The best citrus gins

Tanqueray Flor De Sevilla, £25/70cl, Ocado

The bittersweet zestiness of Seville oranges adds a taste of the Med to the botanicals in this gin, and subtle notes of orange blossom evoke fragrant summer evenings. It's magic with tonic water and a wedge of orange.

Chase Pink Grapefruit and Pomelo Gin, £28/70cl, Waitrose

Created by distilling Chase gin with grapefruit and pomelo peel, this is a super-fragrant spirit, full of zesty tartness and well-balanced bitter notes. Drink with tonic water and a wedge of pink grapefruit.

Tarquin’s Cornish Sunshine Blood Orange Gin, £38/70cl, John Lewis

Sweetly tart citrus, rhubarb and berry flavours are balanced by a herbaceous bitterness that brings to mind an Italian-style aperitif such as Campari or Aperol. It's complex and smooth enough to drink neat, but we suggest serving it spritz style – preferably at aperitivo hour.

Elephant Orange Cocoa Gin, £32.90, uk.elephant-gin.com

This layered flavoured gin takes Elephant’s original London Dry Gin – made using a blend of rare African botanicals – and adds organic Spanish orange and roasted cocoa beans. The result is heady aromas of citrus and mellow milk chocolate – think Terry’s Chocolate Orange in the best possible way. Those rounded cocoa and vibrant citrus notes remain on the palate but it’s drier and more herbaceous to taste, with a hint of spice. Even better, 15% of profits from each bottle sold go to African elephant conservation. Try in a subtly cocoa-tinged negroni.

LoneWolf London Dry Gin, £24.40/70cl, Amazon

The first gin from beer legends BrewDog, made from their own malted barley spirit and using a BrewDog yeast to create the desired flavour combination. It’s a precise and thorough labour of love. To taste, there’s an initial whack of citrus, especially lemon peel, with underlying lavender tones. Next, a hint of lingering pine needles, a little coriander seed and lemongrass. But the overall impression is definitely a citrusy one. Pair with tonic water and a sprig of lavender or, if you really want to ramp the citrus up, a slice of grapefruit.

Hayman’s Exotic Citrus, £25.95/70cl, The Whisky Exchange

Balham’s citrus-forward London distilled gin is given an elegant finish with the addition of exotic, hand-peeled, sun-dried fruit peels. Fragrant pomelo, zippy Persian lime, sweet mandarin and tangy kumquat combine with hints of spice to create a zesty yet smooth, elegant finish. Serve over ice with Fever Tree Mediterranean tonic, a slice of fresh orange and a sprig of fresh basil.