We’ve found a gin for every stocking you need to fill this year.
Honestly, is there anything gin can’t do? From the fizzy freshness of a lemon-spiked Gin and Tonic on a warm day and the bittersweet perfection of a pre-dinner Negroni to being stumped up at a bar with one of those endless Martini variations we love telling you about (we’ll take ours dirty with extra olives, thanks), gin is, frankly, fab.
We love gin in all its forms – the botanical-heavy new-wave styles, the juniper-forward London Drys, pink gin, sloe gin, those barrel-aged versions… If it sounds like we’re gushing over gin, it’s because we are, and we might just be hoping a bottle will appear in our stocking this Christmas. You see, gin makes a great gift for every budget, so if you’re hoping to impress someone this year, here are some excellent gins to keep in mind.
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Under $50
1. Vickers Pink Gin
If there’s ever a gripe with gin (and we’re really clutching at straws here), it’s that it doesn’t have all that much going for it visually. Pink gin, like this fruity version from Vickers, trades out gin’s classic clear appearance for a subtle blush that just really shines in the glass. The base gin here is the traditional Vickers London Dry, spruced up with a gentle dose of strawberry, raspberry and blackcurrant flavours (and, of course, that gentle pink colour). It’ll add a sweet berry flavour to a G+T or gin and soda, and it is perfect for anyone who appreciates the more colourful side of life.
2. Gordon’s London Dry Gin
Gin has come a long way since Gordon’s started up way back in 1769, but the London Dry style still reigns supreme. This is about as traditional as gin gets, with botanicals like juniper, coriander and angelica root doing all the talking. London Dry gins like this are wildly versatile, working perfectly in everything from a Tom Collins to a Red Snapper (that’s a Bloody Mary with gin instead of vodka) and never taking the focus away from the cocktail as a whole. Consider Gordon’s London Dry Gin as a stocking stuffer for a family member who has classic tastes, or that friend who’s always talking about making their own cocktails.
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Under $80
3. Edinburgh Gin Watermelon & Lime Gin
If we were shivering through a frosty northern hemisphere winter, we might not be so thrilled about a watermelon and lime gin for Christmas. Lucky for all of us Down Under, this sunny spirit from Edinburgh has the perfect duo of summer flavours for the Aussie holiday season. There are sweet aromatics from the watermelon and a tiny touch of tartness from the lime, all backed up by the peppery bite of gin. We’d be serving this simply – tonic, fresh lime and a load of ice – and giving it to any of our jetsetting friends who are always swanning off to a tropical island without us.
4. Malfy Gin Rosa
If the idea of sipping grapefruit-flavoured gin on the Italian coast doesn’t move your dial, we might have different ideas of a good time. This zesty beauty from Italy’s Malfy distillery starts with juniper, of course, but it’s the addition of Sicilian pink grapefruit that sets it apart for us. Citrus and gin is pretty much always a winner, and the grapefruit here would make the Malfy Gin Rosa an ideal starting point for a gin Paloma (subbing Malfy in for the traditional tequila) or even served simply over ice with a big squeeze of fresh grapefruit. The ideal gift for any friends or family heading for a post-Christmas beach holiday, we reckon.
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5. Hayman’s Sloe Gin
Gin can be infused with just about anything from ginger to shiraz grapes and way beyond, but sloe berries might be the best of all. Sloe berries grow wild in the UK and Europe and, when steeped in gin, impart a deep red colour, fruity flavours and gentle sweetness that makes gins like Hayman’s Sloe Gin almost liqueur-like. With a lower alcohol than most gins (26% ABV) and a huge whack of juicy berry flavour, this is perfect for sipping straight or over ice, but a dash of soda and a squeeze of citrus would do nicely, too. Give this to the gin-loving sweet tooth in your life.
6. Archie Rose Signature Dry Gin
If we’re talking about premium Australian spirits, few distilleries come close to Sydney’s Archie Rose. This Signature Dry Gin goes through a cold distillation process, which uses a vacuum to lower the boiling point, helping to preserve the delicate flavours in all the gin’s botanicals. Speaking of which, this gin leans heavily on Australia’s local bounty, infusing botanicals like sunrise lime (a cross between finger lime and cumquat), Geraldton wax and dorrigo pepperleaf to create a unique and truly Australian gin. Best to keep serves basic and show off all the delicate flavours here, although it would also make a stunning Martini.
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Under $100
7. The Botanist Islay Dry Gin
What do the Scots know about gin? Isn’t it all about whisky over there? Well, the team at Bruichladdich distillery more than prove their worth with The Botanist gin – the first (and only) dry gin from Islay in Scotland. Included in this mix are 22 wild, Islay botanicals that are hand-picked from the rugged surrounds – think wind-swept hills, peat bogs and the shoreline. The result is a super distinctive, complex and floral small-batch gin that will absolutely appeal to the gin purist in your life as well as those who appreciate the artisan touch (and a good origin story). It makes a cracking G&T.
8. Seven Seasons Bush Apple Gin
Australia’s First Nations peoples have been learning the secrets of this land for tens of thousands of years, so it’s no wonder a distillery like Seven Seasons has access to some unique and lesser-known ingredients. The distillery, founded by ex-AFL player Daniel Motlop and operating on the land of the Larrakia people, focuses on sustainable, wild-harvested botanicals to make spirits like this Bush Apple Gin. This gets a rose-like floral flavour from the bush apple and zesty notes from natives like lemon myrtle and finger lime. It’s a deeply-coloured gin that’s perfect for a fruity Gin Sour and anyone with a deep love of Australia’s native bounty.
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9. Roku Gin
What could be better than a bottle of quality Japanese gin? Surely, it has to be even more of it – this one-litre bottle is bound to impress. Roku, meaning six in Japanese, is made from six special, locally sourced botanicals. The result is a distinctive gin – in a very distinctive bottle – that has a subtle spice, floral notes, a touch of sweetness and citrus notes from yuzu. This gin is ideal with a dry tonic or soda, or it brings a delicate touch to a Negroni. A gift for anyone who yearns to make it over to Japan, or perhaps is already planning their return trip.
Under $200
10. Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin
Is there a bigger name in Australian gin than Four Pillars? From its eco-friendly distillery in Victoria’s Healesville (well worth a visit if you’re ever in the Yarra Valley area), the Four Pillars gang have long been producing some of this country’s very best craft gin – something that was barely even a thing before they started distilling in 2013. While they’ve become known for their Bloody Shiraz and regular seasonal releases, it’s hard to beat the Navy Strength Gin. The ‘navy strength’ alcohol content (a hefty 58.8%) helps boost this gin’s flavours, which come mainly from juniper and zingy finger lime. A superb candidate for the most flavoursome G+T of your life but, equally, a stunning straight sipper on ice.
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11. Prohibition Liquor Co. Bathtub Cut Gin
Australia never had Prohibition, but when the alcohol ban took over the US in 1920, drinkers had to take things into their own hands. Like, distilling gin in the bathtub, for example. Of course, Prohibition’s Bathtub Cut Gin hasn’t touched a bath, but the essence of the era’s unbridled passion for the illicit and flavoursome runs right through this spirit. Yes, it’s potent – at 69% alcohol it’s unlike any other gin on the market. Underneath the ABV, though, you’ll find a lovely balance of flavours like juniper, vanilla, green tea and wormwood. Consider this a gift for the person in your life who never does anything by halves, and who might have a hankering for a full-flavoured cocktail (we’re thinking a Bee’s Knees).
