Over the past few years I have become somewhat of a gin connoisseur, partly aided by my gin loving mum. Growing up I hated gin, looking back it’s probably because I tried my mums drink and she had about 3 shots of gin in there or just very little mixer! I don’t like tonic at all, I have tried the Mediterranean tonic water, which is slightly better because it’s got less quinine in, I can tolerate it but wouldn’t choose to drink it. Generally I have lemonade with my gin, sometimes ginger ale or a rose lemonade if I’m feeling a bit fancy!
I’m very lucky that my mum loves Gin so much that she has a very good selection. By very good, I mean very good!
I’ve never been a big drinker, but nowadays I like having a gin at the weekend to help me wind down and relax after what is usually a busy, tiring week chasing Oliver around! I thought I would share my top 5 gins as I know gin is definitely the mummy’s drink of choice!
Silent Pool gin is made just down the road from where I live, at the Silent Pool in Albury, Surrey. It’s a delicious gin that you can sip neat (if you wanted) and has a very smooth taste to it. It is a hand crafted gin, distilled and bottled on site using water from the pool. The bottle design is so beautiful, it is definitely one that you could display proudly in your home! The distillers also make a few different Gins and gin cordials which are also all amazing to taste!
2. Pinkster Gin
I first tried this at the gin festival in the summer, I first fell in love with it because of its beautiful distinct pink colour; this is because they use raspberries in the distilling process to colour and flavour it (which you can also buy as Boozy berries!) it tastes so nice, yet again another you could easily sip. If you haven’t tried this yet, put it on your list!
Another I tasted at the gin festival. It is more of a traditional gin, heralding back to the original gin recipes from times of old. This gin is barrel aged, giving it quite a distinctive flavour, great paired with a ginger ale. Poetic License have some great Gins, and are worth checking out.
This is my mums standard gin of choice, so it had to make the top 5 as it’s generally the one I drink if I go around to see her. I recently found out that Tanqueray is actually made by the same company as Gordon’s! The Rangpur Gin has citrus notes from the Rangpur lime and Indian type of lime. It goes perfectly with a lemonade.
My mum brought this one home from the gin festival in 2015 after trying it there. They use blueberries and blackberries to give it quite a smooth and great taste. The taste is distinctively different from others I have tried and It is worth trying.
So they you go, my top 5! Obviously I still drink the standard gins too (Gordon’s and Bombay Sapphire) but I do really enjoy finding new craft gins to try, helping these small business grow and gain a following, rather than putting more money in the bigger brands (already giant) pockets! I have found Gin festivals are a great place to discover and try new gins, as a lot aren’t aren’t available on the high street.
Have you got a favourite I haven’t mentioned here? Or a recommendation to try out? Let me know, I would love to hear them!
I’m 37 and have only started drinking gin this year as I always thought I didn’t like it. All those wasted years ! At the minute I’m on Tanqueray but previously had Greenalls which i really liked . Thanks for the other ideas ! #fortheloveofblog
I’ve never been much of a gin fan but you sell it so well so I think I should give it another go.. ha. ? To be fair it has been a few years since I tried any so I think I’m due to give it another go. Ha.
#fortheloveofBLOG
I’ve not tried any of those but 5 pillars makes a gun specifically for Negronis and it is FABULOUS! #kalcols
I am not a gin lover, but you have listed some great gins that I know my friends wold love!
Thanks for linking up at #KCACOLS.
Hope you join up again next Sunday.
I’m not a gin lover here but my mum is so this is a great post to help me with a crimbo gift for her #kcacols
I’m not really into gin – I know, it’s weird right. However, after reading this now I’m thinking perhaps it’s the tonic water and I’ve just been mixing it wrong all the time. Maybe I’ll give it one more go. #KCACOLS
Do it! Tonic is nasty stuff, try with a lemonade or ginger ale if you like it, it really changes it!
Love a gin! And I want the pinkster just to look good on my shelf!
I used to drink gin but now tend to reach for the wine. The beauty of the silent pool bottle is definitely worth changing my habits for. Pen x #KCACOLS
I’ve never tried Gin before but my sister is coming to stay with me for Christmas and she loves it so I’m sure I’ll be trying it soon! #KCACOLS
I can’t get into gin but I do like a bit of Sloe Gin (probably cos it’s so sweet!) #kcacols
You should try the gin liqueurs, rhubarb and ginger, elderflower, plum, they’re all lovely and sweet!
Oooh rhubarb and ginger sounds delicious! I’ve never heard of him liqueurs before! x
Love a good g&t to wind down from the week! Like the sound of raspberry gin, yum! #kcacols
Me and my husband love gin but I’ve actually only tried Tanqueray from your list. Will have to try some of the others out x #KCACOLS
I love Gin too! I really like the look of the Pinkster Gin, I bet it tastes lovely. I’ve recently tried Gin with Elderflower Fevertree tonic and it was lovely, completely changing the taste of it compared to your standard G & T. Thanks for linking up at #forthelovefBLOG. Claire x
Ooo I have to try silent pool gin, I live near Surrey and have never had the local stuff!The poetic gin looks good too and I love music festivals sooooo it sounds perfect lol. Thanks for sharing with #StayClassyMama!
Good selection! My top are Gin Mare, Orkney Gin, Makar, Bulldog an Bloom x