Don’t feel bad for us but Luxe Bible thought we better undertake the painstaking job task of tasting ALL of these gins all in the name of finding you the very best ones of 2021. Here’s 15 of the coolest luxury gins.
58 Gin – Apple and Hibiscus
A relatively new discovery for Luxe Bible, we’ve fallen in love with 58 Gin Apple and Hibiscus who say their gin is made from the heart. Through straight forward sourcing and simple techniques, 58 Gin based is beneath the railway arches in Haggerston, uses sustainable ingredients, and during lockdown, dedicated their business to making hand sanitiser. Anyway, enough about how awesome they are, what about the gin? Well aside from having one of the most beautiful bottles we’ve ever seen, the apple and hibiscus with its pink hue, tastes of sweet juicy apples and floral hibiscus notes is also free from artificial sugars and sweeteners. It’s fresh, and balanced without being overpowering, and has a delicious smooth finish. Botanicals include pink grapefruit, angelica and vanilla and we loved drinking ours with tonic and a slice of citrus. Available from their very cool website 58Gin priced at £34 for a 70cl bottle, 43% ABV.
Jim and Tonic
The urban gins from Jim and Tonic are fresh, delicious AND sustainable. What’s not to love? There are 4 different gins that each have their own unique flavour and story: the LONDON dry gin, the MERCATO Mediterranean, KRAFT hopped grapefruit and ROOBEE ginger. Our personal favourite is the citrusy KRAFT that makes a fabulous pink G&T when paired with an aromatic tonic. But if you can’t make up your mind, why not try their mini ‘gin tasting’ set? You will get a miniature of each gin and the mixer that Jim himself personally recommends. The Jim and Tonic distilling process is environmentally friendly and all their packaging is plastic-free and recyclable. As if that wasn’t enough, they source their ingredients locally in order to support social enterprise groups that mentor disadvantaged youths through gardening and horticulture. Gin that really does taste good and feel good! We also love that you get a free cocktail booklet with every delivery where Jim shares his tips on the best tonics and garnishes to enjoy with your chosen gin. Shop the range here.
Tourer Gin – Watermelon and Mint
If you’re looking for something new to shake up your traditional gin-based drinks, you need to try the Tourer Watermelon and Mint gin! We’re no strangers to a flavoured gin, but this one is inspired by the flavours of Asia and has a genuinely unique taste. It combines fresh watermelon and mint leaves with a delicate blend of ethically sourced botanicals including juniper, coriander seed and kaffir lime leaves, to create a gin like nothing else you’ve tasted! Check out their website for some exciting cocktail inspo including the ‘Tourer Bramble’ and the ‘Watermelon Vesper Martini’. The Tourer mission is to inspire people to explore new things through premium gins infused with flavours from around the world. This gin is a gamechanger for your standard Saturday night G&T!
Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin
A lot of gins can taste quite samey and that’s where Bobby’s Scchiedam Dry Gin stands well apart from the rest! A combo of ‘Dutch courage mixed with Indonesian spirit’, Bobby’s Shiedam celebrates the shared history of the two countries which goes back over 150 years. With over 25% of Dutch people having family links with Indonesia, the founders of this lively gin also have a Dutch father, and Indonesian mother.
Bobby’s Schiedam is a great dry gin for the winter months. It’s a spicy, weighty gin which suits the Christmas festivities very well with its blend of whole clove, cinnamon, cubeb pepper, lemongrass, rose hips, fennel and coriander. You can feel the hit at the back of the throat which resembles a warm hug on a chilly night, and while there are those peppery, firey notes, there’s still a hint of citrus and a base of juniper for those unmistakable ginny vibes.
The bottle is a beautiful one, taking pride of place amongst plainer looking bottles of spirits – fusing together a classic Dutch ‘kruik’ bottle with a traditional ‘ikat’ Indonesian design, while the recipe is an original, passed down by the founders’ grandfather Bobby, who emigrated to Holland in the 50’s but missed the spices from his homeland. Available from masterofmalt.com priced at £37.99 for a 70cl bottle, with a heady 42% ABV.
Cotton Gin
Cotton Gin is such a pretty gin. Its bottle makes you think of summer meadows and balmy eves, but while it might look sweet and innocent, this is a complex gin with a range of harmonious, herbaceous aromas and flavours, while still maintaining that light, airy, I-can-definitely-drink-more-than-one-these feel!
Taking its inspiration from the rolling Yorkshire hills in which the Otterbeck Distillery resides and uniquely crafted in an historic cotton mill, Cotton Gin has plenty of floral notes on the nose and a hint of green herb. On the palate, the texture is creamy, coating the mouth with smooth balanced flavours. Fresh forest pine after the rain and a slight kick of zesty orange or lemon peel come through before a fresh punchy finish with the main botanicals standing strong. Cotton Gin is available from the Otterbeck Distillery website priced at £37.75 for a 70cl. They’ve also just launched an incredible limited edition bottle with ‘Annabel’s Deliciously British’ Strawberry and Pink Peppercorn – how could you not be tempted?!!
Martin Miller’s SUMMERFUL Gin
A gin bursting with freshness and created especially for the warmer months (perfect for our mini heatwave this week), Martin Miller’s SUMMMERFUL Gin is a gorgeous combo of English and Icelandic heritage and while it’s distilled here in the UK, the gin is blended with the purest Icelandic spring water for that soft, melt-in-the-mouth signature feel. With citrus and juniper, a third distillation introduces Arctic thyme and rosemary into the mix for a flowery bouquet which oozes with clean, earthy notes of lemon, pine and mint. The bottle is stunning, making it a fabulous gift, and this gin is best served in a balloon glass, topped with Fever-Tree tonic, an orange garnish, and of course, a sprig of rosemary. Divine.
Pinkster Gin
You need a vintage drinks trolley to display this one! Pinkster Gin is made from juicy gin-soaked raspberries and boy can you taste them! Not only is the Pinkster bottle a super cool one, they’ve got the delicate colour just right, along with the right balance of sweetness. With no added sugar, it’s a smooth rounded flavour produced with eight botanicals – five of which are part of the original recipe and used at the beginning of the process and three which are added during maceration. As the website says, all you need is ‘a sprig of well-spanked fresh mint’… Absolute heaven, in a glass. Available from M&S, Fenwick, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Majestic Wine, Ocado, 31Dover.com, Master of Malt and Pinkster Gin. (70 cl / 37.5% ABV).
Bombay Creations
Making the perfect gift for gin fans, or if you fancy getting creative yourself, Bombay Creations are four cute gin liquers which have been naturally flavoured to really tickle the tastebuds.
With a mouthwatering collection of rose, hibiscus, raspberry and strawberry, they will complement rather than drown out the gin, and will create a new and exciting G&T every time you try a new one! Serve 1 part gin in a glass filled with ice, along with three parts tonic and a splash of your chosen liquer for the ultimate personalised drink! 4 x 5cl, 20% ABV £12 from Ocado.
‘A Taste of France’ with New Provencal Gin from QVT Dry Gin
If you fancy yourself as a bit of a ginnoisseur, here’s a new one you have to try! QVT’s new Provencal Gin not only has a gorgeous sleek white bottle that any vintage drinks trolley would be proud to host, but it’s already picked up two awards for being THAT amazing. QVT’s first hand crafted spirit captures the true essence of beautiful Provence and includes botanicals such as juniper, lavender, rose-flower, rosemary, coriander seeds, pine and grape. With the spirit makers all dedicated to creating small batches of this deliciousness, you’ll be transported to an idyllic spot in South East France as you sip your gin and take in the views of the Med. All we need now is a late heatwave…! QVT Dry Gin is available now from Southern Wines, RRP £36.60. (ABV 43.7%)
Bombay Sapphire
Bombay Sapphire will tell you themselves – they’re ‘the world’s most famous gin’ and no gin list would be complete without it! That beautiful blue bottle exudes gin quality, and the flavour, with 10 hand-selected botanicals from far flung exotic global locations including juniper berries from Italy, almonds from Spain and Liquorice from China make this gin a winner on its own or when mixed into heady delicious cocktails! Vapour infused, Bombay Sapphire is smooth on the palate as botanical after botanical unleashes its distinct taste with bold juniper leading the way. A true classic with floral notes for a lighter gin. 70cl, 40% ABV.
The Artisan Drinks Company
Making a big difference to the mixer market, Northumberland based The Artisan Drinks Company have created delicious mixers which taste amazing with gin and are made from 100% natural ingredients. Unusual and imaginative flavours of the name of the game here and you can look forward to enjoying your favourite spirit with anything from violet blossom tonic to pink citrus. Literally mouthwatering. If opal fruits did drinks… In colourful bottles (and definitely taking inspiration from Luxe Bible’s fave artist – Andy Warhol), these mixers stand out a mile! Look out for them in a watering hole near you. They’re definitely raising the bar!
Caorunn Scottish Raspberry Gin
Caorunn Scottish Raspberry Gin has flavour like no other – created in the world’s only working copper berry chamber, where five locally foraged Celtic botanicals are married with six traditional gin botanicals to make something rather special.
Having launched the special gin to celebrate Caorunn’s 10 year anniversary, you get the combo of a delicious, crisp Caorunn gin with a hint of sweet natural raspberry. And no, this one isn’t pink! A crystal clear colour just like its pure flavour. 41.80% ABV, 50cl available from Amazon priced at £21.
Cranes Cranberry Gin
Smooth, fruity and sharp! Just how we like our flavoured gin to taste! Cranes Cranberry Gin is handcrafted in beautiful Cambridgeshire in small batches, bursting with premium juicy cranberries for a natural taste without sugars or artificial flavours. Fruity and crisp on the nose, lively and fresh on the palate with a smack of juniper, and a dry finish, 50 of the finest cranberries go into every 70cl bottle for a harmonious marrying of gin and berry. 37.5% ABV, 70cl, available from Ocado and Amazon.
Paul Smith Sipsmith Gin
Sipsmith – one of the coolest gins on the market (and not just because they invite gin enthusiasts to visit their awesome distillery all the time), has gone one step further with an amazing designer partnership. Adorning the Paul Smith signature stripes on the limited edition bottle are just the beginning though! Not only does Paul Smith Sipsmith Gin, look the business, it’s also tastes it! Complex and aromatic, but smooth and sophisticated, this London Dry Gin is traditionally hand crafted with botanicals like Spanish ground almond and Madagascan cinnamon bark has floral notes on the nose, juniper, orange and lemon on the palate and a dry, spicy finish. 1L, 41.6% ABV. Available from Selfridges priced at £49.99 and in Waitrose from the 18th March until the end of April in a 70cl bottle priced at £28.50.
Lonewolf Cloudy Lemon by Brewdog
That’s what we like! Gin with some serious bite! If you’re serious about gin, then you just have to try Lonewolf Cloudy Lemon by Brewdog which gets its sharp kick courtesy of Sicilian lemon peel which is infused for a full seven days. With hints of lavender, lemongrass and and grapefruit peel, this is one Lonewolf not to be messed with! With punchy lemony aromas on the nose, punchy citrus, pine and juniper to taste, and a long finish! Tastes sooooo g reat in a g&t – get ready for the gin haze! 70cl, 40% ABV available from Brewdog for £23.
Boodles Mulberry Gin
A truly British gin dating back to 1845 and named after Boodles Gentlemen’s Club in London, Boodles Gin which was said to be a favourite of member Sir Winston Churchill, have given their classic a new interpretation with Boodles Mulberry. What we love most about this gin is that you can warm it in winter and drink it cold in summer, and the unique flavour combines delicious mulberries with juicy raspberries and currants along with botanicals like rosemary, nutmeg and sage. A sloe gin in a classic, classy bottle balanced and complex. Perfect any time of the year. 30% ABV, 70cl
Thirsty for more? Check out Luxe Bible’s guide to the coolest pink gins and vodkas.