Paying homage to all things juniper-based, World Gin Day (10th June 2023) is a global celebration, celebrating one of my favourite spirits, the beloved gin. Known by many names, including the Ladies Delight, the Dutch Courage; the Mother’s Ruin, today is a day to celebrate the original classics as well as dipping our toe into the diverse world of unusual flavours and unique flavour pairings. Gin is known for being a versatile and complex spirit that's perfect for mixing or sipping alone and is loved across the world by bar tenders, mixologists and general gin enthusiasts. This is partly due to the nature of the spirit and the distilling process - no two gins are exactly alike - with each production widely varying from one brand to the next creating the unique flavour profiles that we know and love, as well as the ones that shock and surprise us, but ultimately, it all boils down to (normally in a copper-still pot) creating a gin for everyone. Some have some spicy adventurous notes, others more fruity, or sweet, clean and refreshing - so whatever your preference, let the celebrations be-gin.

Pump up the Jam - Espensen Spirit

This copper pot distilled gin, from Espensen Spirit (£16, 20cl, Espensen Spirit) which won a Gold Taste of the West Award last year is on the top of my list for 2023. Infused with English Raspberries and made from a 200-year-old secret family recipe this is the perfect gin for a wide variety of mixers, including a dry tonic, homemade lemonade, or ginger ale. It’s also so packed full of fresh flavour that you can drink it ice cold as a sipping shot for a perfectly refreshing taste. Expect juniper balanced to perfection with high citrus lemony notes, a mild hit of spice, and finishing with liquorice. Plus 50p from every 70cl bottle and 20p from every 20cl bottle will be donated to homeless charities in Bristol.

Parma Violet, Mystical Unicorn, and Rhubarb and Ginger - Manchester Drinks Company

It was hard to just pick one - so you’re getting all three. Manchester Drinks Company is known for producing award-winning small-batch gins which have been traditionally distilled and cut with pure mountain water. This process allows for a rich flavour that’s dangerously easy to drink. Really paying homage to their retro flavours you can expect a nostalgic taste with a modern twist. Floral first Parma Violet, fruit-led Rhubarb and Ginger, and sweet-shop-inspired Mystical Unicorn - infused with marshmallows and candy floss. Available in Home Bargains for £7.99.

That Gin Company

Coming in hot… literally - with this duo from That Gin Company. This bespoke gin company is on a mission to serve ‘your’ perfect drink; they have nailed it. That Jalapenos (from £5.95, That Gin Company) is for those who like their gin with a little side of adventure. This spiced gin has a beautiful kick of heat but mellows out into a surprisingly smooth finish. And their That Pineapple Cube (from £5.95) hits you with all those nostalgic feels. Beautiful candied notes in the form of the pineapple cube sweets we all know and love.

Bottled Gimlet - No.3 London Dry Gin

No.3 London Dry Gin has released an exciting new bottled gin cocktail in collaboration with world-renowned Artesian Bar, situated within The Langham Hotel just in time for World Gin Day. Their pre-bottled cocktail - the Gimlet - is the third in their series and offers a unqiue twist on the classic. You can expect those beautiful notes of No.3 London Dry Gin with flavours of bergamot, floral and citrus, resulting in a refreshing and zesty drink, perfect for al fresco dining evenings or dinner with friends. But not only does it taste great, it looks amazing… and does even better. The bottle features unique microscopic art by Justin Zoll with £1 of each bottle going to Hospitality Action, a charity that supports all who work, or have worked, within hospitality in the UK.

Cheeky Wee Kiss - Angel’s Dare

Sticking to the RTD cocktail vibe, we have this beautiful can from Angel’s Dare. Their Cheeky Wee Kiss (£6, Angel’s Dare Cocktails) is a carefully crafted cocktail that is sure to make you lose your halo. You can expect a flirtatious mix of dry gin, sweet yet fiery rhubarb and ginger, a dash of strawberry, and the gentle embrace of cranberry juice - what more could you ask for?

We always love finding new collaborations and this one between Signal Brewery in South London and Bare Distillery in East Sussex is definitely one you need on your radar. Donning a beautiful bottle design, lovingly created by Royal Academy Artist - Fred Cuming, this light landscape includes Hastings and Rye encases a delicate blend of 9 botanicals inside. You can expect pink grapefruit as well as some more unusual flavours - angelica root and cubeb berries which all blend perfectly to create a delicious craft gin. Studio London Dry Gin (£26, Signal Beer Co) looks at home on any pub shelf or at-home bar and is one we are sure you are going to love.

Kaffir Lime Expression - Silent Pool

Silent Pool is one of our OG faves when it comes to gin; this brand-new blend, which has been recently added to their already-established portfolio has stolen our hearts. Honing into one of their secret (and sometimes overlooked) botanicals in their core range - the Keffir Lime Leaf now has its time to shine, as this new expression pays homage to its intricate flavours. Offering a deep complexity, their Kaffir Lime Expression (£45, Silent Pool Distillers) promises the distinct and familiar aromas of Kaffir Lime Leaf in a vibrant and clean way. You can expect some added pine-rich juniper, spearmint, and lemon to create a long and elegant finish and elevated floral from chamomile and vetiver all resulting in an irresistibly refreshing dry lime taste.

Clean G Rhubarb - CleanCo

The perfect gin alternative for those looking for all the fun and flavour without any of the hangover. CleanCo’s Clean G, which comes in original and rhubarb (our favourite) is a fantastic alternative for those who don’t fancy a tipple but still long for a refreshing drink. This non-alcoholic gin alternative (£16, CleanCo), created by Spencer Matthews is practically bursting to the brim with fruity aromas of London Dry Gin, red berries, and of course, rhubarb. Giving a fruit-forward, juniper-rich finish; creating a non-alcoholic pink gin at its finest!

Apple Of My Eye - The Cocktail Co.

Love gin, but hate the mixing? Then The Cocktail Co. is the place for you. Their Apple Of My Eye (3 for £15, The Cocktail Co) bottle is a premium pre-mixed cocktail containing a variety of high-quality gins mixed with raspberry, apple, and lemon for the perfect balance of sweet and sour. You can pour over ice and raspberries for a long serve or drink straight from the bottle (best served chilled) for an easy grab-gin-and-go situ. While you are there, make sure to check out their version of the contemporary classic gin cocktail - the Bramble - another fabulous mix that’s perfect for any gin-lover.

Pink Grapefruit and Lime Gin - Wildjac

This beautiful creation (£29.95, Wildjac) is perfect for the summer - its local foraged botanicals release their aromatics in a perfect balance, with a fresh, zesty nose and citrus bursting on the palate. You can expect a tangy finish coming through from the grapefruit and a smooth and spicy bitter orange, rounded out with fresh lime. Not only do Wildjac take such care in their ingredients, but they are also a sustainable and eco-friendly distillery that makes a wide range of gins (and other spirits) that you just have to try including Apple and Elderberry, and Damson and Raspberry.

Eddie Izzard & Edinburgh Gin

This limited edition collaboration (£35, Edinburgh Gin) is in partnership with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Eddie Izzard. With a total of only 2,400 bottles created, this bespoke botanical mix and bottle design created by writer, actor, and iconic comedian Eddie Izzard is a must-have (Launching end of July - so make sure you are on the mailing list, so you don’t miss out) Not only will 100% of the profit go to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society to support artists., but the incredible one-off bottle encapsulates both Eddie’s ethos and Edinburgh Gins values: creativity, inclusivity, and belief. You can expect the classic juniper, coriander, and liquorice botanicals from Edinburgh Gin but the additional botanicals, spell out the sentimental guiding word for Eddie; ‘Believe’. Bladderwrack Seaweed, Elderflower, Lemon Myrtle, Inca berries, Echinacea, Verbena, and Elderberries. You will be able to feel the love, attention, and care that has gone into creation and craft with every sip.

French 75 - MOTH

Bar-quality canned cocktail company MOTH has the perfect gin cocktail for impromptu park parties and sunny festivals. These ready-to-drink blends are perfect, wherever and whenever. Standing for a Mix Of Total Happiness, MOTH encompasses that in every drop; their take on the French 75 (£3.95, Waitrose) is “zesty, dancy, and a whole lot of fancy”. Made with Tarquin’s Cornish Gin, Lemon, and a little bit of fizz - you can enjoy it on World Gin Day and beyond (just make sure to sip cold, and responsibly)

African Rose - Bayab

If you haven’t heard of Bayab, have you been living under a Baobab tree? This incredible brand which draws its inspiration from the legendary Baobab tree sits at the heart of the gin and creates its signature Bayab flavour - which is a unique citrus twang. This soul of the spirit plays well on the different flavour expressions - but we love the African Rose (£29.99, Amazon)- a floral creation combining African rose petals, rose water, and sea salt to create a floral gin that is slightly sweeter than your traditional but steeped in tradition and history. Perfect when served with tonic and enjoyed sipped in the sunshine.

Persian Lime & Orange Blossom - Bathtub Gin

Fancy a little upgrade on your usual G&T - well why not add a splash (or two) of Bathtub Gin’s Persian Lime & Orange Blossom (£32.95, Master of Malt) edition? It’s a dry and unsweetened expression that bursts with aromatics from the zesty lime peel and citrus oil. You can expect an elegant finish with perfumed notes of baklava and fragrant dried pithy peels and a botanical brilliance on the palate from all the classic Bathtub Gin flavours but layered in depth with heady citrus.

AGeINg - That Boutique-y Gin Company

A gin first for me - a classic gin with a stick surprise on the side. Normal cask-aged gin can be a little hit and miss - so That Boutique-y Gin Company decided to take all that guesswork out for you on whether you will like the oak forward bottle presenting itself to you on the supermarket shelf. With its purposefully charred stick that comes complete with your AGeINg (£39.95, Master of Malt) you can pop it into your bottle and let it do its thang. By imparting oak flavours you can play around with the profile of your choosing. Once at its desired smokiness - just remove it to stop the process and enjoy. It truly is in-GIN-us.

Wild Strawberry & Hibiscus - Hensol Castle Distillery

Ever fancied trying a gin that was made in the cellar of a castle? Well… now you can. Hensol Castle’s distillery is in the lower cellar of this beautiful Grade 1 listed castle in South Wales, a place where heritage and history draw the inspiration for the spirits it develops. Hensol like to call their Hensol Castle Gin ‘the jewel in their crown’ and we can see why - it’s a multi-award-winning spirit that holds a beautiful base for a wide variety of flavour expressions, such as their Wild Strawberry & Hibiscus (£30, Hensol Castle Distillery) - which is a beautiful pink gin, bursting with a luscious twist on their classic with wild strawberries and hibiscus coming together in a super smooth finish.

Shirl The Pearl - Brookie's

This bright, fun and citrusy spirit is inspired by a generational Brook family recipe that just screams to be purchased. Eddie Brook is the master behind this locally grown Australian cumquat heavy gin (£35.95, Master of Malt) and named after her grandmother Shirley. You can expect mandarin and marmalade finished with orange blossom which uplifts the spirits to new heights, with just a sprinkle of bitterness. It can be enjoyed in drinks that are sweet or sour, hot or cold. A true versatile spirit that will create a modern twist on any classic cocktail.

Jaisalmer Gold Indian Craft Gin - Jaisalmer Craft Gin

Adorned in gold this royal creation is the second gin in the Jaisalmer range. Distilled at one of India’s oldest distillers, which is known as the ‘jewel in India’s crown and likened to a golden canvas’. This 18-handpicked botanical heavy gin has 14 Indian-sourced botanicals including Nagpur orange peel and Gandharaj lemon peel, But what really sets the Gold expression (£44.99, Amazon) apart from its predecessor - is the Gold Filtration process it goes through. This unique production sees the gin slowly pass through a filter of golden intertwined silk filament enriching the finished product with gold ions - resulting in a clean and smooth taste and finish resulting in a burst of Indian summer on the palate.

Nordés Gin

A unique expression and brand-new introduction to us is the Nordés Gin (£36.95, Amazon) - a grape-based spirit that is native to Galicia, Northern Spain and utilizes locally grown and natural botanicals such as sage, bay leaf, eucalyptus, peppermint, saltwort (also known as sea asparagus) and lemon verbena paired with the more common botanicals which are sourced overseas; juniper, cardamom, and ginger. These add subtle notes to round out the Galician-heavy botanicals which are added to a base spirit made from white wine grapes that have botanical aromas perfect for a gin.

Spiced Orange Gin - Micil

Known for creating multi-award-winning Irish spirits, Micil Distillery, on the shores of Galway Bay have taken their 100% Irish Grains and added local Connemara botanicals to reimage their classic Irish Gin to create a warm rounded spiced version that has distinct warming orange notes alongside their beloved heather and floral tones. Using handpicked flowers and herbs you have this balanced sweet and tart flavour on the palate which leads to a spicy finish to round it off. Micil’s Spiced Orange Gin (£34.95, Master of Malt) is a perfect winter-warmer or a kicked-up addition to classic summer spritzes.

The Best Gins For World Gin Day 2023