The Best Gin Brands of 2023 to Elevate Martinis, Negronis, and Gin and Tonics
Like vodka, gin has a versatility that transcends seasonality and applications. Exciting new craft gins bring unique botanicals to gin cocktails, while traditional favorites elevate gin and tonic recipes and classic martinis. Regardless of how you take your gin, our list of the best brands covers all styles of this increasingly expansive, botanically innovative spirit that continues to soar.
For the 2023 Men's Journal Spirits Awards, we delve into the best gins available across all styles, including London dry, old Tom, and new American. We've included lesser-known boutique bottles while also honoring excellent expressions from larger brands that are easily found and well worth rediscovering. But no matter what, try our best overall pick, Sipsmith, a gin that leads with traditional juniper taste but quickly expands into a complex and well-rounded flavor.
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Why You Should Trust Us
I've written about spirits for numerous publications for nearly a decade. Throughout that time, I've sampled thousands of bottles in every category of spirits, visited distilleries around the world to see how the juice is made, and honed my palate and nose. I also judge two spirits competitions, the John Barleycorn Awards and the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, for which I blind taste hundreds of spirits to determine what stands out based on flavor, mouthfeel, color, and aroma.
To make this list of the best gins, I sampled the products or added them on the recommendation of industry experts who have long track records in the drinks industry and unique interests and experiences with gin.
What We Look for When Choosing the Best Gin
There are many different styles of gin that come from all around the world, so when compiling this list, we tried to find a range of high-quality expressions in different categories. We looked at the flavor first and foremost, as well as whether the gin was a good representation of its style, if it captured the character of where it was produced, and how it tastes when sipped alone and used in a cocktail. Overall, quality, affordability, and value were key considerations when selecting the gins that made this list.
Best Overall Gin: Sipsmith
Sipsmith is a London dry gin (actually made in London) that’s been around for about 15 years. The core expression leads with juniper but expands from there into notes of orange, lemon, black pepper, and a floral bouquet. “It has a classic juniper forward taste profile with a pleasant citrus followup,” says Mike Vacheresse, owner of Travel Bar in Brooklyn. If you’re in the mood for something heavy on the juniper (and the alcohol), check out VJOP—Very Junipery Over Proof Gin—bottled at nearly 60 percent ABV made with double the amount of that botanical as the flagship expression.
Best London Dry Gin: Beefeater
“Beefeater is a great value for gin and tonic or martini purposes,” says Jesse Vida, operating partner of the Cat Bite Club in Singapore. “Bold and citrusy, not shying away from the alpine flavors of juniper berries, London dry gins are for those who love that star botanical.” The brand, owned by French company Pernod Ricard, is produced in London from a nine-botanical recipe created by founder James Burrough. You can also try Beefeater 24, made using 12 botanicals, including green tea that's steeped in the spirit for a full 24 hours.
Best Gin for a Martini: Tanqueray
One of the world's best-known gin brands, Tanqueray, owned by Diageo, offers a few different expressions to choose from. The brand's core gin is a London dry. It's a crisp and fragrant gin that works in any number of drinks. Tanqueray No. Ten offers a more citrus-forward flavor profile, while a third option, Rangpur, is flavored with Rangpur lime, making it a go-to for a gin and tonic. “Tanqueray gin works very well in classic cocktails—and the export strength and No. 10 make a killer martini,” says Vida.
Best Gin for Gin and Tonic: Hendrick’s
A seminal Scottish brand in the world of new-school gin, Hendrick's offers core expressions of rose and cucumber—but there's always something new popping up in the brand's limited-release series lineup known as the Cabinet of Curiosities. The latest, Flora Adora, was inspired by master distiller Lesley Gracie’s appreciation of the butterflies and bees that make the distillery's garden their home. While it's ideal for gin and tonics, Men's Journal Senior Editor Chris Hatler keeps Hendrick's on his bart cart for casual sipping, too.
Best Budget Gin: Gordon’s
Another ubiquitous Diageo gin and slightly "humbler" than Tanqueray, Gordon's remains an affordable and dependable option that deserves a spot in your home bar. The brand has some flavored gins to sample, but its London dry dates back to the late 18th century and remains one of the most popular worldwide. There’s nothing flashy about this gin; it’s just a solid cocktail base.
Best Vapor-Infused Gin: Bombay Sapphire
The famed gin in the blue bottle is made from a recipe of 10 botanicals that are vapor-infused into the spirit while hanging in a basket above the still. Juniper leads the way, alongside some spice and sweetness from the inclusion of licorice, cassia bark, cubeb berries, and lemon peel. Bombay Sapphire Dry offers a more crisp drinking experience with just eight botanicals used, while the new Premier Cru combines lemon, mandarin, and naval orange to highlight a bright citrus-focused take on the classic.
Best Celebrity Gin: Aviation American Gin
When it comes to celebrity liquor brands, tequila is the most popular, but Ryan Reynolds decided to invest in this gin brand instead. Founded in 2006 and purchased by Diageo a few years ago, Aviation continues to churn out high-quality American dry gin at a new distillery that recently opened in Portland, OR. The botanicals are macerated in the neutral grain spirit for 18 hours before distillation, resulting in a light, flavorful, and crisp gin.
Best Gin for Cocktails: Plymouth Gin
"If I had to choose a classic go-to gin, it would have to be Plymouth,” says Marshall Minaya, beverage director for Valerie and Madame George in New York City. Distilled since the 1700s, Plymouth is heavier on the juniper and citrus side, but has an earthy quality on the front palate. At just over 40 percent ABV, "it's a great grab for a G&T or a fizz," adds Minaya. "A Plymouth 2:1 martini was the first martini I ordered. I imagine it'll be around til it’s my last."
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More Gins We Love
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“Arrowood Gin from upstate New York is new on the scene and making really special small batch spirits,” says Karlsberg. “Punchy, almost sweet juniper and other botanicals all sourced from nearby farms make this a big sultry gin to cocktail with. Sometimes you need a heavy hitter in a cocktail–this one is that and has a beautiful texture as well.”
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Most gin is unaged, but every fan of the spirit should try a barrel-aged expression like this. Durham Distillery in North Carolina just released the second edition of its Conniption Barrel Aged Gin, which spent ten months maturing in bourbon barrels from Utah’s High West Distillery. That added notes of caramel and vanilla to the palate, which is flavored by botanicals like juniper, caraway, coriander, and fig. Sip this gin neat, or try it in a classic gin cocktail like a Negroni or Martinez.
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This new gin comes from the creator of Aviation Gin, Christian Krogstrad. The twist here is that it’s made using botanicals from “four corners” of America in an attempt to represent flavors from every region. That includes cranberry from the northeast, juniper from the northwest, and yerba santa from the desert. The result is a flavorful gin that’s good enough to sip, but works well in cocktails too.
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What Is Gin?
Gin is a neutral grain spirit that's been infused with flavor from a rich array of botanicals, the most prominent and traditional of which is juniper. Others may include virtually anything a distiller can acquire and dream up, but some of the more common ones are citrus, coriander, almond, and cassia bark. These ingredients are then either macerated into the spirit or vapor-infused during distillation.
What Types of Gin Are There?
London Dry Gin
London dry does not have to be made in London, but it's usually very juniper forward and nothing can be added to this gin after distillation. Try London dry gin in a martini or any other cocktail, and expect a crisp flavor profile.
Plymouth Gin
There is just one gin in this category, the eponymous Plymouth Gin. As mentioned before, the flavor profile is close to London dry, but with a bit more citrus notes.
Modern Gin
Modern gins range from classic London dry to more citrus or botanical-forward on the palate. They come from different countries, and can be sipped on their own but work very well in cocktails.
New American Gin (aka New Western Gin)
New American gins feature juniper, of course, but explore a whole range of flavors by using a variety of botanicals that attempt to capture a particular region’s character.
Old Tom Gin
Another traditional style, Old Tom is a sweetened gin that's sometimes barrel aged.
What Gin Should I Use in a Gin and Tonic?
The best gin for any cocktail really depends on your personal preference, but citrus-forward ones tend to work well in a gin and tonic. The new Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru is a good option to try, Hendrick’s offers a unique pop of rose and cucumber flavor, and Glendalough Wild Botanical Gin will bring yet more flavors to the drink.
What Gin Should I Use in a Martini?
Typically, a juniper-forward London dry-style gin works well in a classic martini. Beefeater and Tanqueray are great examples of British gins to try in this drink, while Aviation and Bluecoat are new American gins that lean toward the drier side of the spectrum and taste great with an olive garnish. If a lemon twist is more your speed, give Sipsmith or Fords a try—both of which work well in a very dry martini or the 50/50 version.
