warming with pink pepper, rich fruity mango and luscious sweetness from Norfolk honey, lifted by gorgeous grapefruit citrus. Serve with tonic over ice with a slice of lemon or grapefruit for a true taste of Norwich!

ABV: 42.5%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £35

Wood Brothers Single Estate Gin

A true farm to bottle gin! Wood Brothers make their own base spirit using winter wheat grown on their Oxfordshire farm giving them full control of the quality going into their bottles. If that isn’t impressive enough they even reuse the waste water from the distilling process to heat the greenhouses to grow some of the botanicals such as lavender, rosemary and dill that go into this outstanding gin as well. Their stylish statement piece bottles deserve to be kept to grace your gin shelf. We LOVE this superbly smooth, aromatic gin with a light tonic and a sprig of rosemary, and it can absolutely hold its own in a classic Negroni or a gorgeous Martini!!!

ABV: 44%
Size: 500ml
Find Here: UK £27

And now some refills with a difference……..

There are some other options instead of pouches; if you are lucky enough to live near a local gin distillery you love, or even make a destination visit to, they could very well offer bottle refills where you take your empty bottle and they refill it for you for a discounted price! One absolute favourite is ….

Pickering’s Gin Navy Strength - bottle refill

In what was the old Edinburgh vet school animal hospital, lies Pickering’s Gin. Based on an inherited family recipe this exceptional gin is one you will keep wanting to refill that lovely little chunky bottle with, and in our case being the Navy Strength that little bottle comes with its very own Bearskin - not a real Bearskin we hasten to add but a perfect little replica! And you NEVER have to throw it away because if you treat yourself to a visit to the distillery, one of the lovely team will happily refill your bottle, it's like the everlasting gobstopper of the gin world! In Original or Navy Strength, they even let you attempt to do a wax resealing…I need a lot more lessons, my attempt was described as  “unique”! Just as well it has a hat to cover it! 

Bring out the wonderful spices of cardamom and anise, and the sweetness of the fennel in this gorgeous gin in a simple serve with tonic, ice and a generous squeeze of lime! 

ABV: 57.1%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: Pickering's Distillery 15% discount for refills

And last but definitely not least is this fabulous Refill Project innovation from London Spirits Competition Gold Award Winners Isle of Harris……created as part of an ongoing refill solutions experiment…

Isle of Harris Gin - Aluminium Refill Bottle

Anyone familiar with the absolutely beautiful Isle of Harris gin knows it comes in an equally beautiful bottle evocative of the wind-blown seas around the Isle. It’s a bottle that nobody wants to part with and now you don’t have to! Looking for an easily recyclable refill solution, they’ve come up with a ‘top-up’ subscription where you will be sent your gin monthly in a 500ml aluminium bottle, to regularly top up your existing 700ml gin….the neverending bottle!!. With aluminium being the most cost-effective material to recycle this is a great alternative to recycling the glass bottle…and who would want to! This wonderfully refreshing gin with that delicious sweet saltiness umami of the sugar kelp and that warming peppery finish is a gorgeous sipping gin!  If you want to get that WOW factor, serve it with a good tonic, a few drops of sugar kelp water and garnish with pink grapefruit! 

ABV: 45% 
Size: 500ml
Find Here: 12 month subscription see website for details

Wondering what to add your gin to? Then, have a gander at The Most Popular Gin Cocktails. If you're looking for more gin-ius (see what we did there?!) suggestions, then why not check out these Colour Changing Gins?!

8 Delicious Gins for a G&T

Spring is at last upon us, the days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer and a G&T in the garden is becoming a more and more appealing thought. But, with so many gins out there, it can be hard to know which to try. A good G&T comes down to a good gin so we have brought to you our favourites from this year so far, so you can mix your next G&T up with confidence.

58 Gin English Berry

This multi-award-winning gin is a berry-focused expression from the folks at 58 Gin. Slow berries which have been distilled as well as macerated are used in the creation of the spirit, leading to a crystal clear gin with a beautiful balance of citrus and savoury flavours. Mix it with your favourite premium tonic and garnish with a slice of grapefruit. Nom!

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £38

Adnams Copper House

This is Adnams’ best-selling gin and we are not surprised in the slightest. Made using six botanicals including orange peel, hibiscus and coriander, it is delicate and floral with subtle hints of spice and is jam-packed full of flavour. Mix it with your favourite premium tonic water and garnish with fresh orange peel for a knock out G&T!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £22 currently on offer at Sainsburys £28 normally.  

An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin

If you’re looking for something slightly different to your traditional citrussy, juniper forward gins then this is it. All the way from County Donegal in Ireland, An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin contains five different varieties of locally-harvested seaweed alongside its other botanicals leading to a delicious savoury gin with gentle heat and a subtle lemon sweetness. It’s a perfect starting point for those looking to get into gin and a delicious option for those already converted! Try it with lemon tonic and a slice of lemon as a garnish for a mouth-wateringly good G&T.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 43.2%
Find here: £29.25

Bullards Coastal gin

Imagine sitting by the ocean, the waves gently rushing to the shore and the wind in your hair – that’s this gin in a glass. Inspired by the Norfolk coastline, its botanicals of sea purslane, marsh samphire and sea aster, impart a subtle saline note to the gin which is beautifully complemented with citrus. For a sweeter G&T mix it with your favourite tonic and garnish with blackberries. Or, for a more savoury take on it, garnish with rosemary or cucumber.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £36  

Bulldog London Dry Gin

Made with poppy, lotus leaves, lavender, almond and dragon eye to name just a few of the 12 botanicals, this gin really packs in the flavour. It is quadruple distilled in copper pot stills giving it a beautifully smooth and crisp finish to boot. Try it mixed with your favourite premium tonic and a handful of blackberries as a garnish, or, if you’re feeling adventurous, a slice of grapefruit and fresh ground black pepper!

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £21.95  // US $24.98

Glendalough Wild Botanical Gin

Using botanicals hand foraged from the Wicklow Mountains, the amount of care that goes into creating this gin is inspiring. With pine, juniper, herbaceous and floral notes it makes for a gorgeous G&T. You can see more about how the botanicals are hand foraged in Episode Four of The Three Drinkers in Ireland. Enjoy this gin with your favourite tonic, a twist of lemon and a sprig of mint for a delicious G&T!

ABV: 41%
Size: US 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: US £33.75 // US $28.99

Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla

One sip of this gin and you’ll be picturing yourself sitting under the warm Mediterranean sun looking out over the rolling hills. Inspired by a recipe first written over 140 years ago by Charles Tanqueray on a visit to the orange groves of Spain, this gin is citrus-focussed, with crisp juniper, peppery coriander, and sweet liquorice. Try it with your favourite premium tonic and an orange wedge garnish… trust us, you won’t be disappointed!

ABV: 41.3%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £25 // $29.99

Whitley Neill Oriental Spiced Gin

This brand new spiced gin from Whitley Neill will take you on a journey to the Orient with its exotic flavours and aromas. Think gentle spice from cardamom with sweet citrus, followed by notes of cumin perfectly complimenting the juniper. It’s rich and fragrant with a long elegant finish. Mix it with premium Indian tonic water, and garnish with a cinnamon stick and orange wedge for a real treat!

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £26

Wondering which tonic to use in your G&T? Check out The Best Tonic Water for your G&T and if it’s garnish inspiration you’re after then how about having a read of The Best Ready Made Garnishes for a G&T.

Two Stunning Pink Drinks

Words by Colin Hampden-White

It’s the beginning of April, the sun is in the sky longer for us in the northern hemisphere, and whilst the temperatures aren’t quite pushing the mercury very high I am starting to think of summer and those long lazy days with a glass of something cool to hand. Recently I have discovered two drinks which I think will become firm favourites in the months to come. One very much an alcoholic drink, although the way it can be drunk can bring the abv down considerably, and another which is alcohol free.

Kyrö Pink Gin

Firstly I want to introduce you to Kyrö Pink Gin. This gin was born from the team in Finland trying to make a pink gin which would please everyone. Now the saying goes that “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time” but this time I think the poet John Lydgate might have got it wrong. This gin has well balanced flavours of strawberry and creamy vanilla with a tang of raspberry in the background. The juniper is very present but not intrusive and there is a little coriander and pepper on the finish too. This is a rye-based gin giving those peppery notes, and all the red fruits come from infused strawberries, lingonberries and rhubarb, which are all foraged. It makes a wonderful gin and tonic and is complex enough for high balls. All in all a great summer drink.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38.2%
Price: £25.95

Wild Idol

My second pink of choice would be Wild Idol. I have tried many low or no alcohol wines, and none of them really work, so I was sceptical about this as I popped the cork, on what is a gorgeous bottle. It looks exactly like a bottle of premium sparkling wine and is priced as such as well. Firstly, as it pours into the glass, it looks like sparkling rosé, with the requisite mousse and fine bubbles and a bright pink which is not too vibrant to look synthetic, and that’s because it isn’t. Made from several grape varieties and made without the need for removing alcohol the process is pure and gives a lively drink with lots of red fruit flavours balanced with a racy acidity, much like a sparkling wine. It is vegan and gluten-free. Thankfully this is where everything changes from a sparkling wine. I realised that the drink in itself is good and satisfying, giving no need for alcohol or the feeling that I’d like alcohol in it. If I wanted alcohol, I would have poured an alcoholic sparkling wine. This a something which looks and feels special, and anyone not drinking alcohol and served this at any event where others were, would feel no less special.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 0%
Price: £35