The best gins to drink in 2023 - 43 gin brands taste tested

An incredibly fun gin that hales from the Black Forest in Germany. The name comes from the number of botanicals that go into this unique gin, and the fact it’s bottled at bedtime-inducing 47% proof. Palate-wise it’s complex (there are, also, pleasingly, forty-seven different tastes packed in there). Woody, spicy, fruity, and herby: it is pretty much everything a gin can be.

A new addition to our list, this colour-changing gin is a premium brand that would make a fantastic gift. It turns from blue to rose pink in your glass and contains a mixture of flavours, including juniper berries, dried orange zest, lime leaf, almond, liquorice root and many more.

Just brilliant, isn’t it? You don’t need us to tell you that. It contains 11 botanicals, along with cucumber and rose to give it that distinctive flavour. To best enjoy, have it with cucumber, in the sun. Obviously. This is a classic stepping stone gin for those looking to branch out beyond the basics. Try it out in the early part of your gin odyssey.

Made using the traditional method of Cold Compounding, in which the spirit is slowly infused with botanicals including orange peel, coriander and cardamom, this gin has strong notes of citrus and spice. The award-winning gin is best served over ice with tonic and a wedge of orange.

Now this is one where you will need tonic. One of our writers described this as having “a huge bouquet” before rather harshly being pelted with lemon slices. But he has a point: there’s an earthy richness twinned with citrus that really keeps you on your toes. Looks great to order, too, in its lurid green bottle, and tastes great to drink.

From the use of locally sourced Sugar Kelp, to the fact that every beautifully-designed bottle is hand-sealed, the Isle of Harris Distillery makes sure to put the Scottish Isle at the heart of their distilling process. The gin itself is infused with nine botanicals including a sweet citrus of orange peel, complemented by the fresh herbal flavour of crushed coriander and the base of Juniper. The Sugar Kelp adds a maritime note to this award-winning gin. Every bottle is shipped directly from the distillery in the Outer Hebrides.

Cotswolds Dry Gin has been distilled with a blend of aromatic botanicals - think freshly hand-peeled grapefruit, lime and local Cotswolds lavender. The gin is made using a method called non-chill filtering, which basically means the oils are retained, giving the bottles a cloudy, pearlescent finish when mixed with tonic. The result? Not only does this look the part but tastes thoroughly delightful.

This new bottle from the Isle of Wight distillery is an absolute joy to drink. It is packed with citrus fruits and uses a number of coastal botanicals which includes rock samphire and rosemary. Juniper is in the background for this drink, with a punch of grapefruit front and centre. Lovely stuff

Bucks Brothers dry gin is made by a couple of brothers in Buckinghamshire - it's relatively new with the brothers creating the gin while the world is on lockdown and it takes fantastic. It's copper pot distilled and has a real earthy quality to it. If you want a gin with a fruit twist then there's also a pomegranate and sloe gin available and a imencello one on the way.

One of the newer additions to our list, you might be surprised to learn that yes, this is a bottle of gin and not a fancy perfume or cologne. This gin was created by fashion photographer Mert Atlas, who spent years perfect its taste. Its name comes from the fact that this gin spends 71 nights in three different oak casks. It’s incredibly expensive, but if you’re looking for a premium gin or an extremely luxe gift, you’ve found it.

Gin Mare is a Mediterranean gin which has one of the most unique tastes on this best gin list (in a good way!). From our taste tests, we got rosemary, thyme and basil notes, making this a savoury, earthy gin. There are pepper and olive notes, too. While a straight-up tonic tasted brilliant with Gin Mare, we also tried it with ginger ale and the taste was excptional.

This hand-crafted gin comes from the Scottish island of Islay. Made from 22 local herbs and flowers that have then been distilled with nine classic gin botanicals, the result is a smooth blend that’s delicious and unique to this part of the world. It’s a solid base for a gin martini, but would also taste just as special if you keep things simple and pair it with a little tonic over ice.

This is the newest release on our best gin list and it's fantastic. Hendrick's has taken botanicals from around the Ayrshire coast (where its distillery is) to create a refreshing gin that's high on citrus notes. This one tastes great with a plain tonic - there are some great lemon and cucumber notes that come through strong, so we were happy not to add anything else to our G&T when taste testing.

It's worth noting that this one is a limited edition, but as you can still get its Lunar edition from last year, we are including it on our best gin list, but will keep an eye on availability.

We really like the taste of G'Vine Nouaison Gin. It's on the spicier end of the gin spectrum, so we recommend really given your drink a taste sensation and adding this to a chilli-infused cocktail. Have it with tonic, though, and you will be rewarded with a sharp-tasting, fruit filled gin with a rich and spicy after taste. If you want an extra-special treat then get the bottle that's been matured in a cognac cask.

Warner's London Dry Gin is made on a farm in Harrington, using home-grown ingredients and it shows. The fragrance and freshness of this gin is something else, rich with juniper and spice but with a mellowness thanks to vanilla. It's best served without garnish but with Indian tonic and ice. At a recent taste test we tried it just like that and neat, and it really is a lovely, refreshing drink.

Supermarket gins are often better than you might imagine, but this Aldi bottle is next-level stuff according to the 2023 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). It awarded the gin a score of 98 out of 100. Sure, as a heavily flavoured drink this one may not be one for the gin snobs. But if you want something tasty, hunt this one down before the hype depletes stocks. "Lip-tingling Jamaican ginger cake, heaped with a generous dollop of deliciously tart rhubarb. Superb," reads the IWSC's tasting notes.

It's really refreshing when a coastal gin represents the sea in its taste and this is exactly what we have with Bullards Coastal Gin. There's a slight saltiness to the smell which is mixed nicely with woody juniper and fennel notes. All of this makes for a well rounded gin that works well with some dark fruits to cut through. The sample we received also came with a re-fill in eco-friendly packaging that can be sent back to the distiller for recycling which is a really nice touch.

From its fantastic bottle - we love the tartan groove - to the fact that Tulchan Gin makes use of Scottish flora, we can't get enough of this gin. Its got a brilliant whack of citrus then a cardamom hit. It may have a floral smell, but the taste is far intenser than that. Lovely stuff.

This one is rather special. Hernö Old Tom Gin is a sweeter gin, which offers notes of coriander and juniper, backed by a slight honey taste. We mixed it with a tonic and some lemon and that really enhanced the flavours on offer. The distiller, based in Sweden, has an amazing track record for gin and you can also get Hernö as Navy Strength, traditional Dry Gin and the original Juniper Cask Gin.

The G'Vine Floraison Gin is a French gin which has a distinctive grape flavour. This makes it an ideal replacement to vodka in cocktails of mixers. With a tonic you get a delicate floral finish with a hint of spice. Definitely one for those who find juniper a little too overpowering.

Having gone through both a name and bottle makeover, the gin formerly known as Stafford Dry Gin is back as Aval Dor Cornish Gin. This rebranding makes sense and aligns the drink closer to Colwith Farm Distillery's award-winning vodka. Taste wise, we are big fans. There's a real push here of citrus and juniper, with a punch bitterness in the after taste. Like Warner's, the makers of this gin utilise ingredients grown on their farm in Cornwall and it really shows in the taste. We taste tested the original, but there is a dry gin and some flavoured gins available

We were really impressed with the taste of Cantium Gin. Distilled in Kent, the gin uses locally sourced botanicals. There's Lavender, Cobnuts, Apples, Blackberry and Hops and roasted Kentish Chestnuts all in there and it makes for a fresh, rounded taste that worked well with a cucumber-based tonic. The gin comes in a reusable flask (just give it a bit of a wash first) which is a nice touch, although it is a touch more expensive than some of the others on this list. We think you'll hear a lot more about Cantium in the near future.

There is a lot of charm in this beautiful gin from the Holyrood Distillery in Edinburgh. It has a real fresh tang to it, with everything from green apples to mint hitting the palette. The use of beeswax in the distillation means that there is a slight oily texture to the gin that offer a peppered heat on the way down. This is one to savour.

Darnley's Original Gin is fantastically fresh, with decent hit of lemon. Scottish-based, Darley's have also looked for local produce to create the flavour of its Original Gin, adding in elderflower that grows around their estate. This makes for both citrus and floral notes throughout. And, given it's a London Dry, there's a nice dose of juniper, too. We tried this one with a glug of tonic water and a lemon slice and it worked a treat.

There has been a theme the gins we have been taste testing of late - they all come from distillers close to the coast. Barra Atlantic Gin offers that coastal taste tinge that we wanted, using carrageen seaweed as its main botanical. This gives the gin a beautiful saltiness that's cut through with sharpness from a number of citrus notes. All of this combined creates a lovely warming gin, perfect night cap for those who have spent the afternoon in a cool se.

This copper pot still gin is an absolute delight. There's a real smoothness here which was welcomed - when we tried the gin neat - but it really came to life when we added a touch of citrus-based tonic. There's a real punch to the flavours, with lime and juniper being stand out. While we recommend Start Point, we were also lucky enough to taste test one of the bottles from the limited-edition Voyager Series. It's pricey at £75 but also a fantastic buy.

It's rare we will add a flavoured gin to our best gin list but this is just a fantastic gin from Malfy. Known for its premium gins, the Malfy Gin Con Arancia has all the taste of the Amalfi coast and then some, offering a vibrant punchy taste of blood orange that comes with a sharp gin after hit. It's a drink to be savoured and one that demands lots of fruit, tonic and ice in the glass.

We've been sitting on this one for a while, not quite sure if the taste was for us. It's usually our rum that we like spiced but then we paired Opihr with a ginger ale and were blown away. This is a bit like the Thomas Dakin on this list, which uses horseradish, it's not for everyone but if you want a kick with your G&T then Opihr offers that and more, with hints of cardamon and black pepper.

It took us a while to get round to tasting Tobermory Gin as it came to us with an adult colouring book. Once we put the pencils down, though, this is a great-tasting gin from the Isle of Mull. The Hebridean gin is distilled with botanicals including juniper, tea, heather, elderflower, sweet orange peel and uses a splash of spirit from its whisky distillery. This makes for a G&T with something of a kick, packed with earthy notes. We had it with ginger ale, too, and that was a lovely pairing

We were lucky enough to visit the Brewdog Brewery last year and were surprised just how much effort it was putting into its spirits range. So much, we just had to get a bottle of their gin in to taste. In the end we got two: its dry gin and this cloudy lemon variant. If the sun ever comes out again, then this is the gin to go for. It's a creamy gin, rather than being acidic and goes really well with a plain tonic. The lemon blast is natural, not chemical, and we can't get enough.

Thomas Dakin has a taste that isn't for everyone - and it's all to do with one of the 11 botanicals they use for the gin. It's uses horseradish that gives the drink a savoury kick in its aftertaste. It's quite a full flavour but mix it with something citrusy like a bitter lemon tonic or some orange peel and you have a lovely flavoursome taste. Interestingly, this gin's origins are found in Warrington but it is branded Manchester on the bottle. Given Thomas Dakin is opening up a new distillery in Manchester, we can forgive them.

The branding says it’s floral, most reviews say it’s perhaps too perfume-y, but we just weren’t getting that. Not in a sickly way, anyway. Deliciously citrus, it’s easy on the juniper making it a great gin for non-gin loving gin drinkers. And we realise how odd that sounds. Essentially: if you want to start an evening with a gin, this is the one.

We first heard about Colonsay Cait Sith (pronounced Caught Shee) on World Gin Day. Since then we have been sent a bottle and it is deserving to be in this list. It's a Scottish gin that's Old Tom style (which is sweeter than a London dry variety), so it's less about the botanics and more about the orange, pink grapefruit and vanilla taste. It's a really refreshing gin that we had with tonic and lots of ice. It also has one of the nicest bottles we have seen, so if you are all about the shelf appeal, then this is the gin for you.

This is our favourite summer gin thanks to its slight, but not intense, perfumed charm. A self-consciously ‘old-school’ gin (despite being first created in 1990), distiller Martin Miller wanted to create a gin that “tasted of gin” and not, in his words, “of some highly flavoured confection”. Distilled in the Black Country from ten botanicals, Miller’s is blended with Icelandic water to simple, stunning effect.

Made in Dorset's first gin distillery, Conker Gin is a multi award-winning spirit. Those at Conker Spirit do their best to source local produce so it is made from a blend of British wheat spirit and New Forest spring water. It is then infused with local botanicals including marsh samphire from the Dorset coastline, coriander seeds grown in Sussex and gorse flowers from Dorset. The final taste is juniper-led with a sweetness from elderberries and a citrus finish.

It was only right that No.3 made our list after winning the International Spirits Challenge ‘Best in Class’ gin trophy four times - along with another 20 awards since 2010. The main flavours in this ‘world class’ spirit are the classic gin botanicals of juniper, citrus and spice. That means that it’s crisp, 'zingy' taste is followed by the warmth of cardamom and a final dryness from angelica. Best served with tonic, a big wedge of grapefruit and a sprig of rosemary.

Yes, the worst kept secret in bargain food-shopping is also home to, officially, one of the world’s best gins. Formerly the Oliver Cromwell London Dry Gin, and now Greyson's London Dry Gin, it won a gold medal at the International Wine and Spirits Competition and it’s hard to argue (especially with its price set at a lip-smacking £14.19) with its bone dry and straight-forward flavouring, this gin is unfussy and versatile with notes of juniper, lemon, and orange peel before fading to reveal hints of hot wax. Your booze cupboard deserves this bargain.

Known for all manner of fruity variations, The Classic Edinburgh Gin is an offering worthy of even the most refined palate. Its distinctive bottle and graphics are pleasing on the eye, while its smooth flavour will have you happily sipping away contently for longer than you care to admit.

You might not be surprised to hear Brockmans Intensely Smooth is… intensely smooth. Like having George Clooney pull out your chair and light you a cigarette… only a gin. Made with Bulgarian coriander, blueberries, blackberries, and bittersweet Valencia orange peels, the result is a gin bursting with flavour that doesn’t forgo balance for punch.

This is the ultimate tonic partner, with flavours of juniper, apple and elderflower alongside subtle citrus. Some serve with a slice of fresh apple but we like it just the way it is. The finished gin is distilled over 100 times with the entire process taking over two years, from orchard to bottle. You can genuinely taste the effort that goes into it. And it 48% you can taste the booze that goes into it. Treat it with care.

This Scottish gin is “powered by the spirit of the Picts” - an ancient tribe that once settled near the distillery’s home (because, of course it is). The gin contains 16 botanicals that Greenwood Distillery believe the Picts could have encountered. Citric Pomelo and Kaffir Lime give it a fresh, citrus flavour with a floral bouquet from Oolong tea, chamomile and lavender.

Made in the heart of London at the Kennington distillery using a recipe that took eighteen months to develop, Beefeater 24 includes Seville orange peel, lemon peel, bitter almond, angelica root, angelica seed, juniper, liquorice, orris root, coriander, and a blend of Chinese green and Japanese sencha teas with grapefruit peel. What does that mean? Well, it means a liquorice-influenced finish means that you won’t forget drinking it. Save until late in the evening.

Handcrafted in small batches at Balmenach Distillery in Scotland’s Speyside region, Caorunn is an unusually herbal experience thanks to its use of Rowan Berry. The well balanced fruity flavours of the gin make it exceedingly drinkable: dry and crisp when neat, use tonic sparingly so as not to lose its subtle notes.