James Bond was wrong about one thing. The best martinis are made with gin and not vodka (they’re also stirred, not shaken, but I digress). Where vodka acts as something of a blank canvas, gin in a martini turns the cocktail into an experience in itself; its medley of botanicals resulting in martinis that are idiosyncratic rather than predictable.
While gin is often associated with England, distilleries further abroad are trying their hand at the clear spirit to great result, with gin from Holland (the spiritual birthplace of the, ahem, spirit), Australia, the United States, and even Japan among the best in the world.
With a low barrier to entry—read: takes way less time than whisk(e)y—the gin industry is a saturated one. As such, it can be difficult to know which bottles are worth buying and what’s better left on the shelf. Whether you’re looking for the ideal gin to make a non-James Bond approved martini or simply have a hankering for a classic G&T, these are the best luxury gin brands to try.
What is gin?
The gin industry mightn’t be a difficult one to enter, however there are a few core rules surrounding the spirit. To be classified as gin, the following stipulations must be met:
It must be a neutral spirit distilled from a natural source such as wheat, potato or grapes
It must have a minimum alcohol content of 37.5% ABV
It must contain juniper, and its flavour must be derived from botanicals (namely, the herbs, seeds, flowers, plants or spices added during production)
While spirits like whisk(ey) and tequila derive much of their flavour through barrel ageing, the flavour of gin is influenced by the botanicals added during production.
How is gin made?
Gin is made by distilling a neutral alcohol from a grain or fruit; usually wheat, barley, grapes, or potatoes. The grain or fruit is first fermented then distilled. Some gin makers add the juniper berries and other aromatics into the fermented mixture before distilling, however most add them into the distilled base spirit to infuse.
All gin must include juniper berries, however other common botanical aromatics include citrus peels, coriander seeds, angelica root, cardamom, star anise, lavender, pepperberry, and ginger.
Types of gin
There are a few core styles of gin to know about.
- London Dry Gin: surprisingly, the key determinant of what constitutes a ‘London Dry’ gin is not geographical. Many heritage luxury gin brands consider London Dry gin to be the quintessential gin style, with this designation indicating that the juniper berries and all other botanicals are added during the distillation process (i.e. not steeped in it after distillation). All ingredients must be natural, with no flavour or colour added afterwards.
- Plymouth Gin: now this one does have a geographically based definition. Plymouth Gin is more citrus-forward and a touch dryer than London Dry gin. It’s exclusively produced in the city of the same name — while there used to be several distilleries producing Plymouth gin, only one remains: Black Friars (which has since rebranded to Plymouth Gin Distillery).
- Old Tom Gin: while there are no set guidelines for this style, Old Tom gin is sweeter than its contemporaries, and is often sweetened with sugar licorice. Regardless of the method used, Old Tom gin is known for its rich, sweet flavour profile.
- Navy Strength Gin: it’s said that 18th century British naval vessels stored their gin supplies near that of their gunpowder; if any gin leaked, the gunpowder would still spark if the gin was over 109 proof (or, Navy Strength). Today gin with an alcohol content above 57.15% ABV (114 proof) is considered Navy Strength.
- New World Gin: also known as New Western gin, this style is a catchall term that encompasses contemporary gins that don’t fit into the aforementioned categories. While all these gins use juniper as a key ingredient (which is a requisite of any gin), New World gins use a wider array of botanicals than other styles, often incorporating native herbs and plants to showcase hyperlocal flair. A good example are the gins produced by Australian brand Four Pillars.
The best luxury gin brands to try in 2024
1. Bombay Sapphire
Sitting at eye level at your local bottle shop and with miniature iterations lining the shelves of pretty much every non-dry country’s airport duty-free section, it’s almost certain you’ve seen an aquamarine bottle of Bombay Sapphire before. However, its ubiquitous presence doesn’t negate the fact that it’s a gin worth trying. Despite its name, it’s headquartered in Hampshire, England and is best known for its vapour infused London Dry Gin which contains ten botanicals including juniper, coriander seeds, cassia bark, angelica root, and orris. Bombay Bramble is a distilled style infused with blackberries and raspberries (which also lends it a unique hue), while Premier Cru Murcian Lemon is a London Dry style that adds lemon, mandarin, and orange peel into the mix.
Established in: 1986
Parent company: Bacardi
Location: Laverstoke, Hampshire, England
Notable expressions: Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin, Bombar Bramble, Premier Cru Murcian Lemon
2. The Botanist
Scotland is best known for its whisky, but the island region of Islay is proving it can do gin too. Made by the lauded Bruichladdich distillery, The Botanist is a complex spirit that comprises a massive 33 botanicals, 22 of which are hand-foraged and native to Islay. The extensive botanical lineup includes bog myrtle leaves, elderflowers, heather flowers, lady’s bedstraw flowers, mugwort leaves, white clover, wood sage, and of course, juniper berries. A complex spirit, it has a warming palate with citrus and earthy notes.
Established in: 2011
Founder: Bruichladdich Distillery
Location: Islay, Scotland
Notable expressions: The Botanist
3. Scapegrace
For those who like their gustatory experiences accompanied by an interesting visual element, the Black Gin from New Zealand distillery Scapegrace is a must-try. The world’s first naturally black gin, Scapegrace Black derives its unique hue through its botanical lineup, which includes butterfly pea flower, pineapple, saffron, and aronia berry. The butterfly pea flower lets the gin change colour from black to lavender when you add tonic or citrus. Not just a pretty liquid, it boasts a unique palette of mint and fruit with peppery undertones. The Scapegrace Blood Moon, which is infused with blood orange, makrut lime, and raspberry is also worth a sip, as is the signature Scapegrace Classic.
Established in: 2014
Founders: Mark Neal and Daniel McLaughlin
Location: Southern Alps, New Zealand
Notable expressions: Classic, Black, Blood Moon
4. Plymouth Gin
The last remaining Plymouth Gin in the world, this expression has been produced at the history Black Friars Distillery in Plymouth, England since the 18th century. The original Plymouth Gin is made with juniper berries, angelica root, cardamom, lemon, coriander, and orris, resulting in a classic, citrus-forward gin. There’s also a Navy Strength version as a Sloe Gin.
Established in: 1793
Founder: Fox & Williamson
Location: Plymouth, England
Notable expressions: Plymouth Gin, Plymouth Gin Navy Strength, Mr. King’s 1842 Recipe, Sloe Gin
5. Seventy One Gin
Founded by photographer Mert Alaş (one half of Mert and Marcus), Seventy One Gin spends 71 in oak casks. Taking a blending approach akin to that of a perfumer (also reflected in its chic packaging), Seventy One Gin uses concentrated botanical absolutes. Among them is the rare Queen of the Night, which only blooms once a year (and at night). The resultant gin is golden in colour (thanks to the time in oak) and has a vibrant palate of wild pine, citrus, and juniper.
Established in: 2022
Founder: Mert Alaş
Location: Netherlands
Notable expressions: Seventy One Gin
6. Four Pillars
A veritable byword for Australian gin, Four Pillars is known for its use of unique native botanicals in its gins. The Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin combines Asian botanicals with Mediterranean citrus, along with a helping of native lemon myrtle and Tasmanian pepperberry. Clean, classic, and approachable, it’s destined to make the perfect G&T. The Australian outfit’s more experimental releases are also worth a look in, such as the Olive Leaf Gin and barrel-aged Sherry Cask Gin.
Established in: 2013
Founder: Cameron Mackenzie, Stuart Gregor, and Matt Jones
Location: Healesville, Victoria, Australia
Notable expressions: Rare Dry Gin, Bloody Shiraz Gin, Olive Leaf Gin, Sherry Cask Gin
7. Procera Gin
African botanicals are placed front and centre in each of Procera Gin’s expressions. The Kenyan company marks the country’s first craft distillery, and exclusively uses African-grown botanicals in its blends. Procera Gin Blue Dot is a juniper-forward blend, which also adds Swahili lime, mace, fennel, Somalian honey, Kenyan green tea, pink peppercorn, and coriander into the mix. A bright, crisp expression, pink peppercorn adds boldness while citrus and cardamom make for a warming palate, underscored by the pine-forward notes of juniper. It comes housed in a beautiful hand-blown glass bottle which makes for the ideal centrepiece on any bar cart.
Established in: 2018
Founder: Guy Brennan
Location: Nairobi , Kenya
Notable expressions: Blue Dot
8. Hendrick’s
Its savvy heritage-inspired marketing and singular flavour palate have made Hendrick’s a favourite amongst bartenders and imbibers alike since its inception in 1999. The Scottish gin is infused with cucumber and rose, which join chamomile, elderflower, juniper, lemon peel, orange peel, caraway, coriander, cubeb berries, angelica root, yarrow root, and orris root to create a smooth, refined spirit. Hendrick’s also often releases limited-edition expressions, like Amazonia, which is exclusively available at airports and uses native jungle flora to create a verdant flavour profile that’s the ideal fit in a gimlet.
Established in: 1999
Parent company: William Grant & Sons
Location: South Ayrshire, Scotland
Notable expressions: Hendrick’s Gin, Amazonia, Flora Adora
9. Roku Gin
Japanese whisky is a hotly coveted commodity, but it would be remiss to overlook its gin. Made by the indomitable House of Suntory, Roku Gin (‘roku’ being Japanese for ‘six’) uses half a dozen Japanese botanicals (sakura flower, sakura leaf, yuzu peel, sencha tea, Gyokuro tea (refined green tea), and sanshō pepper) alongside eight classic botanicals. A deliciously well-balanced gin, it features a delicate aroma of cherry blossoms and green tea, with a richly layered palate of juicy yuzu, crisp juniper, and spicy sanshō pepper.
Established in: 2017
Parent company: House of Suntory
Location: Osaka, Japan
Notable expressions: Roku Gin
10. Monkey 47
Monkey 47’s name nods to both the number of botanicals in its spirit as well as its 47% ABV. Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin is made with natural spring water from the Black Forest and combines native and Asian botanicals with lingonberries to create a nuanced flavour palate defined by a touch of bitterness and acidity with a hint of sweetness and a floral character.
Established in: 2010
Founder: Alexander Stein
Parent company: Pernod Ricard
Location: Black Forest, Germany
Notable expressions: Schwarzwald Dry Gin
11. Rochelt Annia’s Gin
Based in Tyrol, Austra, Rochelt is perhaps best known for its brandy. Originally created by the Rochelt’s master distiller Alexander Rainer as a birthday surprise for his wife Annia, Annia’s Gin is based on fermented fruit rather than botanicals. The fruit brandy-esque approach sees local juniper combine with mature Gravenstein apple eau-de-vie before being distilled again to produce a harmonious spirit that features soft fruit and juniper aromas.
Established in: 1989 (Rochelt distillery)
Founder: Günter Rochelt
Location: Tyrol, Austria
Notable expressions: Annia’s Gin
12. Archie Rose
Prolific Australian distillery’s flagship Archie Rose Dry Gin offers a quintessentially contemporary Australian take on the spirit. Eight individually distilled botanicals—including sunrise lime, Geraldton waxflower, Dorrigo pepperleaf, and strawberry gum—from across the country join juniper to create a verdant palate of garden herbs, pine, and a hint of eucalyptus with a touch of lemon on the finish.
Established in: 2014
Founder: Will Edwards
Location: Sydney, Australia
Notable expressions: Dry Gin
Words by Henry Blake
