19 international gins to try

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Here's our pick of the world's best gins

Bayab African Grown Classic Dry Gin, South Africa, £29.24/70cl, Master of Malt

Made in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, this South African gin uses the fruit of the baobab tree as a botanical, which gives it a clean and bright lemony flavour that marries beautifully with soft juniper and fragrant spicing.

Flavour profile: citrus

Botanicals: Juniper berries, Zambian baobab, coriander, rosemary, cinnamon, salt

Perfect pairing: Garnish with a lemon twist.

Nikka Coffey Gin, Japan, £44.95/70cl, The Whiskey Exchange

Japanese whisky brand Nikka produce this rather lovely gin, made in their traditional coffey stills. 11 different botanicals form the backbone of a fresh, zesty gin that's surprisingly light considering its hefty 47% ABV. The botanical bill includes four different Japanese citrus fruits so it's no surprise that there's plenty of fragrant, lemony citrus in aroma and flavour, along with a touch of fruity sweetness and delicate, peppery spice.

Flavour profile: citrus

Botanicals: yuzu, kabosu, amanatsu, shequasar, juniper, coriander seeds, angelica, lemon and orange peel, apple juice, sansho pepper.

Perfect pairing: garnish with a slice of green apple.

The Source Pure Cardrona Gin, New Zealand, £58.99/70cl, Specialist Cellars

This award-winning Kiwi gin hails from the Cardrona Valley in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, and features locally sourced rosehips as well as a host of more traditional botanicals. Despite being a hefty 47%ABV, this is a really fresh and elegant gin, with soaring piney notes, fragrant lemon peel and rich floral undertones.

Flavour profile: juniper-led

Botanicals: rosehip, juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, lemon and orange zest.

Perfect pairing: mix with apple juice.

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