The top 5 most unusual gins we've tried
In honour of World Gin Day on 10 June, we're highlighting five of the most unusual gins we've tried, from apple crumble to seaweed flavours – which will you try?
It's World Gin Day on 10 June, and to celebrate, we've rounded up some of the most special and unusual bottles of flavoured gin we've tried.
At its heart, gin is vodka that has been infused with botanicals. This gives distillers and gin producers room to experiment with different ingredients to achieve complex flavours. Sometimes these have one standout flavour, while other times several ingredients create unique combinations. This is how varied ingredients, such as pineapple, grapes, capers and parmesan, find their way into craft gins, as you'll discover below.
Our experts are always testing new gin releases, and these are their top five picks of extra-special, unusual bottles to try, from an apple crumble gin that tastes just like the familiar dessert, to a salty seaweed gin that's perfect for martinis.
For more like this, head to our reviews section for over 400 tried-and-tested reviews, including plenty more gin reviews, such as the best rhubarb gin, best citrus gins and best gins to give as gifts.
The top 5 most unusual gins we've tried and recommend for 2023
Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz gin
- Available from Master of Malt (£41.75), Waitrose Cellar (£35), Amazon (£39.95)
Best red wine gin
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Trying to introduce a red wine fan to the world of spirits? From Australian brand Four Pillars comes this unique shiraz gin, which sees gin infused with whole shiraz grapes for eight weeks, imparting both their flavour and colour. Spritzes are a big drinks trend this year, so add a splash of this gin to a glass of prosecco for an alternative spritz.
Available from:
Master of Malt (£41.75)
Waitrose Cellar (£35)
Amazon (£39.95)
Three Wrens Apple Crumble Edition gin
- Available from Master of Malt (£37.50), Amazon (£39.95), John Lewis (£37.50)
Best award-winning gin
We're big fans of crumble here at BBC Good Food – it's the ultimate Sunday dessert comfort food. But, we never thought about it in drink form until we tried this extra-special gin. Three Wrens Apple Crumble Edition has won a plethora of awards, including a rare three-star Great Taste Award and gold medal in the World Gin Awards. The botanicals list includes toasted oats, cinnamon and demerara sugar for a finished spirit that truly does taste like a classic apple crumble. Use it in a simple G&T to let the nostalgic flavour shine.
Available from:
Master of Malt (£37.50)
Amazon (£39.95)
John Lewis (£37.50)
That Boutique-y Gin Company Spit-Roasted Pineapple gin
- Available from Master of Malt (£34.95), Ocado (£32)
Best pineapple gin
Pineapple gin actually has a history stretching back to the 1920s, but this version from That Boutique-y Gin Company is a modern take. Whole pineapples are roasted with demerara sugar until caramelised, then combined with gin for a juicy, sweet finish. Use this flavoured gin in our coconut & pineapple cooler recipe for maximum tropical vibes
Available from:
Master of Malt (£34.95)
Ocado (£32)
Dà Mhìle seaweed gin
- Available from Master of Malt (£37.94), Amazon (£37.04)
Best for a dirty martini
Stick with us on this one – it may sound unusual, but it really works. Gins produced on the coast often have saline notes and are sometimes infused with local coastal botanicals, but this takes that one step further. The small-batch gin is infused for three weeks with seaweed gathered along the Newquay coast, resulting in a fresh and salty edge, plus a very light green hue. It's designed to complement seafood, or our sister brand olive magazine suggests using in a dirty martini for a grown-up cocktail.
Available from:
Master of Malt (£37.94), Amazon (£37.04)
Audemus Spirits Umami oak-finished gin
- Available from The Whisky Exchange (£34.95), The Bottle Club (£34.99)
Best unusual savoury gin
Parmesan, in gin? You read that right. Proving that flavoured gins don't have to be sweet, this bottle – tested by our sister brand olive magazine – is appropriately named, with parmesan and capers being just two of the botanicals that provide its distinct savoury taste. One for those lacking a sweet tooth, olive's drinks expert Hannah Guinness recommends using it in a gibson martini with a pickled onion garnish.
Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£34.95)
The Bottle Club (£34.99)
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