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19 best gins for gifts
Mother’s Ruin? We think not. A lovely bottle of gin makes an ideal festive treat. Here are the best gins to gift all year round.
By Louise Baty | Last updated Dec 20, 2023
Right up there with ‘naice ham’ and ‘picky bits’ on many Mumsnetters’ shopping lists is another important staple. Gin.
Mumsnetters love a gin or two, which is why our forums even have their very own gin emoticon. So it’s hardly surprising that there are a fair few threads on this topic.
However, with so much choice out there, it can be tricky for even the most discerning of gin drinkers to nail down their favourite brand, as one Mumsnetter demonstrated when she wailed: “Do I have to pick one gin?”
Gin is fantastic in a cocktail and you may have even tried a Negroni, Aviation, Vesper or Singapore Sling. But do you know how gin is actually made in the first place?
A neutral grain alcohol (like rye, barley, wheat or corn) is distilled with juniper berries and other botanicals (such as dried herbs and citrus peels) to make a fragrant spirit. These days, you can get all sorts of different flavoured gins including rhubarb, raspberry and elderflower.
Gin isn’t just an essential for your own drinks cabinet; a bottle of gin makes a brilliant gift for your nearest and dearest too. As there’s such a wide variety of gins on offer, you’ll be sure to find one to suit every taste.
Whether your favourite gin connoisseur favours it straight over ice, a classic gin and tonic, in a warming gin cocktail or as a flavoured gin with a twist, we’ve got you covered with our round-up of the best gins for gifts in 2024.
1. Best overall gin: Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin
Price: From £30 for 70cl | Buy now from Amazon
“My favourite gin is Drumshanbo Irish Gunpowder Gin. It's such a lovely gin and comes in a beautiful blue ribbed bottle.” Noblegreenk
Stunning blue bottle? Check. Bold, spicy flavours? Check. Stylish and tasty enough to make the ideal festive gift? Check, check and check! This gin is made from slow distilled gunpowder green tea leaves in Drumshanbo, Northern Ireland. It also includes 11 oriental botanicals, giving it a zesty citrus kick, and you can even use the bottle as a vase afterwards.
2. Best budget gin: Ophir Oriental Spiced London Dry Gin
Price: £16.99 for 70cl | Buy now from Amazon
“Ophir is my favourite cheap gin. With a slice of root ginger and some coriander, it's lovely.” LadyPoison
If you don’t fancy splurging more than £20 on a gin gift, this reasonably priced offering from England’s oldest distillery, London Dry Gin, could fit the bill. Spicy, citrusy Ophir gin is made from hand-picked botanicals including Indonesian cubeb berries, Moroccan coriander, Indian cardamom and Tellicherry black pepper, and it comes in a super snazzy bottle too.
3. Best flavoured gin: Edinburgh Gin Raspberry Gin
Price: £26.21 for 70cl | Buy now from Amazon
“My favourite that I return to time and time again. Edinburgh Gin Raspberry Gin.” MakeMineALarge1
For those who favour sweet, fruity drinks, this raspberry flavoured gin should tickle their tastebuds. Edinburgh Gin’s Raspberry Gin is made using fresh and dried raspberries from Perthshire, and then rounded off with raspberry leaves which add a herbal kick. Reviewers say that this purse-friendly flavoured gin is delicious paired with lemonade for a fresh and fruity cocktail.
4. Best dry gin: Gordon’s Special London Dry Gin
Price: From £18.80 for 1L | Buy now from Amazon
“Gordons! It always stands up well in taste tests.” ElizabethinherGermanGarden
If you can’t be faffed with fancy schmancy flavoured gins, then why not go back to basics? And by basics, we’re talking about triple-distilled Gordon’s Special London Dry Gin, which tastes excellent over ice with a decent tonic and a juicy wedge of lime. It’s a safe choice to suit most tastes and is also excellent value for money.
5. Best traditional gin with a twist: Bombay Sapphire Star of Bombay Gin
Price: £25 for 70cl | Buy now from Amazon
“My husband recommends Bombay Sapphire. He also says to buy a good tonic water, something like Fever-Tree.” Pinkfreesias
Star of Bombay is produced at the Bombay Sapphire distillery at Laverstoke Mill, Cheltenham. This popular gin has strong flavours of juniper, coriander and bergamot, and the stylish one-litre blue bottle will add class to your festive cocktails. Fever-Tree Tonic Water is a worthy mixer too.
6. Best limited edition gin: Westward Farm Wild Wingletang Gin
Price: £42.56 for 70cl | Buy now from Amazon
“Wild Wingletang from Westward Farm on the Isles of Scilly. Best. Gin. EVER.” Bicnod
A limited edition offering which is only available at certain times of year, this craft gin is made in autumn from the Wild Wingletang Gorse on the Isles of Scilly. Comprising layers of spicy, nutty flavours, Wild Wingletang Gorse can be enjoyed straight over ice or with a mixer.
7. Best Japanese gin: The House of Suntory Roku Japanese Craft Gin
Price: £25 for 70cl | Buy now from Amazon
“Suntory Roku gin is lovely.” Miniwinnie
London dry gin isn’t for everyone and this Japanese craft gin certainly offers an interesting alternative. Featuring six Japanese botanicals including sakura flower and leaf, sencha and gyokuro tea, sansho pepper and yuzu peel, this delicate gin offers hints of green tea and cherry blossom and works well with a good quality tonic.
8. Best gin bottle: Silent Pool Gin
Price: £37.75 for 70cl | Buy now from Amazon
“I was given a bottle of Silent Pool gin for Christmas. It was empty by New Year! Really lovely to drink and the bottle is beautifully designed.” Blogdog
Silent Pool wins top points for presentation as well as taste and is sure to liven up your drinks cabinet as well as your festive parties. Encased in a cool blue bottle and containing hints of honey, chamomile, lavender and honey, this UK-made gin originates from the Albury Estate in the Surrey Hills.
9. Best ALDI gin: Greyson’s Pink Gin
Price: £12.99 for 70cl | Buy now from ALDI
“If I'm fancying pink gin, I like the one from Aldi.” QueenofLouisiana
ALDI sells some cracking gins at very reasonable prices and this is the best supermarket gin we’ve found. ALDI’s own brand Greyson offers a Premium Pink Gin with layers of raspberry, strawberry, blackberry and juniper. The beautiful bottle design makes this a lovely Christmas gift on a budget too.
10. Best Christmas gin: Tarquin’s Figgy Pudding Gin
Price: £36.95 for 70cl | Buy now from Slurp
“Try Tarquin’s Figgy Pudding Gin with Fever-Tree tonic. If you are going to start flavoured gin at Xmas, I’d definitely start with a festive one!" WutheringFrights
You surely can’t get more Christmassy than figgy pudding so, if you’re looking for the most festive gin on the market, here’s the answer. Distilled with dried fig, festive spices and clementine zest, this limited edition gin is ideal for making warming Yuletide cocktails.
11. Best fruit gin: ALDI Blackberry and Raspberry Bramble Gin
Price: £14.99 for 1L | Buy now from ALDI
“Most of the Christmas flavoured gins are really good.” MustardScreams
Another storming choice from ALDI - this time from its own booze brand Haysmith - the Blackberry & Raspberry Bramble Gin combines sweet raspberries with tart blackberries and notes of juniper. Reviewers say that it mixes well with ginger beer for a delicious winter cocktail and it’s also excellent value for money.
12. Best sloe gin: Sipsmith Limited Edition Sloe Gin
Price: £19.99 for 50cl | Buy now from Amazon
“Sloe gin and prosecco is awesome.” NewYoiker
Sloe Gin is a real winter warmer - and while many Mumsnetters make their own, it’s perfectly acceptable to buy it ready made. Sipsmith’s Limited Edition Sloe Gin is slow distilled for three to four months with sloe berries and Sipsmith London Dry Gin. Drink it with chilled sparkling wine for a very festive Sloe Royale cocktail.
13. Best elderflower gin: Edinburgh Gin Gooseberry and Elderflower Gin
Price: £24.95 for 70cl | Buy now from Amazon
"Elderflower Edinburgh Gin is my all time favourite." SneakyBlinder
This classic London Dry gin combines delicate elderflower with tart gooseberry flavours. Mix it with tonic, ice and a sprig of mint. Edinburgh Gin also produces an elderflower gin liqueur which can be mixed with prosecco or tonic - at ABV 20.0%, the liqueur is a lighter option than the gin, which is ABV 40.0%.
14. Best gin for Negronis: Seven Hills VII Italian Dry Gin
Price: £29.60 for 70cl | Buy now from Amazon
“A Negroni please. Equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth. If you're being really posh, add a slice of orange on the rim of the glass.” TheresNothingIWantMore
If you’re into a Negroni cocktail, this Italian dry gin should hit the spot for you because it’s been distilled especially for the purpose of making the classic Italian aperitif. You’ll find hints of tangy pomegranate and blood orange along with camomile, celery and artichoke in this classy beverage.
15. Best non-alcoholic gin: CleanCo Clean G Non-Alcoholic Gin
Price: £19 for 70cl | Buy now from Amazon
“CleanCo Gin is so good - tastes like the real thing.” Wecandothis99
If you’re pregnant or the designated driver or don’t fancy a fuzzy head in the morning, a non-alcoholic gin is a great party beverage. CleanCo Gin is praised by Mumsnetters and reviewers for tasting just like the real thing. The brand also produces alcohol-free dupes of rhubarb gin, vodka, rum and tequila, so hangovers can well and truly be a thing of the past.
16. Best rhubarb gin: Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and Ginger Gin
Price: £16.50 for 50cl | Buy now from John Lewis & Partners
“Edinburgh Rhubarb Gin with tonic and clementine peel is lovely and festive too.” SimplyPut
Less sugary and sickly than other fruit flavoured gins, this tangy rhubarb gin is ideal for mixing Christmassy G&Ts with a difference. Inspired by Edinburgh Gin’s cult classic Rhubarb and Ginger Liqueur, it comes in a stylish bottle you’ll be proud to show off at cocktail hour.
17. Best classic gin: Tanqueray London Dry Gin
Price: £20 for 1L | Buy now from Amazon
“It's my favourite of the 'ordinary' gins and the one I always have in the house. It tastes like gin should, IMO. No silly spices or flavourings.” sparkli
A wise choice if your recipient can’t stand fussy flavours, Tanqueray’s London Dry Gin is a multi-award-winning global gin brand and is still distilled with the same combination of botanicals discovered by Charles Tanqueray in 1830 - juniper, coriander, liquorice and angelica. You know where you are with a bottle of Tanqueray, that’s for sure.
18. Best gin gift set: Chase Gin Three Perfect Serves Miniatures
Price: £16.56 for a gift set | Buy now from Amazon
“Chase Gin minis. Chase Gin is delicious. I love the apple and Bramley.” MyDucksArentInARow
A lovely looking gift set which is ideal for a Secret Santa gift or as an adult stocking filler, this pack contains two miniature servings of flavoured gin. You’ll receive Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo Gin and Rhubarb & Bramley Apple Gin along with a mini bottle of quality Mediterranean tonic. Santa would be proud.
19. Best gin for gin and tonic: Plymouth Original Botanical Dry Gin
Price: £19.99 for 70cl | Buy now from Amazon
“I recommend Plymouth gin. I prefer a dry gin, though.” IloveJudgeJudy
A classic choice of traditional gin, our gin experts on the forums reckon that Plymouth Gin is earthier and not quite as dry as London Dry Gin. It’s a wise choice for a refreshing gin and tonic, served over ice with a quality tonic water. Chin, chin!
What are the different types of gin?
There are four main types of gin:
London Dry Gin originates from the UK but is now made worldwide and contains natural botanical flavours.
Plymouth Gin is only made by the Plymouth Gin Distillery, which is one of the oldest recorded distilleries in the UK. It’s dryer and more citrusy than London Dry.
Old Tom was originally a sweetened type of gin originating in the 18th century. These days, it’s great in cocktails as it has a rich flavour and, when distilled in wine barrels, it takes on a caramel hue.
Genever is the original style of gin, dating back to the 16th century in the Netherlands. It’s flavoured with botanicals and juniper but tends to have a stronger flavour than other gin types.
What does gin pair well with?
Gin is super versatile and mixes particularly well with:
Tonic water
Vermouth
Soda water
Prosecco
Lime
Grapefruit
Mint
Cucumber
What to look for when buying gin
When you’re choosing gin, it really depends on your own personal taste preferences - or that of your gift recipient.
Look at the botanicals your gin has been distilled with as they will influence the flavour. Traditional gins like Tanqueray London Dry Gin use classic botanicals such as angelica and coriander alongside juniper berries. But there is such a wide range of gins on the market now, you can choose from citrus, floral and fruity flavours too - more or less anything your heart and palette desires, in fact.
Bear in mind the alcohol content when you’re buying your gin, which is generally between 35% to 55% ABV.It’s strong stuff! If you’d prefer something a little less potent, you could opt for a gin liqueur such as Rhubarb and Ginger Liqueur which is 20% ABV and can be mixed with tonic, lemonade or prosecco.
Finally, if you want to make a statement with your gin purchase, choose one with a stunning bottle such as Silent Pool Gin, which will add class to your cocktail cabinet.
How to make a gin and tonic - a step-by-step guide
Step 1: Select a large Spanish-style copa de balon glass for your G&T.
Step 2: Pack it with lots of ice.
Step 3: Add a wedge of lime.
Step 4: Pour in 50ml of Plymouth Gin or London Dry Gin
Step 5: Top with 50ml soda water and 50ml tonic water.
Step 6 (the most important): Enjoy your classic G&T!
What is the best gin in the UK?
The best overall gin is the Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin which is loved by Mumsnetters and independent reviewers for its gorgeous blue bottle and festive spicy flavours.
The best flavoured gin is Edinburgh Gin Raspberry Gin, which is made using fresh and dried raspberries from Perthshire. The best dry gin - and also an excellent budget choice - is Gordon’s Special London Dry Gin. The best gin gift set is Chase Gin Three Perfect Serves Miniatures. Finally, the best gin for that all important gin and tonic is classic Plymouth Original Botanical Dry Gin.
How we chose our recommendations
We understand that there’s nothing like a real recommendation from other people who enjoy drinking gin. So we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which gins were rated by Mumsnet users.
We compiled a list of the gins they loved for taste, price and bottle design. We then did some research across the wider web, looking at which gins were rated highly by independent reviewers and bloggers - and what customer reviews said about them too. Having collated all that information, we picked the gins that we thought would make the best buys.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.