Best premium gin

We asked a panel of independent gin experts to blind-taste a selection of premium gins.

We focused on products that were a step up price-wise from entry-level options, but still largely available in supermarkets. We wanted to see which ones were worth spending a little more on if you're looking to branch out or buy something special.

Brands tested include Hendrick's and Sipsmith, as well as The Botanist, No.3 and own-brand premium gins from M&S and Waitrose. 

We found it's a bit of a mixed bag at this price point. Some gins impressed with classy and complex flavours, while others were too sweet, poorly balanced or disappointingly bland. 

One gin stood head and shoulders above the others with a near 10-percentage-point lead and should definitely be on your wishlist.

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Best premium gin

Only logged-in Which? members can view our top premium gin picks, full test results and tasting notes below. 

If you're not yet a member, you'll see an alphabetically ordered list of the premium gin on test. To get instant access, join Which? today.

Botanist Islay Dry Gin

£29 for 70cl (£4.14/100ml), 47% ABV

Made at a distillery on the island of Islay, is this premium gin full of flavour?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this gin ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

Hendrick’s Gin

£28 for 70cl (£4/100ml), 41.4% ABV

Hendrick's describes its Scottish gin as 'unusual', and it has flavour notes of cucumber and rose. Is it unusually delicious compared to rivals?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this gin ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda, Co-op, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

Isle of Wight Distillery Mermaid Gin

£38 for 70cl (£5.43/100ml), 42% ABV

From the Isle of Wight Distillery, this gin claims to have 'hints of sea air'. Did the striking-looking Mermaid gin make a splash with our experts?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this gin ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Morrisons, Ocado and Tesco.

M&S Collection Warner’s Old Tom Gin

£30 for 70cl (£4.29/100ml), 42% ABV

M&S says this 'small-batch artisan gin' from Northamptonshire is bold, smooth and zesty. But did it stand up to big brand rivals in a blind-taste test?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this gin ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Ocado.

Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin

£49 for 50cl (£9.80/100ml), 47% ABV

This pint-sized yet pricey bottle looks like an intriguing old apothecary find. It's described as a German gin from the Black Forest, with 47 botanicals packed in (and picked by hand). Is it worth the premium price?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this gin ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Amazon and Waitrose.

No.3 London Dry Gin

£39 for 70cl (£5.57/100ml), 46% ABV

The brand describes its No. 3 gin as 'perfection'. It’s a multi-award winner, but did it win out in our blind-taste test?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this gin ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Ocado and Waitrose.

Salcombe Gin Start Point

 £46 for 70cl (£6.57/100ml), 44% ABV

Steeped in maritime history, and from a distillery based in Salcombe, Devon, how did this West Country gin fare against global rivals?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this gin ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Waitrose.

Silent Pool Gin

£43 for 70cl (£6.14/100ml), 43% ABV

Produced in the Surrey Hills, did this premium gin impress our panel?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this gin ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Waitrose.

Sipsmith London Dry Gin

£23 for 70cl (£3.28/100ml), 41.6% ABV

It's a familiar and striking face on the gin scene, but did this premium gin make a premium G&T?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this gin ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

Waitrose No. 1 Gin

£30 for 70cl (£4.29/100ml), 47% ABV

This own-brand premium gin has notes of blood orange and pomelo. Is it a citrussy delight or one to leave on the shelf? 

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this gin ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Waitrose.

All prices are correct as of 7 June 2024.

What's the typical ABV of gin?

Most entry-level London dry gins have an ABV of 37.5-40%, and indeed they must be at least 37.5% to be classed as a gin.

However, we found premium gins typically have a higher alcohol level of 40% ABV or more – in some cases as much as 47%. 

This isn't to get you sloshed though. We asked our experts and they explained that the alcohol plays an important role in carrying the flavours.

Still, it's worth bearing in mind if you're switching from a lower-alcohol option that some are a fair bit stronger.

How to make the best gin and tonic

Our panel of experts shared three top tips for making the perfect G&T:

1. Use the right glass

Use a simple highball glass or a long, straight-sided tumbler, and fill it with ice. Big bowl-style Copa glasses are popular nowadays, as they look more spectacular, but they can be cumbersome to drink from and heavy to hold.

2. Don’t forget a good garnish

Fresh citrus slices or yuzu peel can lift a G&T. Rosemary works wonders too, and you can always experiment with other garden herbs – the fresher the better. Avoid peppercorns and other bitty additions such as dried rose petals though (they may look trendy but they don't add much and make drinking hard work). Cucumber or orange can mask a gin’s flavour.

3. Switch to soda

Many people think they don’t like gin, when actually they don’t like tonic water, which can be a bit too sweet. Swap it for soda water instead – or go half and half – and you’ll be able to better appreciate the real taste of gin. Or try it neat or just with ice.

How to make a gin martini

A classic gin martini is a stiff cocktail drink made with London dry gin, dry vermouth and a garnish, usually an olive or lemon peel.

Proportions vary according to taste, but generally speaking you're looking at double the amount of gin to vermouth.

A dry martini contains less vermouth, while a dirty martini contains a little olive juice or brine (salty water) for a more savoury edge.

Alternative versions swap the gin for vodka.

Whatever variation you opt for, ice-cold ingredients are the key.

Looking for some more adventurous gins to try? See our pick of the best Asian gins and best pink gins

What is craft gin?

While shopping for premium gin, you may see the words ‘craft gin’ embossed on bottle labels. This sort of wording can draw us in, but our experts warned you shouldn't assume you’re getting a superior product. Along with ‘bespoke’ and ‘small batch’, these marketing terms are unregulated so are essentially meaningless.

If you're about to splash out on a big bottle, it's probably wise to try before you buy (if you can) – or opt for a mini bottle to test the waters.

Is alcohol-free ‘gin’ any good?

When we previously tested gin in 2022, we tested a selection (mixed up as a mock G&T) of low and no-alcohol botanical 'spirits', and found that you’re safest sticking to heritage brands if you want something close to the real deal.  

Gordon’s and Tanqueray 0% spirit drinks (they can't legally be called gin without an ABV of 37.5% minimum) impressed our experts at the time, who felt they had at least some suggestion of a gin flavour. 

Both bottles look almost exactly like normal gin bottles, too, so the sensory experience is similar. It's also handy if you want an inclusive non-alcohol option at a party, without making it stand out.

Gordons Alcohol Free 0.0 (£15 for 70cl) is available from Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

Tanqueray Alcohol Free 0.0 (£17.50 for 70cl) is available from Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

You'll find alcohol-free versions aren't significantly cheaper than the real thing. This can feel like a bit of a swizz, but it's down to the cost of product development. Our experts explained that as alcohol does quite a lot of the heavy lifting in carrying and preserving flavour, it's not that easy to recreate in a low-alcohol version.

Alternatively, opt for a fancy tonic water with ice and a garnish, and you won't feel too far off the real thing.

How we tested gin

In May 2024, we asked a panel of independent gin experts to rate 10 premium gins. 

The taste test was blind, so they didn't know which gin they were trying, and each expert tried the gins in a different order to avoid any bias. After all the samples had been tasted and rated, the panel discussed any discrepancies in score and agreed which bottles deserved to be Best Buys. Only then did we reveal what the products were.

Our expert panel included:

• Joel Harrison: Award-winning drinks writer and author of The World Atlas of Gin
• Sandrae Lawrence: Co-founder and editor of The Cocktail Lovers magazine and podcast
• William Lowe MW: Master Distiller and Co-founder of Cambridge Distillery
• Barry McCaughley: Wine and spirits judge and Co-founder of Japanese spirits company Kaiju Drinks

For more drinks recommendations, see our guides to the best champagnes, best sparkling wines and best red wines

See DrinkAware for advice on drinking responsibly.