Best Gin Brands of 2024 - Men's Journal

Gin isn't just for mixed drinks anymore. Sure, we love our well-composed gin cocktails like gin-and-tonics, negronis, and martinis. But the concept of sipping gin is no longer taboo. It's as accepted as drinking whiskey neat.

Therefore, finding the best brands of gin on liquor shelves today ought to be an easy task. The only challenge is dialing in your exact preferences in order to avoid being overwhelmed by the breadth.

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We’re here to assist in that process with the help of expert insight. Do you want a strong gin? Do you want a smooth gin? Do you want a reasonably priced expression? Or perhaps you desire something “new world,” with next to no juniper in its profile.

There’s something for everyone here, hailing from just about everywhere. The only through line is exceptionality. So, without further ado, behold the best gin brands in the world, broken down by what exactly you’re looking to savor and accomplish with any bottle. The best all-purpose gin on this list, Monkey 47, is unique and delicious.

And, if you're interested in other great spirits, check out our lists of the best whiskey, best dark rum, and best tequila.

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Monkey 47 uses a special list of almost four dozen botanicals to form a wholly unique gin.

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Handcrafted deep in the Black Forest of Germany, Monkey 47 uses an eclectic laundry list of botanicals to achieve a feat of deliciousness. The brand uses everything from lingonberries and lime to acacia and almonds—47 botanicals in total. There is nothing this liquid can’t do. It works equally as well in an elaborate cocktail as it does neat in a snifter.

Bombay Dry Gin is a classic gin that's great for martinis.

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Adam Gertsen, owner of the iconic Gramps bar in Miami, says Bombay Dry Gin is the best choice for martinis. “There’s an old time feel to the bottle, an old timey taste. Even the name is somehow nostalgic," he says. "And it's always easy to call for at just about any self-respecting watering hole.”

Procera Green Dot, our favorite juniper-forward gin, comes from Kenya.

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Procera Green Dot, a singularly exceptional offering from Kenya, relies entirely on Kenyan juniper to fix all of its flavor. Although, by definition, all gins must contain varying degrees of juniper, this is one of the only bottles on the market to use nothing else: berries from the shrub, foliage from its leaves, and toasted wood from its tendrils.

It offers delicate whispers of campfire in the nose, while the palate is deeply piney, with resinous threads of spruce riding a velvety texture. A juniper bomb if ever there was one.

Glendalough Rose Gin plays well with tonic.

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Bradley Thomas Stephens, vice president of the United States Bartenders’ Guild and owner of Cereus PDX in Portland, OR, has been mixing Glendalough Rose Gin with Fever Tree Citrus Tonic for the ultimate gin and tonic.

“The bright flavors and bold botanicals of the gin stand up nicely to almost any tonic, and because this gin has flavor with legs, it can linger on your pallet for several moments after you set your glass down,” he says.

Reach for Roku Gin when making your next negroni.

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Roku Gin is a rich and floral Japanese spirit from the House of Suntory, the same artisans responsible for some of the most highly sought after single malts on Earth. Tea-like tones of bergamot and orange peel mark it as a natural complement to the bittersweet elements of Campari and vermouth in a traditional Negroni preparation. While they meld effortlessly into a cohesive whole, the floral base spirit still shines bright through the finish.

Sipsmith V.J.O.P. is a high-proof gin that's piney and juniper-forward.

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“Navy strength” is a term used to denote a gin is of high proof. Traditionally, anything wearing the label is bottled at 57.1 percent ABV or higher. Sipsmith V.J.O.P. stands for "very juniper-y over proof" and hits the glass at an exacting 57.7 percent ABV.

“It’s such a fun bottle,” says Stephens. “Pull the cap off and you’ll get hit with so much pine tree aroma you’d swear you were transported to Endor [of Star Wars fame].”

Harmony Gin is infused with sweeter floral ingredients than typically found in gin.

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Harmony Gin, a honey-hued, 90-proof expression, comes courtesy of the Holistic Spirits Company, a brand co-owned by venerated vegan and Emmy-award winning actor Woody Harrelson.

Infused with a bevy of non-traditional gin flavorings, including grapes, green tea, elderberry, and artichokes, it promises a uniquely floral nose and palate. No artificial additives or GMOs were used in its creation, and organic ingredients were used wherever possible.

Fords Gin is a reliable gin for every home bar.

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Stephens calls Fords Gin the best bang-for-your-buck gin on the market. “Noticeably crisp flavor, plenty of juniper and citrus, and even sippable for those like me who like to taste spirits unmixed," he says. "Yet it works with 90 percent of the classic gin cocktails. It's just as good as most offerings that are twice its price.”

Barr Hill Gin is worth sipping neat, as it's incredibly smooth.

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If someone claims they don't like gin, pour them a glass of Barr Hill Gin, says Gertsen. “It’s very simple, rich in texture, and crafted by Vermont beekeepers using raw honey," he says. "Spectacularly smooth.”

Three Cuts Gin Distiller’s Release is a great choice from the unofficial category of contemporary gin.

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Although not an officially recognized subcategory, “contemporary gin” is a term that’s loosely used to define newer expressions in which juniper assumes a back seat to other botanicals. Consider Three Cuts Gin Distiller’s Release, which just arrived on American shores by way of Tasmania.

The 84-proof liquid layers a dozen fresh fruits, flowers, and herbs atop a grape base spirit to come away with something that mingles savory spice with slate and fresh-cut rose. Cardamom and clove linger in the finish. Enhance it all in the presence of tonic, if you desire. But also bear in mind that it’s an absolute stunner when mixed with vermouth in a Gibson.

Citadelle Reserve is barrel aged, which adds more complexity to the spirit.

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Gertsen finds that French gins tend to have deeper complexity, and particularly recommends Citadelle Reserve. Thanks to its time spent aging in barrels, the gin also has notes of wood and vanilla.

“The French are very good with cheesemaking, as well, so it’s no surprise that this stuff pairs mighty well with a quality camembert [cheese]," Gertsen says. "It also works great in a negroni, which kind of leans toward the tones of a boulevardier."

Cotswolds Old Tom Gin brings history and modernity together in one tasty bottle.

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Old Tom is a style of gin once popular in 18th century London. It's currently enjoying a revival in the modern craft boom. Combining the sugary, sometimes fruity notes of a cordial with the herbal bombast of a gin, it often splits the difference between the two styles.

Cotswolds Old Tom Gin is an award-winning example out of the English countryside that exists as a polished point of entry. It’s an 84-proof sipper, tasting of ginger spice, cardamom, and candied orange peel—never overly sweet, rather entirely approachable and herbaceous. Enjoy it over ice with a splash of soda and a grapefruit peel for a complex cocktail in an instant.

London dry gin is the most traditional and widely produced style of gin on the planet. Just don’t be fooled by the name: London dry gin doesn’t have to hail from the British capital.

It can, in fact, be crafted anywhere—so long as it carries primary aromas of juniper and is built atop a neutral grain spirit that was distilled to a minimum of 96 percent ABV. Other elements such as pine, coriander, citrus peel, and Angelica root are often present, lending the liquid its namesake dryness. But it must never contain any flavors or ingredients added after distillation.

Choosing the best gin brands in the world was no easy task. There are so many types of gin on shelves today to choose from. And as we said previously, there’s never been a better time for great gin, period.

To overcome that challenge, we relied on our expert palates, tirelessly and patiently whittling down the standouts. Above all else, we wanted to ensure that every exemplar was a quintessential representation of the specific subcategory amongst which it triumphed.

We also interviewed experts from the spirits industry about their favorite gins, including Bradley Thomas Stephens, vice president of the United States Bartenders’ Guild and owner of Cereus PDX in Portland, OR, and Adam Gertsen, owner of the iconic Gramps bar in Miami.

To test the gins, we drank them the old fashioned way. Neat. Sip, savor and repeat, from hundreds of selections of gin brands currently available on the shelves of your local liquor store.

I’ve been a spirits writer for over a decade, penning columns for magazines, websites, and newspapers across the globe. I’m also a judge for some of the most prominent spirits competitions on the planet.

In any given year, I’ll sample upwards of 1,000 expressions of spirits. I’ve spent plenty of personal time with each and every one of the liquids featured on this list. I was joined in this pursuit by two top-tier tastemakers—a bartender and industry vet who are widely-revered in the their chosen trades.

Brad Japhe is a freelance journalist specializing in craft mixology and gastronomy. He serves as a beverage consultant for notable restaurants and bars in the U.S. and UK, and is the co-host of "Sipping Point," a video series on the Spirits Network.