The 13 Best Gin Brands to Buy Right Now in 2025

There are many British gin brands with long histories that span centuries. Sipsmith is not one of them. This distillery was founded in 2007 with a focus on making London dry gin, and it succeeded in releasing its first expression just two years later. The gin is a modern example of this classic style, with a juniper-forward palate that’s balanced with notes of citrus and spice. This is the perfect spirit to use in any classic or modern cocktail, and one of the very best modern gins that you can find.

Glendalough is an Irish distillery that has a variety of good whiskeys in its lineup, but don’t sleep on its gin—particularly this rose petal-infused expression. Wild botanicals from the Wicklow mountains are key to the botanical mixture that flavors this gin, but the main ingredient in this pink spirit is rose that comes from both from the distillery’s gardens and the surrounding countryside. This is a very floral gin that still has signature notes of juniper, citrus, and peppercorn on the palate, making this a good choice for a spritz or even a riff on a Martini.

It’s right there in the name—this German gin, which is made at a distillery in the Black Forest, uses a total of 47 botanicals in its recipe to create its distinctive flavor profile. That might seem like overkill, but it works here. This is a pricy gin, but worth the cost. And check out the annual Distiller’s Cut release which adds a 48th ingredient to the already long list, the most recent of which were capers sourced from the Italian island of Pantelleria to add a subtle nutty, spicy note to the complex flavor profile.

Fords is a gin that was specifically designed to be used in cocktails. The spirit was created by expert and namesake Simon Ford with master distiller Charles Maxwell, who came up with a recipe of nine botanicals—including juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, grapefruit peels, and jasmine flower—to flavor the gin. This is an excellent new-school gin to use in a Martini however you perfer, with a twist or some olives, dry or dirty, or even 50-50.

Conniption is a gin made in Durham, North Carolina at a small distillery that uses a unique cold vacuum distillation process to produce its spirits. The botanical mixture includes juniper, lemon, caraway, and figs, and this expression is aged in bourbon barrels where it picks up note of vanilla, caramel, and oak as it rests. Swap out your whiskey for this gin in an Old Fashioned, make a classic Martinez cocktail, or just sip this spirit on its own to truly enjoy its flavor.

Fans of Japanese whisky know House of Suntory for the single malts that are made at the company’s Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries, as well as the excellent Hibiki blend. But a few years ago, the company launched a vodka and a gin here in the U.S. Roku Gin captures the essence of Japan by using six botanicals from that country: sakura flower, sakura leaf, yuzu peel, sencha tea (green tea), gyokuro tea (refined green tea), and sanshō pepper. This is a light, fragrant, and complex gin that deserves a spot on your home bar.

This California gin, part of a trio of expressions from Uncle Val, is perfectly suited to use in a classic Gin and Tonic cocktail. The main ingredients in the botanical mixture are juniper, coriander, rose, and cucumber, and while that might sounds similar to Hendrick’s, this tastes nothing like that Scottish gin. The palate is bright and crisp, with pronounced herbal and spice notes that are softened by the cucumber and rose, making this a perfect gin to mix with a high-quality tonic water and garnish with some citrus.

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There are a lot of great American gins to consider these days, as the category here has taken off over the past decade or so. What makes Southwick’s Gin unique is that it’s produced at Veritable Distillery in Connecticut from a rum base instead of the typical neutral grain spirit. The botanicals, including juniper, licorice, rhubarb, and grapefruit, are separated out and macerated, vapor infused, and distilled into the spirit before being blended together. The result is a piney gin with notes of spice and citrus that is great for using in any cocktail.

This expansive Aussie gin brand portfolio is anchored by the Rare Dry Gin, a spicy and citrus-forward spirit made using native botanicals like fresh orange, lemon myrtle, coriander, lavender, and pepperberry, along with imported juniper and cardamom. That expression is bottled at 41.8 percent ABV, but the Navy Strength clocks in at a much higher 58.8 percent ABV. That isn’t the only difference—finger lime, ginger, and turmeric are added to the botanical mix as well, making this overproof gin flavorful and refreshing despite its high proof.

This New Zealand gin brand was founded a decade ago in 2005 and is now overseen by Rachel Hall, the first female head distiller in the country. The spirit is infused with nine different botanicals, including juniper, cinnamon, almonds, and orris root. But the main flavors come from citrus—namely, naval oranges and Yen Ben lemons, a popular variety in New Zealand. The juniper and other botanicals shine through, but this is a citrus-forward gin for people who are looking for a bright, crisp, tart spirit to use in cocktails.

French brand Citadelle Gin is intrinsically tied to Cognac—both the region and the spirit, because the owner of the brand, Alexandre Gabriel, is also the master blender for Maison Ferrand. A new distillery opened last year, where this French gin is produced using a 19-botanical recipe that is steeped in a wheat-based neutral spirit distilled in a Charentais pot still, the same type used for Cognac. Citadelle is a bright and aromatic gin, and works well in any cocktail you can think of. 

This high-end gin makes a great Martini, but it’s a flavorful and complex sipping spirit that you should definitely try neat. The name comes from the fact that it is aged for 71 days in three different types of casks—medium toasted virgin European oak, Pedro Ximenez sherry, and Cognac—each imbuing the spirit with different flavors. The resulting gin is a light yellow color and has notes of vanilla, oak, stone fruit, chocolate, and baking spice on the palate.

Gin Lane 1751 is named after the Gin Act of 1751, which banned the sale of the spirit in certain venues. The brand, which is made at a small London distillery, is anchored by a juniper-forward London dry style gin, but the Old Tom expression is worth checking out as well. This is a sweeter gin that is closer in style to Dutch genever, and it is not barrel aged as some Old Tom gins are. There’s a nice balance of flavor that allows it to work well in classic cocktails like a Martinez, and it can even be swapped out for whiskey in an Old Fashioned.

What are different types of gin?

There are a few different categories within the greater world of gin. Despite its name, London dry gin does not have to be made in the UK. This refers to gin that is juniper-forward, and the botanicals used to flavor the gin during distillation—no color or flavor can be added afterwards. Plymouth Gin is a category that is made up only of the eponymous brand. Old Tom gin is often sweetened with some sugar and sometimes barrel-aged. And New Western gin pretty much refers to anything that doesn’t quite fit into the previous categories, and often gets very creative with its botanical mixture.

How should you drink gin?

The short answer is however you like it. There is no wrong or right way to enjoy gin. That being said, while it’s a good idea to at least taste a gin neat to really discover its character, this spirit is most often used in cocktails ranging from classics like the Martini, Gin and Tonic, and Aviation to modern creations.

How did we choose the gin on this list?

We considered different factors when picking these gins, with the emphasis being on taste. Because after all, despite a bottle’s availability or the hype surrounding it, that is the most important thing. Tasting gin involves a combination of sensations, including the nose, palate, mouthfeel and finish. And each category has different characteristics, so part of the process is to consider how an individual pick fits into its style overall. The bottles on this list represent the best gin brands based on all of these options, providing a good overview of selections you can easily purchase in person or online that are good examples of each individual category.

Why should you trust us?

Jonah Flicker has been writing about whiskey and other spirits for a decade, visiting distilleries around the world to meet the people behind the bottles and find out more about their stories. He is a judge for the John Barleycorn Awards and New York World Wine and Spirits Competition, and his work has appeared in many national other lifestyle outlets besides Robb Report, including Esquire, Food & Wine, Men’s Journal, CNN, USA Today and more.