WORLD GINS TO TRY

AFRICA Inverroche Classic Gin, South Africa

£35.99-£39.95/70cl Amazon UK, bbb drinks, Master of Malt, Spirits Kiosk, The Bottle Club,

The Whisky Exchange, Virgin Wines

Lorna and Rohan Scott’s gins are made using sustainable and seasonal fynbos plants; the mother and son work with botanists to promote conservation of the Cape Floral Kingdom. Fresh and fragrant, with soft juniper character, plus distinctive floral and grassy botanical notes. Alcohol 43%

Procera Blue Dot Gin, Kenya

£67.50-£83.95/50cl Harvey Nichols, Hedonism, Master of Malt, House of Malt, The Juniper Club Made with African juniper and botanicals – including Madagascan pink pepper – Procera became my favourite gin for a Martini as soon as I tasted it. Using fresh juniper adds a distinctive brightness to the taste and aromas, layered with citrus, spices and an earthy, nutty base note. Elegant, silky and harmonious. Like no other gin you’ve tasted. Alc 44%

AUSTRALIA Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin, Yarra Valley

£35-£37.87/70cl Amazon UK, Master of Malt, Spirits Kiosk, Waitrose

Based on Four Pillars’ classic Rare Dry Gin – which includes Australian lemon myrtle in its botanical mix – steeped in local Shiraz grapes for eight weeks. With sweet red fruit notes, it’s one for fans of sloe gin (and red wine). Enjoy it with bitter lemon or neat over ice with an orange slice. Alc 37.8%

Manly Spirits Australian Dry Gin, Sydney

£38.39-£41/70cl 31Dover, Australian Wines Online, bbb drinks, Master of Malt, Spirits Kiosk, The Bottle Club, The Whisky Exchange

Based in Sydney’s Manly Beach, distiller David Whittaker uses sustainably foraged local botanicals including sea lettuce, beach kelp and finger lime to create this well-balanced gin, which makes a really fresh, breezy G&T with lifted citrus notes. Fans of pink gins should also try his Lilly Pilly Pink Gin, made with lilly pilly berries. Alc 43% ▶

INDIA Stranger & Sons Gin, Goa

£34.64-£39.64/70cl Amazon UK, Eynsham Cellars, Master of Malt, The Drink Shop, The Whisky Exchange

Produced by Third Eye Distillery, Stranger & Sons’ botanicals include herbs grown at the distillery and Indian citrus peels, notably Gondhoraj limes from Calcutta, which taste like a cross between lime and mandarin. Imported juniper and angelica give a classic London Dry tang, but with a distinctive Indian character; a lovely lime pickle note in particular. Try it in a Gin Gimlet. Alc 42.8%

JAPAN Etsu Gin, Hokkaido

£44.05-£47.99/70cl Amathus Drinks, Amazon UK, Master of Malt, Regal Whisky, Selfridges, The Drink Shop

Distilled on the island of Hokkaido, etsu means ‘pleasure’ in Japanese. It has attractive perfumed aromas; in contrast the palate is fresh, herbal and spicy, with notes of shishito and sansho pepper – almost gastronomic with a touch of salinity. Very lifted, with yuzu citrus, it finishes fresh and spicy – and makes a memorable G&T. Alc 43%

Komasa Gin, Kagoshima

£27.50/70cl Master of Malt

The signature botanical at Komasa Jyozo Distillery is Sakurajima komikan, the world’s smallest satsuma variety – about 4cm wide – grown on the slopes of Sakurajima volcano. A citrus gin with pretty mandarin and orange blossom notes, plus florality that will be familiar to sake drinkers. Distinct satsuma on the palate: try it in an Asian-inspired Breakfast Martini. Alc 40%

SOUTH AMERICA

Canaïma Gin, Venezuela

£33.95-£44.99/70cl Amazon UK, Master of Malt, Royal Mile Whiskies, Selfridges, Spirits Kiosk, The Good Spirits Co, The Whisky Exchange

Canaïma blends traditional botanicals with rare botanicals picked by native tribes in the Amazon rainforest, including açaí berries, copoazu and merey fruit. A percentage of profits goes to social and environmental projects in the Amazon. Tropical, floral, grassy and leafy tones dance over a baseline of juniper for a strikingly original G&T. Alc 47%

Katún Gin, Mexico

£34.95-£42/70cl Indie Brands, Master of Malt, MexGrocer, Ministry of Drinks, Select Drams Apart from juniper, the 17 botanicals in Katún, including four different varieties of chilli pepper, are found mostly in the Yucatán Peninsula. Evocative aromas of a Mexican market: red chilli spice, green peppers, cardamom and lime. Paired with Fentimans Premium Indian Tonic Water, it makes a fresh, spicy G&T with a distinctive bitter green chilli finish. Alc 42%

Principe de Los Apostoles Mate Gin, Argentina

£31.90-£36.99/70cl Indie Brands, Master of Malt, Ministry of Drinks, The Whisky Exchange Yerba mate – a bitter, vegetal caffeinated herbal drink – is the national beverage of

Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, and the key botanical in this herbaceous gin, along with peppermint, eucalyptus and pink grapefruit. Distinctive mate notes – plus earthy spices, creamy spearmint, ginger, cinnamon and chocolate – shine out in an unusual G&T. Alc 40.5%

US Dorothy Parker American Gin, New York

£33.50-£37/70cl Distillers Direct, Master of Malt, Royal Mile Whiskies, The Good Spirits Co, The Spirits Embassy, The Whisky Exchange Made by Brooklyn’s New York Distilling Co and named after satirist Dorothy Parker, known for her cocktail quip: ‘I like to have a Martini, two at the very most, three I’m under the table, four I’m under my host.’ Hibiscus petal and elderberry botanicals give distinctive aromas framed by dried flowers and camomile tea. Equally at home in a Martini or a light, elegant G&T. Alc 44%

Junipero Gin, San Francisco

£37.44-£45.95/70cl Amazon UK, Berry Bros & Rudd, Master of Malt, Royal Mile Whiskies, Spirits Kiosk, The Drink Shop, The Whisky Exchange Created by San Francisco’s celebrated Anchor Brewing Co in 1998, Junipero was one of the first brands that kick-started the US craft gin scene. As you’d expect, there’s lots of juniper on the nose and palate. Beautifully balanced, its creamy character is underlined by rounded spice and fresh citrus. Makes a glorious G&T to delight juniper purists. Alc 49.3% D