Looking for unusual gins to try? We already have an expert guide to the UK’s best gins here, but there’s also plenty to explore beyond Britain. Want to try a European gin? We’ve got you covered – from a German spirit crafted in the Black Forest to a herbaceous bottle from Spain and a Slovenian gin made using local botanicals. We’ve also gone further afield and scoured the globe to sniff out exotic juniper-led spirits – with gins from South Africa, Japan, Argentina and beyond…
Want to discover more unique gins? Try our favourite Scottish gins, Welsh gins, flavoured gins and British gins.
Looking to really impress fellow gin lovers? Bring the bar to your home and store your favourite gins our best drinks trolley ideas.
Here’s our pick of the world’s best gins
Engine Pure Organic Gin, Italy, £37.95, The Whisky Exchange
Engine’s striking, playful packaging – it looks like a vintage oil-can container – comes as no surprise given that its founder, Paolo Dalla Mora, is a former marketing director for Italian fashion brand Moschino. It’s a bright, accessible gin that delivers on its aesthetic appeal with fresh, super-aromatic notes of lemon peel, piney juniper and herbaceous sage.
Flavour profile: citrus
Botanicals: juniper, lemon peel, sage, Damascene rose, liquorice root
Perfect pairing: Try in a martini with a twist of lemon peel.
Procera, Africa, £69.95, Master of Malt
Procera is the world’s first gin to use African procera berries, a variety of juniper grown in the sun-soaked highland forests of Kenya. These hand-picked, air-dried berries add a uniquely nutty and earthy character to the gin, along with a rare variety of African botanicals. The combination of floral Moroccan orris root, citrusy Kenyan pixie orange and Swahili lime, Somalian acacia honey and warm spices including Zanzibari cardamom, Nigerian Selim pepper and Madagascan pink peppercorns to finish, provides a complex gin true to its African terroir. The stunning hand-blown glass bottle and palm wood stopper are created in Nairobi by Kenyan artisans.
Flavour profile: juniper
Botanicals: procera berries, Madagascan pink pepper, Moroccan orris root and coriander, Kenyan pixie orange, Swahili lime, Somalian acacia honey, Zanzibari cardamom and Mace, Nigerian selim pepper
Perfect pairing: neat over ice or in a martini
Gin Mare, Spain, £34.25/70cl, The Whisky Exchange
With rosemary, thyme, olive and basil included in the botanical line up, this savoury, herbaceous Spanish number evokes Mediterranean summer like no other gin. Drink in a copa de balon glass with plenty of ice for ultimate holiday vibes.
Flavour profile: herbaceous
Botanicals: rosemary, thyme, olive, basil, orange, lemon, coriander, juniper and cardamom
Perfect pairing: Fever-Tree Mediterranean tonic water, a sprig of rosemary and a slice of fresh orange
CAP Gin, France, £35/70cl, Amazon
A truly Mediterranean gin, CAP is made in the Côte d’Azur and is designed to reflect its iconic location.
Rose, mimosa and fleur d’oranger (flavours synonymous with the French Riviera) are layered over a traditional juniper and coriander base to create a fresh and elegant gin. Ridiculously easy-drinking, CAP is one of the more refreshing gins out there – ideal on a sunny day, with fridge-cold tonic and a slice of citrus. It’s well-balanced, sophisticated and clean.
Flavour profile: juniper
Botanicals: juniper, coriander, angelica root, mimosa, pink peppercorns, fleur d’oranger, lemon peel, rose, orange peel
Perfect pairing: tonic water and orange peel, or as a standout ingredient in a French 75 cocktail
Canaïma Gin, Venezuela, £37.45/70cl, The Whisky Exchange
A South American gin, straight from the Amazon rainforest.
10 indigenous botanicals makes for a grassy, refreshing and herbaceous spirit. There’s a peppery kick and a general earthiness, as well as a lingering, fruity sweetness. Totally unique.
Flavour profile: herbaceous
Botanicals: merey, açaí, uva de palma, túpiro, seje, copoazú
Perfect pairing: try with pink grapefruit soda
Ki No Bi Kyoto Dry Gin, Japan, £42.90/70cl, Master of Malt
Meaning ‘the beauty of the seasons’, this Japanese creation is made using a rice spirit base distilled with regional botanicals including yuzu, hinoki wood chips (Japanese cyprus), sansho pepper and gyokuro green tea. A decidedly elegant gin, whose classic juniper notes match well with the unusual local ingredients.
Flavour profile: floral
Botanicals: yuzu, hinoki wood chips, orris, lemon, ginger, red shiso leaves, bamboo leaves, sansho pepper and gyokuro green tea
Perfect pairing: tonic water and yuzu peel, or as a ‘sonic’ with a mixture of soda and tonic
Príncipe de los Apóstoles Gin, Argentina, £36.43/70cl, Master of Malt
The botanicals in this unusual gin include eucalyptus, peppermint and yerba mate leaves (an evergreen tree used to make a popular South American tea). The end result is a boldly flavoured spirit, with refreshing but not overwhelming menthol notes and a sprightly herbaceous character. Try if you prefer less juniper-forward gins.
Flavour profile: herbaceous
Botanicals: yerba mate leaves, eucalyptus, peppermint, grapefruit, juniper and coriander seeds
Perfect pairing: tonic water and a sprig of mint
Kyrö Gin, Finland, £34.95/50cl, Amazon
Made using rye grain spirit and locally foraged botanicals including cranberries, sea buckthorn and birch leaves, this crisp, refreshing gin from Kyrö Distillery Company is designed to evoke a Finnish meadow in flavour and fragrance. Take on your next camping trip.
Flavour profile: herbaceous
Botanicals: sea buckthorn, cranberries, birch leaves, meadowsweet, citrus, cumin and juniper
Perfect pairing: tonic water, a sprig of rosemary and fresh or dried cranberries
VII Hills Italian Dry Gin, Italy, £34.99/70cl, Amazon
Expect headily herbal, almost vegetal aromas and subtle citrus flavours from this unconventional Italian gin, which its makers claim is the perfect gin for a negroni.
Flavour profile: herbal
Botanicals: artichoke, celery, blood orange, chamomile, rose hip, pomegranate and juniper
Perfect pairing: a negroni – but try swapping the Campari for another Italian aperitif, the artichoke-based Cynar.
Broken Bones London Dry Gin, Slovenia, £34.99, Whisky Exchange
This London dry gin is distilled with juniper and other botanicals from Slovenia’s Karst region to create an appealing medley of floral, citrus and spice notes.
Flavour profile: juniper
Botanicals: linden flowers, rosehip, coriander, cardamom, angelica, liquorice, orris, lemon zest and juniper
Perfect pairing: tonic water and a twist of lemon peel
Monkey 47, Germany, £35.26/50cl, Master of Malt
Using an impressive 47 botanicals (hence the name), this critically acclaimed gin is made in Germany’s Black Forest. Rich and seriously complex, this is a full-on number with robust herb and spice notes.
Flavour profile: spiced/herbaceous
Botanicals: cranberries, lingonberries, spruce shoots, bramble leaves, sage, verbena and chamomile, amongst others
Perfect pairing: tonic water and cranberries
Stranger & Sons Gin, India, £34.95/70cl, Master of Malt
The debut gin from the Goan Third Eye Distillery – using spices foraged or cultivated along the Goan and Keralan coasts – this has a lovely, warming spice character, with pepper, nutmeg and liquorice notes. An ideal gin for winter.
Flavour profile: spiced
Botanicals: coriander seeds, black pepper, angelica, liquorice, cassia bark, nutmeg, mace, Gondhoraj lime, Indian bergamot, Nagpur orange and juniper
Perfect pairing: a Gibson martini with dry vermouth and a pickled onion garnish
Pienaar and Son Orient Gin, South Africa, £42.95/70cl, Whisky Exchange
Made using South African maize spirit, the botanicals in this Cape Town gin pay tribute to the Far-Eastern spice trade that shaped the city. We loved the delicately aromatic, almost floral spice aromas in this well-balanced gin.
Flavour profile: spiced
Botanicals: cassia, ginger, allspice, mandarin and vanilla
Perfect pairing: tonic water and a wedge of orange
Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin, Australia, £38/70cl, Amazon
This Australian gin is made in the Yarra Valley and combines native botanicals (Tasmanian pepperberry and lemon myrtle) with spices and whole oranges. Expect juniper and other traditional gin flavourings, but the regional twists add depth and interest to this antipodean spirit.
Flavour profile: citrus/spiced
Botanicals: Tasmanian pepperberry, lemon myrtle, star anise, cardamom, coriander seeds, lavender, angelica root and oranges
Perfect pairing: tonic water and a wedge of orange
Four Pillars Modern Australian Gin, Australia, £33.50/70cl, M&S
This contemporary twist on a classic juniper-forward gin is a lively fusion of Australian and Asian flavours. The unique Australian outback botanical quandong adds a sweet-and-sour note to the combination of creamy macadamia nuts, subtly bright Rosie Glow apple and fresh grapefruit peel. There’s plenty of spice from Chinese red and green Szechuan peppercorns, Vietnamese star anise and Sri Lankan cassia as a nod to the Asian influence in Australia.
Flavour profile: juniper-forward/spiced
Botanicals: juniper, quandong, macademia nut, red and green szechuan, Rosie Glow apples, coriander, cardamom, cassia, star anise, lavender, angelica, pepper berry, orange, grapefruit
Perfect pairing: tonic water and a wedge of lemon or lime, or in a summery cocktail with orange juice, sparkling wine and a basil leaf
Perry’s Tot Navy Strength Gin, USA, £48/70cl, Master of Malt
New York Distilling Co uses wild-flower honey from upstate New York in this juniper-forward gin, which is characterised by warming spice and earthy orange notes. One for those who like the higher-proof styles.
Flavour profile: juniper
Botanicals: juniper, cinnamon, cardamom, lemon, orange and grapefruit peel, star anise and wild-flower honey
Perfect pairing: sparkling water and a wedge of lime
