15 Gin Brands, Ranked Worst To Best

The world of gin is vast and wondrous. From the spirit's early days as a Dutch medicinal beverage to its explosion in popularity in the U.K., and eventually the U.S. and the world, this juniper-infused distillate has been the tipple of choice of many drinkers for centuries. There are so many different gins on the market these days, and thanks to the modern craft cocktail movement, there doesn't seem to be any limit to new creative gin styles. Shopping for gin can therefore be an overwhelming experience, especially if you're just jumping into it.

Here to help you navigate this constellation of gin is this list of some of the best-known brands, ranked from least impressive to most exceptional. A lot of criteria were considered for these rankings -– the main thrusts were quality for the price, versatility alone and in cocktails, and whether the gin stands out from the crowd. Rankings aside, each gin mentioned here has its suitable uses and its fanbase, so be sure to give them all a sip if you have the opportunity. The only way to find your personal favorite is to try them all.

Tanqueray is so iconic, the brand is nearly synonymous with gin. The stout, green bottle is instantly recognizable and graces bars around the world. Classic Tanqueray is made in a traditional London dry style, boasting an intense juniper-forward character buoyed by some bright citrusy notes and a bit of spice in the background. Not a shy gin, Tanqueray London dry gin shows off its alcohol with muscular body and a hot finish, which makes it rather intimidating to sip on its own but gives it strength of character when diluted and mixed into cocktails.

The London dry iteration of Tanqueray is certainly enduring and well-loved by fans of the style, but it can strike the palate as blowsy and unbalanced. It makes a strong gin and tonic, as its burly juniper flavor stands shoulder-to-shoulder with bitter quinine, and even as the ice melts it maintains its intensity. It's not the best choice for delicate, intricate cocktails or for sipping on its own, but it's a solid contender for lovers of classic, simple gin drinks. Tanqueray No. 10 is a somewhat more elegant — and more expensive — version of this gin, with a stronger bright citrus component that balances out the juniper. 

If you order a well gin drink in a quality bar anywhere in the world, there's a decent chance that gin is going to be Fords. This spirit was specifically designed to be the ideal London dry gin for cocktailing, with each element carefully crafted for bartending ease, including an ergonomic bottle that's easy to grasp and won't slip out of your hands. It even has measuring lines along one side so you can precisely see how much you're pouring. There are nine botanicals used to flavor Fords, all classic gin ingredients, nothing gimmicky or out of left field — juniper and citrus, flowers, herbs, and roots are all present and well-balanced.

It may not blow your mind on its own, but Fords shines in a wide variety of cocktails, as designed. Its balanced botanical character stays strong when mixed with other ingredients, but doesn't overwhelm them. Try it in a Bee's Knees with lemon and honey, and you'll appreciate how it enhances the citrus and sweetness perfectly. Another bonus — it's a very affordable gin. This is the bottle to reach for when you're messing around with mixology experiments and don't want to break the bank. A true industry favorite.

Uncle Val's creates a family of gins, each with their own unique character. If you're lucky enough to have all four styles on hand, you can select a gin to suit your mood. Feeling energized? Pour some of Uncle Val's Zested Gin, which has a lively, sharp citrus flavor. Want to spice things up? Uncle Val's Peppered Gin brims with savory heat from bell pepper, black pepper, and pimento. There are also Botanical and Restorative gins, both of which feature the freshness of cucumber, as well as delightful floral perfumes.

There is a juniper component to all of Uncle Val's gins, but it serves as more of an accent than the main ingredient, which isn't uncommon in modern-style gins. All of Uncle Val's iterations are balanced and full of intriguing flavor combinations that make them stand out from the crowd. They're fun to drink and experiment with, although they're not super cheap, so you probably don't want to go too crazy. The Peppered gin is tailor-made for savory cocktails like a Spicy Bloody Mary.

From Caledonia Spirits in Vermont, Barr Hill Gin is in a category all its own. Created by a distiller and a beekeeper, it has some similarities to the Old Tom style of gin, which is rounder and sweeter than London dry. That's because Barr Hill adds raw honey to its juniper-forward gin, just enough to give the spirit a lusciously rich texture while maintaining its spirituous potency. The honey's complexity adds layers of botanical flavor and aroma on top of the juniper, lending the gin herbal and floral notes that shift throughout the seasons depending on what the bees are feeding on.

Hand-crafting spirits with local honey is an intricate and expensive process, and the price of Barr Hill Gin reflects that. It's such a unique product, though, that you shouldn't hesitate to treat yourself to this gin experience if you have the chance. It's a delightful gin to enjoy on the rocks or straight up on its own. When mixing into cocktails, it adds an opulent texture which is unmatched by any other gin. Its inherent sweetness may require some adjustments to other cocktail ingredients to keep things balanced. It makes a beautiful base for a sparkling, citrusy French 75.

Sipsmith makes its gin in such small batches that the business actually had to petition to change the law in order to get a commercial license to do it. This London-based distillery has grown since it started making gin in 2009 but still crafts its spirits with the same care, and it's evident in their balance and quality.

Sipsmith's London dry style is relatively light and boasts a classic citrus and juniper profile, with balance and elegance that give it a sleek, modern feel. Sipsmith also makes a powerful navy-strength gin called V.J.O.P. (Very Junipery Over Proof), which clocks in at almost 120 proof. Drink this gin on its own at your peril -– it's made to shine in cocktails and works particularly well in punches with lots of other flavors and dilution to help balance it out, like this Firework Party Punch. Sipsmith makes other styles, too, like summery Strawberry Smash Gin and bright, zesty Lemon Drizzle Gin. Sipsmith's bottles aren't on the cheap side, but their quality is enough to justify the cost.

Based in Australia, Four Pillars is an exciting, dynamic gin brand that's crafting some of the most intriguing and fun spirits you can find on the market right now. The brand's flagship bottle is the Rare Dry gin, an impeccably balanced and flavor-packed gin that's more citrus-driven than a traditional London dry. Whole oranges are included in the distillation process, which contribute a fresh, juicy flavor that's truly unique. There's plenty of spice in the mix, too, which gives the Rare Dry a warmness that counterbalances the zesty fruit notes. Juniper is a background player here but still adds enough to give it that signature gin feel.

Four Pillars' Navy Strength gin is one of the best around in that category, bottled at an aggressive 117 proof that somehow doesn't seem out of balance. Boldly spiced with ingredients like fresh ginger and turmeric, it has a culinary feel to it, and blends well with sweet, citrusy, and savory flavors. Both the Rare Dry and the Navy Strength are well worth seeking out, even though they can range into the pricier end of the spectrum. Four Pillars makes other unique styles to keep an eye out for, like Olive Leaf, a gin crafted with olive oil and dried olive leaves, which makes a spectacularly savory martini.

A tale of two countries, Martin Miller's gin is unusual in a few ways. First, in England, the botanical ingredients are separated into two groups and distilled individually, one batch with citrus and the other with juniper and other intense roots and spices. This keeps the flavors pure while allowing the distiller better control over each ingredient. Once the batches are blended, the gin is sent to Iceland, where it's diluted to bottling strength using fresh water that is supposedly purified on its journey through ancient volcanic rock.

Whether you believe that story or not, there's no denying that both Martin Miller's regular-strength and Westbourne-strength gins have a distinctive clean, crisp character. There's an invigorating and refreshing quality that's hard to pinpoint — maybe it's the magic Icelandic water along with the bright, zesty citrus along with the familiar punch of juniper. Whatever the combination, Martin Miller's gins are at the top when it comes to value, quality, and individuality.