The Ultimate Gin Guide

Gin Guide

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It’s crisp. It’s aromatic. It makes the best martinis and some of the most refreshing cocktails around. And yet… gin can feel so confusing and intimidating.

London Dry? Old Tom? New Western? Why does one taste like a Christmas tree while another tastes like citrus and flowers? This guide is here for you to break it all down.

If you’re thinking, wait… shouldn’t I be sipping a gin cocktail while reading this? I couldn’t agree more. Mix up one of my two favorite gin recipes and get scrolling: a Smoked Rosemary Negroni Sour and a Lucky Hugo Tonic. Both are perfect for sipping while you learn a little more about gin. Now, let the fun be-gin.

"the ultimate gin guide" with a fizzy gin cocktail

My Favorite Gins to Buy

As always, let’s start with the part some of you came for: what to actually buy. These are the bottles I’d recommend and what I’d recommend them for! You’re welcome.

Hendrick’s Gin: I LERV this one. It’s super approachable, slightly floral with that signature cucumber flavor, and you can find it basically anywhere. A perfect crowd-pleaser!
Glendalough Irish Gin: I’m biased because I visited their distillery, but truly… I fell in love with both the liquid and the people behind the brand. It’s fresh, botanical, and just feels like spring in a bottle.
Four Pillars Gin: Bright, citrus-forward, and a little more modern. This one really amplifies citrus-style drinks! Psst… their olive gin is CHEFS KISS in a martini.
Barr Hill Gin: Made with honey, so it has this soft, round sweetness that works beautifully in cocktails… a Bee’s Knee’s? the perfect gin for it!
Citadelle Gin: A classic French gin (obvi had to throw some french love in here) that’s clean, elegant, and super balanced. If you want something that leans a little more traditional, this is it.
Fords Gin (London Dry): If you want something super classic and bartender-approved, this is it. Clean, crisp, and built specifically for cocktails, so it plays really nicely here.
Hayman’s Old Tom Gin: If you’re feeling a little extra, this bottle is slightly softer and a touch sweeter than London Dry, which works beautifully with the citrus and cream.

Now that you’ve locked in what you’re drinking, let’s talk about what’s actually inside.

What is Gin?

At its core, gin is a neutral spirit. To make it, you start with a grain base, typically wheat or barley. Then, it’s flavored with botanicals, with juniper berries as the dominant flavor. That’s the key rule. If juniper isn’t the star, legally it can’t be called gin.

If your spice cabinet turned into a spirit, it would be gin. Distillers can add ingredients like citrus peels, coriander, angelica root (a musky, almost star anise-like flavor), orris root (similar to licorice), cardamom, lavender, peppercorn, almond, or pretty much any other herb or spice you can think of. You might hear the phrase “botanical bill” used when talking about gin – it’s basically a fancy way of saying “recipe.”

How is Gin Made?

The process of making gin is fairly similar to others you know well. It all starts with a neutral base.

Step 1

Gin begins with a neutral spirit, usually wheat, corn, or barley. The goal here is to create a clean canvas that allows the botanicals to shine.

Step 2

This is where distillers get creative. It’s time to add botanicals (the items in your spice cabinet). Botanicals can be added in a few ways:

Blending – individual botanical distillates are combined afterward
Maceration – botanicals soak directly in the spirit before distillation
Vapor infusion – alcohol vapors pass through a basket of botanicals

Step 3

The spirit is distilled again with the botanicals, allowing a beautiful union of flavors. This step is what transforms a neutral spirit into gin.

Step 4

After distillation, water is added to bring the spirit to its final alcohol level (usually somewhere around 40 to 47% ABV). Unlike whiskey or tequila, gin is almost never aged in barrels, which is why it’s a clear and bright liquid.

Why Do Different Gins Taste so Different?

Gin tasting at Glendalough Irish Distillery — A gin tasting I did at Glendalough Distillery in Ireland

Unlike tequila (one plant) or whiskey (grain-driven… whiskey guide incoming), gin’s flavor is entirely defined by the botanicals. I have never used the word botanical so many times in one day, wow. Here are some examples of botanicals (again) and the flavors they bring forth in gin:

Juniper naturally has a flavor similar to pine and resin, so if you don’t add additional additives to your gin, this is what you’ll find.
Citrus peel adds a familiar brightness
Coriander adds a lemony spice.
Angelica root or cardamom can add a more earthy or warm spice flavor.
Orris root will create a floral aroma.

Honestly, it’s pretty similar to cooking. If two chefs start with the same ingredients, they might end up with entirely different dishes. Gin works that way, too. Did you know there are different styles of gin, too?

Types of Gin

Here are the styles of gin you’ll see most often:

London Dry Gin

Despite the name, it doesn’t have to be made in London. This is the classic gin style. It cannot have added sweeteners or artificial flavors added after distillation. With that said, it is very juniper-forward and crisp. This one is best for your martinis or negronis.

Plymouth Gin

This style comes specifically from the city of Plymouth, England. It’s slightly softer and more rounded than London Dry, with a little less aggressive juniper and more earthy, citrusy notes. Use this for martinis or classic cocktails when you want something a little more mellow.

Old Tom Gin

Think of this as a softer, slightly sweeter style of gin. It sits somewhere between London Dry and the older Dutch style of gin, and was most popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. We still use it though! This one is great for classic cocktails like a Tom Collins or a Martinez. Let’s make a Tom Collins real quick…

@join_jules
Just the Basics with Jules, episode five the Tom Collins It’s literally a fancy title for a boozy lemonade, let’s be real. It’s FOUR ingredients: Gin, Lemon, Syrup, & Sparkling water. What I love most, you can switch out the gins, switch out the syrup flavors and even use a fun flavored sparkling water if ya want! But trust, this is the easiest go to for summer! Here’s how to make it at home: 2 oz Gin, you can use Empress for that pretty color 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice 1/2 oz simple syrup Add to a cocktail shaker and shake! Double strain into a collins glass over ice and top with 2-3 oz club soda! Xoxo, cheers! #tomcollins #lemonade #summerdrinks #easydrinks
♬ original sound – join_jules

New Western (or Contemporary) Gin

Juniper is still present, but it isn’t always the dominant flavor. Instead, other botanicals like citrus, herbs, florals, or spices take center stage. These gins tend to feel more aromatic. Great for gin and tonics!

Navy Strength Gin

This style is all about strength. Navy strength gin is bottled at a higher alcohol content (usually around 57% ABV), which intensifies both the flavor and the aroma of the botanicals. It holds up really well in cocktails because it is so bold. This one is great when you want a gin that won’t get lost in the mix.

Dutch Gin (Genever)

This is actually the original style of gin from the Netherlands and Belgium. Genever is made with a malt-based spirit, which gives it a richer, almost whiskey-like character with softer juniper and malty, grain-forward notes. You could just straight sip on a Dutch gin if you’d like!

How to Shop for Gin

The alcohol aisle can always feel a little chaotic. There are dozens of bottles, all with different beautiful labels competing for your attention. Don’t panic, though! Choosing a good gin is much easier than it looks.

A great place to start is with the style. Think of the types of cocktails you want to make with it and refer to the Types section above to choose the right style.

Next, take a look at the botanicals listed on the bottle. Most distillers proudly share them (as they should!), and they can tell you a lot about what the gin will taste like. If you gravitate toward bright, fresh flavors, look for citrus. If you enjoy herbal profiles, look for herbs like rosemary, thyme, or sage. And if floral cocktails are more your thing, ingredients like rose, lavender, or chamomile will likely be right up your alley.

And remember… price isn’t everything when it comes to gin! Gin doesn’t rely on years of barrel aging like whiskey or tequila, so incredible bottles can still be very affordable. Many of the best cocktail gins live comfortably in the $25 to $35 range. Trust your instincts, know what you’re trying to make, and you’ll be just fine.

Best Gin Cocktail Recipes

Some of the most popular classic cocktails made with gin are a Gin Martini, White Linen, French Blonde, Negroni, French 75, and a Last Word. But you can definitely get more creative, too! Here are six of my favorite unique gin cocktails to try.