The 10 Best Gin-Based Liqueurs Money Can Buy
If you haven’t got a liquor or two lurking in your drink’s cabinet, you’re missing out. Perfect for jazzing up a glass of fizz, lovely in a cocktail, and delicious enjoyed neat over ice, liquors are an easy, sure-fire way to upgrade your drinking experience. And there’s certainly a lot to choose from – from rum-based to tequila, strawberry-flavored to juniper, the market is teeming with options to try. Gin liquors haven’t always been as prominent as other varieties, but the last few years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of options available. Here, we take a look at ten of the best gin-based liquors money can buy.
10. Wilkin & Sons English Strawberry Gin Liqueur
Named as one of the best gin liqueurs on the market by goodhousekeeping.com, Wilkin & Sons English Strawberry Gin Liqueur combines handpicked, perfectly ripe fresh strawberries with gin to create a bright, lively liquor with front notes of strawberry and caramel and a crisp background of juniper and peppery rocket. Mix it with sparkling wine for a Strawberry Royale, sip it straight over ice, or add to lemonade for a summery gin spritzer.
9. Tiptree English Raspberry Gin Liqueur
Made from Hayman’s gin and fruit grown at the Wilkin Estates at Tiptree, Essex, Tiptree English Raspberry Gin Liqueur is a jammy, fruity delight. Its juicy, fruity notes are perfectly balanced by the earthy, botanical notes of the gin. Whereas some fruit-based liquors can taste unpleasantly synthetic, here, the use of real fruit keeps things natural. Sweet, but with a touch of fiery heat from the booze, it’s lovely enjoyed straight over ice, added to your favorite mixer for a lively Gin Fizz, or combined with a dash of Prosecco.
8. Edinburgh Gin Plum & Vanilla Liqueur
As The Independent says, there’s more than a whiff of cough syrup about Edinburgh Gin Plum & Vanilla Liqueur, but that’s no bad thing at all. Rich in dark fruit notes and with just a little kick of spice, there’s a menthol-like undertone to the liquor that’s not at all unpleasant on the palate. Made by macerating perfectly ripe plums with Madagascan vanilla, it’s a luscious, velvety smooth tipple with a thick, syrupy consistency that’s perfect for long, cold evenings. Try served over ice or mixed with soda. If you want to make the most of its long, dry finish, add a few drops to a glass of sparkling wine.
7. Sipsmith The Original London Cup
Sipsmith has used the punches and cups found in 1800s London as the inspiration for its refreshing, aromatic gin-based cup. Crafted with a blend of the brand’s award-winning London Dry Gin, Earl Grey tea, lemon verbena, and borage, it’s a well-balanced, supremely morish liquor with a delectable flavor profile of juniper, red berries, almond, and bitter herbs. While some gin liquors can be cloying, this is anything but, with a lively menthol freshness that tastes divine combined with a splash of sparkling dry wine.
6. Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale Gin
Tanqueray has a long and glorious history. First distilled in London almost 200 years ago by Charles Tanqueray, it’s since become one of the biggest drink brands in the world, particularly in the US, where it’s the highest-selling gin import. For something a little different from the usual, try the Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale Gin. Inspired by Charles Tanqueray’s heritage and travels, this elegant offering has been described by Tanqueray as a “gin like no other.” As ginandtonicly.com says, the blend of Tanqueray London Dry Gin, blackcurrants, vanilla and exotic floral notes of black orchid creates a rich, fruity flavor profile, with subtle notes of sweetness from the vanilla and floral tones on the finish. The botanical notes of the Lonon Dry add a deeply satisfying earthy quality that’s delightful in champagne cocktails.
5. Colonsay Gin Bramble Liqueur
Made by husband and wife team Finlay and Eileen Geekie on their small distillery based on the Isle of Colonsay off the west coast of Scotland, Colonsay Gin Bramble Liqueur is a vibrant, warming berry-based liquor with a sweet, rich blackberry aroma, autumnal flavors, crisp notes of juniper, and a backdrop of thyme and coriander. Enjoy with a glass of something bubbly or use it to perk up a mulled wine.
4. Jeeves Parma Violet Gin Liqueur
As thespiritsbusiness.com says, Jeeves Parma Violet Gin Liqueur is just the thing for fans of big floral flavors. Taking a sip is like taking a nose dive into a bouget of flowers, but while the floral notes are very much the star of the show, they’re perfectly balanced with notes of orris root and licorice. Surprisingly complex, wonderfully fragrant, and with a fizzy sweetness that’s perfect for enjoying neat over ice or topped up with a dash of fizz, this striking purple liquor is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
3. Jawbox Pineapple & Ginger Gin Liqueur
Housed in a stout, pineapple-hued bottle, Jawbox Pineapple & Ginger Gin Liqueur looks as good as it tastes. It makes an excellent gift – although one sip of its heady contents will make you loathe to give it to anyone but yourself. It’s unquestionably a bold tipple, with intense notes of juicy pineapple and a big hit of fiery ginger. But while the flavor profile might be big, it’s by no means a one-note bottling, with a perfectly nuanced profile of fruit notes, burnt sugar sweetness, bright juniper, and warming spice. Enjoy it on the rocks or with ginger ale and a wedge of lime for a refreshing summer-ready tipple.
2. Bloom Lemon & Elderflower Gin Liqueur
A wonderfully smooth, sophisticated liquor made by blending natural botanicals and gin, Bloom Lemon & Elderflower Gin Liqueur is biscuity on the nose, lemony on the palette, and perfect in a gin and tonic. Of all the gin liquors on the market, this is the one in which gin plays the most dominant role, resulting in a wonderfully crisp, subtly floral tipple with a heady backdrop of botanicals.
1. Foxdenton Golden Apricot Liqueur
Sipping on a glass of Foxdenton Golden Apricot Liqueur is the equivalent of biting into a warm, sun-ripened apricot. Made from Isle of Wight apricots and London Dry Gin, it’s an intensely fruity affair with crisp, clear notes, floral aromas, and rich notes of stone fruit and honeydew. Fantastic enjoyed neat over ice, it’s also incredibly food-friendly, and works wonderfully well with a cheeseboard.