20 Highest Quality Gins in the World
In this article, we are going to discuss the 20 highest quality gins in the world. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global gin market, the most popular gin in the world, and the recent acquisition in the gin industry, and go directly to the 5 Highest Quality Gins in the World.
Gin is a fabulous drink that reaches parts other white spirits just cannot reach. It is commonly believed that the juniper infused liquor originated from England or Ireland, but that’s far from the truth. In fact, if you don't count the Italian monks who are thought to have used juniper berries as flavorings in distilled spirits back in the 11th century, it's Holland that is credited as the birthplace of gin. In the 16th century, a Dutch physician named Franciscus Sylvius de la Boe made a schnaps distilled with juniper berries, the so-called ‘Genever’, which was consumed for medical purposes. It didn’t take long for this lovely liquor to hop across the English Channel in a big way, where the original ‘Genever’ eventually developed into today's ‘Gin’.
Global Gin Market:
Gin is one of the Most Consumed Alcohols in the World, with the global gin market valued at $15.3 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $20.2 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period. The growing demand for premium cocktails, rising consumption of pre-mixed ready-to-drink (RTD) and fresh cocktail recipes, and an ever growing appetite for luxury spirits represent some of the key factors driving the market.
As we mentioned in our article – 20 Most Popular Gin Brands in 2023 – gin’s total volume increased by 7.7% to 105.2 million 9-liter cases in 2022, and global sales of premium gin bottles are growing at around 20% annually – 2.5 times the rate of overall spirit sales.
Unsurprisingly, the United Kingdom is the largest exporter of gin in the world. According to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) data, gin exports from the U.K. hit $879 million in 2022, up from $651 million the previous year. 2022 exports also surpassed the pre-pandemic levels of 2019 by 9%. The United States remains the U.K.’s largest export market for gin, with 2022 exports totaling more than $279 million, an increase of 6% from 2019.
Known for being a hotbed for creativity and innovation in spirit-making, the United Kingdom is the Country that Makes the Best Gin.
Most Popular Gin in the World:
With 7.7 million nine-liter cases sold in 2022, Gordon’s holds the title of the best-selling gin in the world. While it was once described as an ‘old boring wooly jumper’, Gordon’s needed some serious change to keep pace with the constantly evolving gin industry and appeal to the younger consumer segment.
Owned by Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO), the brand set out to reinvent itself under the irresistible invite ‘Shall we?’. It invited Fleabag creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge to provide the voiceover for colorful, witty ads and even launched the Gordon’s Premium Pink Distilled Gin to appeal to the 18- to 34-year old female drinker, with Instagram and Spotify playing important roles in the media mix. Unlike most of its competitors, Gordon’s decided not to focus on the ingredients and provenance, instead preferring to zone in on people’s motivations – meeting for a gin and a catch-up.
This relaunch by Gordon’s in 2016 triggered unprecedented sales growth and the brand had already more than doubled in size by 2019, and hasn’t looked back since.
Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) is counted among the Best Brewery and Distillery Stocks to Buy Now.
Recent Acquisition in the Gin Industry:
The Kentucky-based Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) announced in 2022 that it has reached an agreement with Vantguard and MG Distilleries to acquire the popular Gin Mare brand and the variant Gin Mare Capri for an undisclosed price.
Established in 2010, Gin Mare is a Spanish offering with a Mediterranean-inspired recipe of botanicals, including Arbequina olives, thyme, rosemary, and basil. Introduced in 2022, Gin Mare Capri is made with Italian bergamot and lemons, along with Gin Mare’s four principal botanicals. The spirit is now part of the Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B)’s premium offerings, and continues to be produced at the MG Distilleries plant in Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona).
The Jack Daniel’s maker’s brands are supported by approximately 5,200 employees globally and sold in more than 170 countries worldwide. Unsurprisingly, The Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) was counted among the Largest Alcohol Companies in the World in 2023.
With that said, here are the Best Gins in the World.
Methodology:
To collect data for this article, we have referred to a number of sources, such as Liquor, VinePair, Men’s Journal, Reddit etc., looking for the Top Gins in 2024. To make sure we only give you the best of the best, we shortlisted gins that appeared multiple times in the aforementioned sources, assigned them a score based on their number of appearances, and ranked them accordingly. When two gins had the same score, we ranked them by the price of their 750 ml bottles.
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20. Nolet’s The Reserve Dry Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 8
This limited production premium gin is crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail, resulting in a truly exceptional spirit. Nolet’s Reserve captures the essence of a variety of botanicals, including warm and spicy saffron (the world’s most expensive spice), and verbena, an herb known for its delicate citrus flavor and soothing nature.
In October 2023, the Nolet Group launched a management-backed offer to buy Dutch gin and spirits maker Lucas Bols for $284.51 million. The family-owned company is also responsible for producing Ketel One Vodka.
Nolet’s Reserve sits among the Most Luxurious Gins in the World.
19. No. 3 London Dry Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 8
This ultra-premium London Dry Gin is the perfect balance of three flavors – juniper, citrus, and spice, making it refreshing in taste and classic in style. The company also came up with a handcrafted glass that is scientifically proven to keep your Martini cooler for 50% longer.
18. Isle of Harris Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 9
The award-winning Harris Gin is presented in a beautifully designed bottle, and captures the elemental nature of the Isle of Harris, the liquid itself. The key botanical is sugar Kelp seaweed, gathered sustainably by hand from local sea-lochs, to express the island's unique maritime nature.
17. Aviation American Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 9
This American gin became super popular after Ryan Reynolds acquired a stake in the brand in 2018. Even though it is now owned by Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO), Reynolds still maintains an ‘ongoing ownership interest’ in Aviation and his hilarious adverts have turned the brand into one of the Best Gins Under $50.
16. Nikka Coffey Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 10
With decades of experience in distilling white spirits but mostly whiskies, Nikka Whisky offers a gin with the perfect balance between 11 selected botanicals and the silky texture of Coffey distillates.
The Japanese company also introduced the Nikka Coffey Vodka in 2017, which ranks among the Highest Quality Vodkas In The World.
15. Hayman’s Old Tom Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 10
A modern recreation of an original family recipe from the 1860s, Hayman’s Old Tom is made with the same ten botanicals that feature in other Hayman gins but with more intensity and the addition of sugar.
14. Gray Whale Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 11
Distilled and bottled by Golden State Distillery LLC in Sebastopol, CA, this small batch gin is a celebration of the incredible 12,000 mile migration of the gray whale from the warm lagoons of the Baja Peninsula to the cool waters of the Arctic. The gin’s six Californian botanicals – juniper, mint, limes, fir tree, almonds, and kombu are sustainably sourced or wildly-foraged along the Pacific Coast.
Intending to protect gray whales and pay it forward, the brand supports ocean conservation through ongoing partnerships with Oceana and 1% for the Planet, donating a percentage from every sale.
With its soft juniper-and-pine aroma, Gray Whale is a great gin for ladies.
13. St. George Terroir Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 11
When Jörg Rupf founded St. George Spirits in 1982, there was no such thing as ‘craft distilling’ in America. In 1982, there were fewer than 20 distilleries in the United States. Today, there are more than 2000.
Terroir began with a hike and a fir tree. Master distiller Lance Winters created St. George Terroir Gin to evoke the magic of the forest. With its pronounced notes of a pine forest, this West Coast offering tastes unlike any other gin in the market.
12. Sipsmith V.J.O.P. Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 12
At 57.7% ABV this juniper-forward navy strength gin uses double the amount of juniper berries as the Sipsmith London Dry Gin, and undergoes a three-part juniper-infusion process, including a three day maceration.
The brand has recently experienced double-digit growth nationally in the U.S. and triple-digit growth in key cities like Miami and San Francisco. All this, despite significant supply chain constraints.
Sipsmith was named the highest rated gin of 2023 by Liquor.com.
11. Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 13
Gunpowder is a bold, bright green tea that has been slowly dried and then carefully rolled into shiny pellets. This tea is combined with Asian and local Irish botanicals and distilled by hand in a copper pot still to create this distinctive spirit.
The company behind this gin, PJ Rigney Distillery and International Brands, increased its accumulated profits to about $9.7 million in 2021, with sales growing by about 30% to more than $13.3 million.
10. Bombay Sapphire Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 15
With 5.7 million case sales in 2022, Bombay Sapphire was the 2nd best-selling gin in the world, and for good reason. The brand revolutionized the gin category in the 1980’s, thanks to its nifty vapor-infusion process and use of a staggering 10 botanicals, including juniper, citrus, coriander, and pepper.
Bombay Sapphire’s growth was boosted by the release of Citron Pressé, a lemon-flavored gin inspired by the Tom Collins cocktail. According to Bacardi, the new product was a response to the growing demand for citrus flavors.
9. Tanqueray Nº 10 Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 16
Named after the stills of its origin, the Tanqueray Nº 10 Gin is the first ever small batch gin crafted using fresh citrus fruits. Best enjoyed with plenty of ice, tonic water, and garnished with a wedge of pink grapefruit, Tanqueray Nº Ten is the only gin that has been awarded a place in the Hall of Fame at the San Francisco Spirits Awards.
Tanqueray Nº 10 is counted among the Top 10 Gins in the World.
8. Plymouth Original Strength Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 16
Distilled since 1793, Plymouth is heavier on the juniper and citrus side, but has an earthy quality on the front palate. Its flavor differs from the more common style of gin – the London Dry – because of a higher proportion of root ingredients and other botanicals in its recipe. Mellow and elegant, Plymouth makes one of the world’s great Dry Martinis, perhaps even the best.
In 2008, Plymouth Gin was sold to the spirits giant Pernod Ricard, which still has the brand under its umbrella to this day.
7. Beefeater London Dry Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 16
When only a tried-and-true dry gin will do, turn to Beefeater London Dry Gin. Beloved by bartenders and cocktail lovers in over 50 countries, the gin’s recipe dates back to 1863 and has withstood the tests of time, becoming the most award-winning gin over the last decade. Owned by Pernod Ricard, Beefeater had 3.8 million 9-liter cases sold around the world in 2022.
Beefeater’s broad shoulders stand up in perfect harmony with dry vermouth, making it the Best Gins for a Classic Martini.
6. Citadelle Jardin d'Été
Insider Monkey Score: 17
Inspired by the garden at the Château de Bonbonnet, a little nature preserve where flowers, fruits, and herbs flourish, this twist on the original Citadelle gin takes you on a delightful olfactory and gustatory ramble. This expression is delicate and fresh, excellent with tonic or in a martini with a twist of lemon.
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Disclosure: None. 20 Highest Quality Gins in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
