10 Gins for Your Home Bar

Each gin has its own unique flavour. But they all have one thing in common: juniper berries. That’s the familiar pine note that you taste in your glass of gin and tonic. In fact, gin was originally produced for medicinal purposes and juniper was added to mask its harsh taste.

From native herbs and spices to fruits and tea leaves, gin distillers have a wide selection of botanicals to experiment with. These additional botanicals are what makes each gin flavour profile distinctive. From traditional to contemporary styles, here are our picks of gins to add to your collection and how you can best enjoy them.

London Dry Gin is one of the more traditional gins with a predominant juniper flavour. Despite its name and origin, this style of gin doesn’t have to be made in London. For a gin to be classified as a London Dry Gin, all the flavours used during the distillation process must be natural. Thereafter, no artificial flavours or botanicals should be added after the distillation.

Crafted in small batches using traditional copper pot distillation, Sipsmith’s London Dry Gin is the quintessential expression of a classic London Dry. Its combination of ten botanicals results in a bold, complex and aromatic flavour, with citrus freshness and a hint of spice.

Best enjoyed: Gin & Tonic with a wedge of fresh lime, Negroni, or Martini.

While most gins have an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 40% to 45%, a navy strength gin has a minimum ABV of 57%. As the name suggests, this style of gin was said to originate from the British Royal Navy in the 19th century. To determine the quality of the gin supplies, the navy officers devised a test by lighting a mixture of the spirit and gunpowder. The ABV needed to be at least 57% for the gin-drenched gunpowder to be ignited when lit.

Tanglin Gin’s version of the navy strength is their Black Powder Gin. Packing a punch at 58% ABV, this locally made gin is based on their signature orchid gin but uses only half the junipers while adding fresh lemons and oranges. The result? A well-rounded and smooth gin with a bright citrus note. Due to its high alcohol content, it also makes for an ideal base for flavourful cocktails.

Best enjoyed: Neat or Negroni.

Unlike other gins which are clear, sloe gin reflects a dark purple hue, much like red wine. Commonly thought of as a liqueur due to its sweetness, sloe gin is made by infusing sloes (a fruit related to plum) and sugar in the gin base after distillation. Monkey 47’s Dry Gin, which uses 47 botanicals, is macerated with wild-growing, handpicked sloe berries from the Black Forest to create their version of the sloe gin. Complex, rich and yet balanced, this gin is ideal for those who enjoy a subtle tinge of sweetness every now and then.

Best enjoyed: Neat, On-the-rocks, or with Prosecco.

Contemporary gin is essentially a twist to the classic dry gin, as it emphasises on other flavours while retaining the basic characteristics of juniper. The wide variety of botanicals serve as inspiration for gin distillers to experiment with and create unique, interesting flavour profiles.

Botanicals such as cinnamon and coriander seeds are commonly used in gin to create a slight spiced flavour. If you are looking for something with a little more kick, try Tanglin Gin’s Mandarin Chilli Gin. Paying homage to native Asian ingredients, this contemporary citrus gin uses ingredients such as young ginger, kaffir lime leaves and not forgetting the main character – chilli, which balances well with the addition of sweet mandarin. With subtle notes of spiciness, it leaves a slight tingle on the lips without the heat.

Best enjoyed: With soda water, or Red Snapper.

Canberra Distillery’s Summer Gin uses more than 30 botanicals and summer fruits, including strawberry gum, wattle seed and lemon myrtle which are native to Australia. This fruity and smooth gin has an intense aroma of strawberry leaf, citrus, juniper flower and tropical fruits with a lingering taste of passionfruit, making it an ideal summer drink.

Best enjoyed: Neat, Gin & Tonic, Martini, or with Prosecco.

A collaboration between Brass Lion Distillery, Singapore Airlines and Singapore Tourism Board, this gin is inspired by the vibrant flavours of Singapore. The Batik Gin features tropical fruits such as ripe pineapples, zesty calamansi and sweet hawthorn berries, resulting in a smooth and full-bodied gin that encapsulates a taste of Singapore. The iconic Singapore Airlines batik motif can also be spotted on the bottle’s label.

Best enjoyed: Gin & Tonic or Gimlet

This eye-catching French Earl Grey Gin is both delicate and fragrant. Triple distilled with main botanicals including earl grey tea, lavender, hibiscus and elderflowers, the result is a beautiful, floral gin with a smooth texture and aromatic body that can be enjoyed any time of the day. Not to mention, the addition of butterfly pea gives it its blue tint, which transforms into a calming purple hue after tonic water is added. 

Best enjoyed: On-the-rocks with a squeeze of lemon, Gin & Tonic, Earl Grey Martini.

Made by Kyoto Distillery, the Ki No Tea Kyoto Dry Gin was created in collaboration with Hori-Shichimeien, an established tea company based in famous Uji region. Tencha and gyokuro teas from Uji have been specially selected to form the heart of this gin. Together with a secret botanical recipe that includes yuzu and hinoki, the gin has a natural sweetness that occurs in the distillation of the premium tea leaves.

Best enjoyed: On-the-rocks, Gin & Tonic, or Martini.

One that is native to Japan is the Sakura-infused gin, which is made with Japan’s national flower, cherry blossoms. Crafted in small batches using 100-years of distilling techniques, Sakurao Gin utilises a mix of nine native botanicals from Hiroshima and traditional botanicals to produce this uniquely Japanese gin with a citrus-like aroma.

Best enjoyed: Neat, Gin & Tonic, or Gimlet.

Squealing Pig’s Rosé Gin is made with 10 botanicals including citrus peels and lavender blossoms. It is then completed with a dash of their signature rosé wine that adds a hint of lifted strawberries on the finish. A twist to the regular London Dry, this refreshing gin reflects a bright citrus flavour with balanced spices and a subtle hint of sweetness.

Best enjoyed: Neat, or with soda water & a slice of pink grapefruit.