Fun fact: the Monkey on the label is called Max, and whilst living in Berlin Zoo in post WW2 Germany

The best part: This small-batch gin is consciously crafted. Gray Whale supports the conservation of our oceans through Oceana, and they have also partnered with 1% for the Planet. One percent of all Gray Whale sales go to environmental causes. The brand is named after George Chinnery, the English painter, who began his career in Dublin, before travelling to China. The bottle is inspired by these two parts of his career – Georgian Dublin and Imperial China. Today, drinkers can enjoy the diversity of gin.Unlike vodka, each bottle of gin is truly unique. The majority feature some degree of the pine flavor that comes from juniper, which is gin's signature ingredient, yet no two bottles have the same combination of botanicals.Aviation is produced in Portland, Oregon, by House Spirits Distillery. It is distilled from neutral grain spirit with 100 percent rye base, an unusual beginning in the gin market. It's flavored with juniper, anise seed, Elettaria cardamom, coriander, lavender, sweet orange peel, and sarsaparilla. It, too, is slightly overproofed, bottled at 42 percent ABV (84 proof), so it's not as delicate as it's often made out to be.

You can also explore the effects of aging on gin—something most gin is not subjected to—with Martin Miller's 9 Moons. This bottling rests the gin in previously used bourbon barrels for nine months to give it a fascinating sweetness of vanilla and oak. In the run up to his PhD and post-doc studies in hematopoiesis (the formation of blood cell components from stem cells), Matt spent a summer at Cambridge University on a Royal Society internship studying bugs, specifically flies, and even more specifically, blue bottle flies. Under the microscope, he found the indigo wings of these household nuisances to shimmer intricate patterns of iridescence unique to the majesty of nature, patterns that people peeved by the pest do not perceive. Old Tom Gin: There are no set guidelines for this style of gin, but it is sometimes sweetened with a bit of sugar or other botanicals, licorice is occasionally added, and it can be barrel aged (which is another style of gin in and of itself). Current examples of Old Tom gin come from Barr Hill in Vermont, Ransom in Oregon, and Hibrimi in Iceland. Where would the Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Society have been without Isola’s infamous gin? Perhaps they wouldn’t have even formed their lifelong friendships … And they certainly wouldn't have had so much fun! The botanicals set out on their voyage by macerating in a neutral grain spirit, according to maceration magic. A symphony of flavours is created during this infusion, which becomes the core of Blue Bottle Gin.

We do love a bit of Opihr at the end of a long Monday, but since their new Ready To Drink Range launched this year we have been obsessed. I mean look at these bottles, they’re beautiful!

As the only regionally-restricted type of gin, Plymouth gin uses slightly more botanicals than traditional London dry gins, giving it a sweeter, earthier taste. This gin must be made in Plymouth, England, but only one distillery and brand remains in the Plymouth region⁠—the aptly named Plymouth Gin. Old Tom Like many other brands, Bols has expanded their genever selection. Beyond the original, you can find barrel-aged bottles, which are rested in French Limousin oak casks for 18 months. The aroma welcomes you with the freshness of citrus and the essence of juniper. When you taste it, the juniper’s piney undertones blend with the floral undertones to form a taste symphony that dances across your palate. Your senses are engulfed by the juniper, which evokes the forests where it grows. Dance-like citrus tones entice you to delve further into your exploration. The floral undertones open up a realm of luxury by taking you to sun-kissed gardens. From Glass to Palate: Savouring the Journey If you look at the list of botanicals in Bombay Sapphireyou will notice a few differences from other London dry gins. Grains of paradise, almond, and cubeb berries are not your average gin ingredients and they help this bottle stand apart from the crowd.

Blue Bottle Pink Gin

Bols 100% Malt Spirit takes the neutral grain spirits out of the equation. The brand calls it "genever in its purest form," created from a distillate of corn, rye, and wheat that is fermented for longer than usual and married with juniper berries. Its taste is that of sweet grass with fruits and juniper. Aviation's choice of a rye base gives this gin a creamier mouthfeel than most gins. It is a gin that you can enjoy chilled on its own, which is great news for super dry martini fans.