The best gins you can buy (and still have change from £40)
Words: Hamish Roy
In the bleak midwinter, we steel ourselves against the cold and the dark with the promise of something better. Summer is coming, we say, envisioning ourselves capering over the city’s rooftops and lounging on its sun-bathed terraces. But for many, there is another component to this rose-tinted vision: an accompanying gin and tonic. In spite of its year-round appeal, the G&T is never better than in summer, having long since earned its place in the refreshment hall of fame. And because we are currently in the midst of a gin renaissance, there’s arguably never been a better time to enjoy one. Once ubiquitous, gin’s popularity fell off heavily in the 1970s and 80s, when vodka-based drinks were in vogue. Now the pendulum is swinging back; more gins have come to market in the last 10 years than in the previous 100, and with multiple small-batch distilleries opening every year, the pickings are rich and varied.
Here are 10 of the very best, all of them under £40.
Bombay Sapphire Star of Bombay, 47.5% ABV – £35
The newest offering from the eminent blue-bottled brand, Star of Bombay is Bombay Sapphire’s slowly distilled, carefully crafted super-premium gin. At 47.5% ABV, the strength is slightly higher than their regular offering, helping to intensify the juniper, coriander and angelica notes. Two new botanicals have also been added to the mix: a rich citrus boost in the form of bergamot orange peel, and Ecuadorian Ambrette seeds, which are produced by the yellow hibiscus flower. Potent and heady, this is a refined and elegant gin.
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