A Gintastic Review for International Gin and Tonic Day!

Oct

2019

g&t, Gin, gin and tonic, review
posted in: Blog

Christmas has come early for gin and tonic lovers this year, as today is officially #InternationalGinandTonicDay!

With such a variety of gin brands currently on the market, how are you supposed to know which delicious drink to choose? We’re here to help as we have (very willingly) reviewed 7 different brands of gin, all in the name of research. Grab a G&T and enjoy our review below!

Tenby Dry Gin

Name of gin and flavour – Tenby Dry Gin by The Pembrokeshire Gin Company
RRP – £39.99
A potted history of the brand – Based in Tenby in Pembrokeshire this is a lovely dry gin with notes of Rosemary and Citrus. This is a very smooth and easy gin to drink, offering a lovely rounded G&T. It has also picked up a bronze award at this year’s International Wine & Spirit Competition.
What did we think – A very smooth and moreish gin with a great balance of flavour. Definitely one we will be buying again.
How many lemons? 4 out of 5
Where to buy – www.thenookandcranny.co.uk

Twisting Spirit

Name of gin and flavour – Twisting Spirit, Earl Grey
RRP – £38.95
A potted history of the brand – This is a wonderful new flavour gin from the clever team at Twisting Spirits, behind this year’s Great Taste Winning Three-star Douglas-Fir gin. They have won numerous awards for their gins.
What did we think – As big fans of Earl Grey tea, we really enjoyed such a different flavour in a G&T. It was so well balanced and refreshing – the notes and flavours were wonderfully delicate. We’re looking forward to trying the Earl Grey Martini!
How many lemons? 4.5 out of 5
Where to buy – Available from a number of delis, farm shops and from www.twistingspirits.co.uk/earl-grey

Two Birds Spirits

Name of gin and flavour – Two Birds, London Dry Gin
RRP – £33.00
A potted history of the brand – Founded in the summer of 2013, Two Birds Spirits was created by engineer and gin enthusiast Mark Gamble who wanted to combine his two loves. They have won numerous awards both nationally and internationally.
What did we think – A classic gin with notes of juniper, coriander, citrus and orris root, resulting in a balanced and smooth drink.
How many lemons? 4 out of 5
Where to buy – Master of Malt, Van Hage and www.twobirdsspirits.co.uk

English Drinks Company

Name of gin and flavour – English Drinks Company, Lime Tree Gin
RRP – £36.00
A potted history of the brand – The English Drinks Company launched their first and most popular award winning Cucumber Gin in 2016. Since then they have released an Orangery Gin, Classic Pink Gin and Lemon Grove Gin and have been lucky enough to have been awarded an IWSC award in 2016 and 2018.
What did we think – This new addition to the English Drinks Company family is a delicious, refreshing dry gin infused with juniper and limes producing a fresh and zesty citrus finish. The luscious lime flavour certainly packs a punch, but if you like a strong flavoursome citrus burst then this is the gin for you! Best served with premium tonic and loads of ice. A slice of lime would be the perfect garnish.
How many lemons? 4 out of 5
Where to buy – www.ocado.com

Jakes Gin

Name of gin and flavour – Jakes Gin, London Dry Gin
RRP – £34.95
A potted history of the brand – Jake’s Gin is a family run company, born from a love of gin, a passion for plants and a fascination with the art of distilling. The name is inspired by their spaniel Jake and his infectious enthusiasm for all of the good things in life. This truly is a small craft operation, run from their family home and created in a 50ltr copper still named Gladys. Jakes Gin is recommended by ‘The Gin Guide’ in two categories and recently won the 2019 platinum award at the ‘SIP Awards’ in San Francisco.
What did we think: This is a great tasting gin, which is very easy to drink. Light and floral on the palate with a very subtle burst of liquorish at the end. The bottle has a beautiful printed design, which looks great on the shelf or makes a wonderful gift. Overall a very enjoyable gin that I can highly recommend.
How many lemons? 4.5 out of 5
Where to buy – Jakes is available at their online store and can also be sourced from some local farm shops in the Cambridgeshire area such as The Gog.

Warners Gin

Name of gin and flavour – Warners Raspberry Gin
RRP – £34.00
A potted history of the brand – Inspired by their home on Falls Farm, this recipe has been crafted to embody the bounty of the British countryside, with fresh raspberry and blackberry juice in every bottle, and hand-picked elderflower from the farm hedgerows. They have won the Gin Masters Silver (Flavoured Gin) 2019.
What did we think – Stripping the wax off the top is like the excitement of a child with a Babybel. The first smell is botanical yet with a hint of what is to come. The taste is not overly sweet, so goes nicely with tonic, or lemonade for the sweeter palette. The berries are beautifully mixed, allowing the taste to come through without overpowering the gin.
How many lemons? 5 out of 5
Where to buy – Supermarkets, good off licences and www.warnersdistillery.com

Cambridge Distillery

Name of gin and flavour – Cambridge Distillery, Cambridge Dry Gin
RRP – £39.99
A potted history of the brand – Lucy and William Lowe, founders of Cambridge Distillery, capture the taste of the English seasons using local botanicals grown in and around their home. They have won international awards for every gin they have released and have been named three consecutive times as the most innovative distillery in the world.
What did we think – This is a fragrant gin whose juniper base still allows the botanicals to shine. It is fragrant on the nose and wonderfully herbaceous in flavour. It contains eight botanicals such as lemon verbena, rose petals and violet petals and there is a sweetness that seems to round out to a more neutral finish. This is lovely easy gin that works perfectly in a g&t or even neat. Delicious with a garnish of rosemary, thyme or even a slice of lemon.
How many lemons? 5 out of 5
Where to buy – Amazon, masterofmalt.com and direct from the distillery website.