15 Best Gins for Gin & Tonic Cocktail Ranked For 2023
Last Updated on October 26, 2023 by Lydia Martin
Gin and tonic is an iconic cocktail many enjoy sipping in a balloon glass. However, the kind of gin can make or break the perfect gin and tonic cocktail.
But what is the best gin for gin and tonic?
We’ve rounded up the best gins to get you started in discovering the gin to make your perfect G&T.
Top 15 Gins For A Refreshing Gin & Tonic Cocktail
15. Fords Gin
Average Price: roughly $26.99 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 45% ABV
Why We Like It: This collaboration gin is produced using nine botanicals, including juniper [1], coriander, lemon peel, grapefruit peel, angelica root, cassia, jasmine, orris, and bitter orange peel.
Mixing this distilled gin with tonic water, we taste the gin’s flavor outshines.
We love how the juniper and citrus notes complement the tonic’s bitterness, with the spices adding complexity.
14. Roku Japanese Gin
Average Price: roughly $32.18 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 43% ABV
Why We Like It: Roku Japanese gin makes a bright and refreshing drink with a pleasant lingering juniper flavor for a gin and tonic.
We pick up pronounced peppery berry notes, possibly due to juniper berries, while the other botanicals come through subtly.
The floral and citrus notes provide delicate sweetness and refreshing acidity, admirable for gin lovers.
13. Poli Marconi 42 Mediterranean Style Gin
Average Price: roughly $37.00 per 700ml (VinePair)
Alcohol Content: 42% ABV
Why We Like It: Poli Marconi 42 Mediterranean style gin is one of the best gins in our list because it has a well-balanced and complex flavor profile, emphasizing Mediterranean botanicals.
We love this great gin because of its earthy notes from rosemary, thyme, and other herbs. There is also a harmonious balance of bitter, sweet, and herbal notes.
12. Gin Mare Mediterranean Gin
Average Price: roughly $41.99 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 42.7% ABV
Why We Like It: Gin Mare Mediterranean gin is made with Mediterranean botanicals, including arbequina olives, thyme, rosemary, and basil.
We were amazed at how it creates a refreshing and balanced gin and tonic.
We characterize its flavor as herbaceous and savory, with a distinct olive flavor that sets it apart from our other favorite gins.
11. Citadelle Gin
Average Price: roughly $27.99 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 44% ABV
Why We Like It: Citadelle gin has a prominent juniper flavor, complemented by various other botanicals, and is one of the best gins that complement the bittersweet tonic water.
“I don’t know what reception I’m at, but for god’s sake, give me a gin and tonic.”
— Denis Thatcher, English Businessman
It makes a harmoniously balanced cocktail on our taste buds, and adding a fresh lime wedge as garnish easily improves our overall impression of this gin brand.
10. Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin
Average Price: roughly $39.99 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 43% ABV
Why We Like It: Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish gin is made with a blend of eight botanicals and distilled in a medieval copper pot.
We detect a distinctive smoky and slightly bitter note with a warm, spicy quality. We also taste an earthy, herbal flavor and a subtle sweetness.
We recommend adding a garnish of grapefruit or lime to enhance its fresh citrus flavor.
9. Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin
Average Price: roughly $32.99 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 45% ABV
Why We Like It: Uncle Val’s Botanical gin is an American gin made with a blend of botanicals, including juniper, cucumber, lemon, sage, lavender, and angelica.
We admire the well-roundedness of this high-quality gin, with the cucumber and lemon providing brightness to its earthy and floral notes.
It makes the perfect gin and tonic if you like something refreshing and herbaceous.
8. The Botanist Islay Dry Gin
Average Price: roughly $42.99 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 46% ABV
Why We Like It: The Botanist Islay is a herbal gin made with a unique blend of 22 botanicals, many hand-foraged on the Islay island [2].
While practically tasting the prominent juniper flavor, we pick up bark, berries, and orache-like salty greens, creating a bright, refreshing note.
It also has floral sweetness, creamy texture, and earthy bitterness evolving on our palates, resulting in a layered flavor profile.
7. Monkey 47 Gin
Average Price: roughly $43.99 per 375ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 47% ABV
Why We Like It: Monkey 47 gin has a floral character with a tart and fruity flavor. We also pick up flavors ranging from spicy and peppery to earthy and herbal.
This German gin makes a sophisticated and complex gin and tonic, and we were surprised at how these flavors work together to create a unique and enjoyable drinking experience.
6. Barr Hill Gin
Average Price: roughly $39.99 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 45% ABV
Why We Like It: Barr Hill gin is made with just three ingredients, including juniper berries, raw honey, and corn-based spirit [3].
Unlike most gins on our list, this doesn’t have a predominant juniper flavor. We love its smoothness with a distinctive sweetness blending perfectly with the herbal and citrus notes.
5. Tanqueray Gin
Average Price: roughly $27.99 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 47.3% ABV
Why We Like It: Tanqueray is a classic London dry gin with a flavor profile based on traditional gin botanicals.
It makes classic cocktails, delivering a crisp, dry taste that matches the tonic’s bitterness. We detect a musky, earthy flavor and a spicy kick with a sweet and slightly aniseed-like taste.
So, if you like classic gin and tonic flavor, this Tanqueray gin is perfect.
Read: Tanqueray & Bombay Comparison
4. Junipero Gin
Average Price: roughly $33.99 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 49.3% ABV
Why We Like It: This gin uses the key botanical juniper, providing a distinctive piney [4] and resinous taste.
What we love about this gin is how the sweetness and bitterness of the tonic water balance it, giving a refreshing and crisp drink with a distinct herbal flavor that lingers on our palates.
3. Beefeater London Dry Gin (Pink)
Average Price: roughly $22.99 per 750ml & $32.99 per 1L (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 37.5% ABV
Why We Like It: Beefeater London pink gin adds a fruity twist, incorporating natural flavors of strawberry into the blend.
While the signature juniper flavor of the Beefeater London dry gin is still present, we detect it is balanced by the soft and subtle notes of strawberry and citrus.
2. Gordons Gin
Average Price: roughly $17.99 per 1L & $22.99 per 1.75L (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Why We Like It: Gordons gin has a signature flavor profile defined by juniper, coriander, and angelica, making its flavor one of the traditional London dry gins.
As one of the best-selling gin brands, this did not disappoint us.
The gin becomes more pronounced when mixed with tonic, with a subtle herbal and earthy undertone and some spicy kick, even when submerged in ice cubes.
1. Sipsmith London Dry Gin (VJOP)
Average Price: roughly $49.49 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 57.7% ABV
Why We Like It: Sipsmith VJO.P is a quintessential London dry gin with a fresh bouquet of juniper berries and citrus peel wafts from our glass, teasing our palates with hints of what’s to come.
As we take a sip, the juniper flavor is apparent, followed by a spicy warmth and subtle sweetness, and we adore how each botanical shines through in a harmonious blend.
FAQs
What is the best gin type to make gin and tonic?
London dry-style gin is the best gin type to make gin and tonic since it has a juniper-forward flavor with a balance of other botanicals that pair perfectly with tonic water.
Does the gin matter in a gin and tonic?
Yes, the gin matters in a gin and tonic cocktail. Different gin types and brands have unique predominant flavor profiles that can significantly impact the overall taste of the drink.
Tip: Beefeater gin, Bombay Sapphire gin, Nikka Coffey gin, Hendrick’s gin, and Plymouth gin usually work well for most people.
What’s the best affordable gin for gin and tonic?
Tanqueray London dry gin is the best affordable gin for gin and tonic since it has a classic juniper flavor with a balanced blend of botanicals that work well with tonic.
On A Final Note
Finding the best gins for making gin and tonic depends on preference and taste.
But, to get you started, refer to our guide to discover your next favorite gin produced in different styles.
For a quick recommendation, choose Gordon’s or Tanqueray dry gin if you enjoy gin and tonic with a classic taste.
If you prefer to drink gin and tonic with a citrus or orange zest-like flavor, Sipsmith or Bar Hill gin is perfect.
References:
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/food-science/gin
- https://www.abc.virginia.gov/products/gin/the-botanist-islay-dry-gin
- https://www.bostonmagazine.com/restaurants/2015/01/14/vermont-barr-hill-gin-caledonia-spirits/
- https://www.insider.com/guides/kitchen/what-is-gin-made-from
