As December comes crashing our way, it’s time to start planning for the party season. Gin is one of the staples of the drinks cabinet, and with so many to choose from, it’s hard to know where to begin. We’ve picked out just a few we’ve enjoyed this year and think will be a hit this festive season and beyond.
Caorunn Scottish Raspberry Gin
£28
With a raft of pink and raspberry gins on the market, it would be fair to ask if we really need one more, but the answer is yes, and it’s this one
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A delicate raspberry waft greets you as you remove the stopper, but it isn’t overly perfumed or sweet. Once the spirit hits the palate, the flavour intensifies a little, with a hint of vanilla and a touch of apple combining to create a lovely, gentle, flavoursome mouthful.
What makes this raspberry gin stand head and shoulders above the rest is its subtlety. The basic berry is never overshadowed by the botanicals, with juniper and its pals staying firmly in the background. The result is a well-balanced gin with a fresh and delightful flavour that would make a perfect glassful just over ice. If you are missing a touch of extra sweetness, top it off with lemonade, and you’ll have the best of both worlds — sweetness and freshness.
Whitley Neill Blood Orange Gin
£28
If you’re looking for a gin packed with the flavour of a Sicilian summer, this is the one for you. Oranges abound from the first pop of the cork to the last measure.
On the nose, the orange scent is sweet and inviting, with the slightest botanical hint backing it up. Once it hits the palate, the blood orange flavour comes alive as the citrus mingles with sweet honey and floral notes before dropping away to leave an earthy, juniper-led flavour.
The flavours are clean and dynamic, and make a great tall drink when mixed with soda water and ice, which let the citrus stand out beautifully.
Whitley Neill Distiller’s Cut London Dry Gin
£20
Distiller’s Cut. is a slight twist on a classic London dry gin in that rather than incorporating a range of citrus flavours, it leans heavily into just one, making orange the star of the show. Don’t get me wrong — it isn’t an outright orange flavour, but there are lots of sweet hints that support, rather than overwhelm, the classic gin botanicals of juniper, coriander and angelica root. There is a touch of liquorice there, too, rounding out the hit of flavours.
It’s smooth and creamy on the palate, with a hit of peppery spice that sets the taste buds tingling nicely. As the flavours develop, the warming spices intensify, with the sweetness of candied orange still evident, balanced nicely against the juniper. The finish is more earthy as the sweetness fades.
It’s a very pleasant gin to mix with a tonic and works well in cocktails, too. A worthy addition to any drinks cabinet.
Nordes Gin
£37
Nordes Gin is not your run-of-the-mill gin; this Spanish offering has something a little unusual up its sleeve. You might have tried plenty of flavoured gins, but I’ll bet my hat you’ve not had one like this before.
This splendid little spirit combines a plethora of flavours which you’d probably not expect to find in a gin — tea, mint, samphire, and hints of eucalyptus — and blends them with the usual suspects, juniper, cardamom and ginger. If that wasn’t enough to pique your interest, the distillers added just one more from left field in the form of distilled Galician wine.
The resulting spirit has a flavour which is difficult to describe. It has a subtle yet inviting aroma, within which you can pick out that familiar botanical hint. Yet once it hits the palate, the flavours are fresh with a touch of natural sweetness, boasting fruits and florals in equal measure. There is a delicate tang of spiciness balanced and cooled by the mint, as the citrus notes from the lemon verbena fill that void.
Nordes Gin is understated and surprising, with a unique flavour profile that will lift your favourite gin cocktail to new heights.
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