Noteworthy Gins To Drink On International Gin & Tonic Day And Beyond

Most spirit-lovers don’t need an excuse to pour themselves a gin & tonic. With just two ingredients, the perennially popular cocktail is near-effortless to make, and the flavors of juniper and other botanicals that make each gin unique can really shine though. And now with so many unique and noteworthy gins, there have never been more ways to mix up an anything-but-ordinary G&T. From gins infused with blood oranges or rhubarb to those made with fir tree needles or hoja santa, here are six styles of the spirit to drink on International Gin and Tonic Day and beyond.

Gracias a Dios 32 Botanics Agave Gin, $39

Take a tour through all 32 of Mexico’s diverse states with this unique agave spirit that’s triple-distilled in Oaxaca. Botanicals like hoja santa leaves, cinnamon, Guarana coffee, and lilacs – one for each state – are macerated with the agave for 48 hours, giving this gin a complex and unique taste and a slightly smoky, roasted agave finish.

Portofino Dry Gin, $57

The signature pastel buildings, picturesque cliffs, and boat-dotted harbors of Portofino wrap around this gorgeous bottle of dry gin, which recently launched in the States. It’s made using a copper pot still originally used to make grappa using 21 Mediterranean aromatic botanicals organically grown on Portofino’s sun-drenched hillsides, including lemons, lavender, rosemary, marjoram, sage, iris and rose.

Gray Whale Gin, $40

Taste the California coastline in this singular spirit showcasing six botanicals foraged or sustainably farmed along its shores. First and foremost is juniper from Big Sur, which is complemented by sea kelp from Mendocino, Temecula limes, fir tree needles from Sonoma, Capay Valley almonds, and mint from Santa Cruz. The coastline is part of the gray whale’s epic 12,000 mile journey from Baja to the Arctic. With every bottle purchased, a portion of the sale will help support gray whales and other marine life through the nonprofit Oceana, the largest international advocacy organization focused solely on ocean conservation.

Malfy Gins, $29

Inspired by “La Dolce Vita” of the idyllic Amalfi, Malfy’s quartet of gins are all made with citrus fruits from the sun-drenched coast. Both the Originale dry gin and the Limone are made with ripe Amalfi coast lemons, and both make excellent, crystal-clear gins & tonics. But the pastel-colored Rosa (made with Sicilian pink grapefruits) and the bright orange Arancia (crafted with Italian blood oranges) make for striking, colorful G&Ts and other cocktails.

Crafted in a distillery in Moncalieri – a town outside of Torino that’s revered for its production of fine wines and spirits – each bottle bears the Gin di Qualità Distillato in Italia stamp, a symbol of quality and authenticity in the world of Italian spirits.

Whitley Neill Gin Rhubarb and Ginger Gin, $30

Founded by 8th generation distiller Johnny Neill, Whitley Neill Gin is the most popular premium gin in the UK. And lucky for gin lovers, it just made its jump across the pond. The brand makes a dazzling variety of flavored gins at the multi-award-winning City of London Distillery, which is the first and only gin distillery in the city in 200 years. Upgrade your ordinary G&T with their Rhubarb and Ginger-infused spirit, which showcases thye pleasantly tart taste of rhubarb and warming, slightly spicy ginger.

Perry’s Tot Navy Strength Gin, $30

This Brooklyn-born spirit is named for Matthew Calbraith Perry, a Commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard during the 1840s. It’s a potent “Navy strength gin,” a term historically used by the U.S. Navy for a gin that was so high-proof (around 57% ABV) that it was sanctioned to be stored near gunpowder. That’s because – if the liquid spilled – the wet powder would still light. Meaning it’s a highly-flammable spirit, but one that still tastes smooth in a G&T.