Help me choose a new drink

[BreakHerOffAKitKat]

I'm usually partial to a bottle of Pinto Grigio as my weekend treat but i seem to have developed an allergy and after my first glass my nose starts streaming, my eyes itch and I can't stop sneezing. It carries on for most of the following day unless I take an antihistamine when I wake up.

So I thought I'd try a new weekend tipple. I'm quite keen to give gin a try but there are way too many options available and I have no idea where to begin. I remember trying a G&T many years ago in my youth and thought it was revolting and bitter so I've not had one since but now there are so many more options and my palette has matured I thought I'd try again but I'm loath to spend a fortune on a bottle that sounds fancy if I hate it.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a gin to try that is not too bitter tasting? Happy to go for a flavoured type, I like most fruity things

[Fivemoreminutes1]

If you don’t want to invest until you’re certain, buy individual cans of pre-mixed G&T until you find one you like, then get the bottle of gin and mix your own.

I like Sipsmith www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/303390298 but it’s quite dry, so if you want something sweeter go for flavoured gin such as this www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/303749624 or Gordon’s pink www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/299313944

[Kollin]

You can get lots of different gin miniatures in flavour sets. They started off as gift sets but now most supermarkets carry them all year round.

[LagneyandCasey]

I dont like tonic so I have my gin with lemonade and have it as a long drink with lots of ice. I like Bombay Sapphire and Tanqueray dry and theres an Orange Tanqueray which is lovely.

[Kollin]

Ooh, yes I love Tanqueray Sevilla 🍊 it's lovely.

[BreakHerOffAKitKat]

Miniatures sound like the way forward, thank you all. Also liking the sound of something orangey

[Laila747]

Pink gin is a good one to start with if you’re not keen on the bitterness. My favourite is Edinburgh Gin - Elderflower.

Spiced captain Morgan and Diet Coke is my drink of choice at the mo.

[youngestisapsycho]

The thing with Gin & Tonic is that it’s the tonic taste most people don’t like.... try with some different mixers maybe

[Heartbeats0708]

Yeah it's often the tonic that people aren't keen on. I'd go to the supermarket and look at all the different premixed cans, there's gins/flavoured gins you could try as well as different things like rum & cola, vodka like & lemonade etc. Usually on a x for £x. I find I'm much better on 'clear' spirits ie gin/vodka. Enjoy your experiment!

[BreakHerOffAKitKat]

Some great recommendations thank you so much - looks like it's going to a fun weekend at my house

[Cakecrumbsinmybra]

I didn't like g&t until my 30s. I think it was the tonic, as I'm not a fan of grapefruit (the quinine I think?). However, I love it now. I really recommend the Malfy gins, the pink and the orange. They are cheaper on Amazon, unless on offer in supermarket. My favourite tonic at the moment is the blue Schweppes 'naturally light' fever tree copy.

[Bluntness100]

I don’t like gin much either, it’s got too flowery a taste for me, I quite like things like the jj Whitley raspberry vodka,

[amusedbush]

I like gin and there are so many out there, you’ll find one to suit your tastes. Also, don’t skimp on the tonic! Get a decent one as it’s 75% of the drink.

I love Hendricks, which is quite herbal but elderflower Fever Tree can temper that.

[AlrightTreacle]

My favourite drink is rhubard and ginger gin by Whitney Neil with Mediterranean flavoured tonic water by Fevertree.

The type of mixer really makes a difference with G&Ts. My friend loves the same gin as above but with ginger ale (I think it's horrible though!).

[AlrightTreacle]

I love Hendricks, which is quite herbal but elderflower Fever Tree can temper that.

Also a fan of this, either with elderflower or cucumber flavoured tonic water.

[SadderThanEeyore]

Trial and error is the only way as a novice gin drinker. Avoid Gordon's for a start, and stick to decent mixers like fever tree.
You need to first find out if it's the juniper in the gin or the quinine in Indian tonic that you don't like.
Slimline tonic doesn't have the same tang, so you maybe better with that.
Aberfalls/ Whitley Neill/ JJ Whitley group are a good starter as they cover most options.
JJ Whitley London Dry / slimline tonic / wedge of lime
Aberfalls Rhubarb & Ginger with ginger ale and a slice of apple
Whitley Raspberry if you prefer sweet
There's an endless list. People go to stay at a pub near me basically to spend their break trying gins and getting tips from some of the staff. BC (before covid) they had gin festivals that were really popular

[Heartbeats0708]

Definitely worth trying different combinations of tonics/mixers. Hendricks & cucumber is so refreshing. Rhubarb & ginger with ginger ale is good but I can only have one. Malfy orange is lovely too. So much choice!

[WhatAreWordsWorth]

The type of mixer really makes a difference with G&Ts. My friend loves the same gin as above but with ginger ale (I think it's horrible though!).

Maybe I’m your friend

The Whitley Neill rhubarb and ginger gin with Britvic ginger ale is the stuff dreams are made off!

I also like Larios Rose gin with Fever Tree’s aromatic tonic water. I recently tried Mermaid pink gin which was beautiful too, but a bit pricier.

[dramalamma]

I'm in the same position at the moment (have you looked into histamine intolerance? That's what I've got) - I can't stand gin so I've been experimenting with quick cocktails - my favourite is amoretto, ginger ale, a splash of angostura bitters and a little lemon juice over ice with a straw - takes seconds abs feels fancy! 😁

[Meruem]

If you don’t like gin just drink something else rather than trying 50 different combinations! I bought a few bottles of spirits at Christmas to make cocktails and I’ve been trying to cut down my wine intake so I’ve tried a few things with lemonade or ginger ale. I think Cointreau is nice and that’s an orange liqueur. Amaretto is also really nice.