As someone who has been creating home-crafted beverages for over 10 years, I’ve come to learn a lot about specific liquors. Gin is a single type of liquor, but there are many different types of gin available in your local liquor store! Different kinds of gins vary from distiller to distiller, so there is definitely no shortage of choice. In this post, we’ll take a look at all the varieties of gin that are available to you!

As one of the six main types of liquor, gin has established its place on the bar carts of homes everywhere. Maybe Gin is best known for being made into martinis, thanks to a certain double-0-7 fancy-pants secret agent. Or perhaps it’s most famously paired with tonic water, which was a stunt from the East India Trading Company to make tonic water more inviting since people drank it to keep malaria away. Truth is, gin has always been popular, but it’s distinct flavor can sometimes scare people off. This guide is here to help you make sense of all the different kinds of gin there are!
🤨 what is gin?
🛢️ fermented & distilled. Gin is a distilled alcoholic beverage. The versatile spirit is fermented first to allow microorganisms to create alcohol in the mix, then it is distilled.
🪴 flavored with botanicals. The primary flavor of gin comes from juniper berries, which have a distinct flavor. Each distiller uses their own combination of herbs and botanicals, so the flavor can vary greatly from bottle to bottle.
🇳🇱 Dutch & Belgian origin. Contrary to popular belief, gin originated in the Netherlands & Belgium. The UK popularized the drink, so many folks believe that it came from England!
🗺️ where is gin made?
Gin originated from Belgium and the Netherlands. The earliest known creation occurred in Bruges, Belgium at a monastery. Gin was originally consumed for medicinal purposes, because people believed juniper to be full of healing properties. Today, there are many different styles of gin that are made across multiple countries. There’s Mexican gin, Japanese gin, and Australian gin. Top-producing regions of gin include the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands, each instilling their unique characteristics and twists to the spirit.
⚗️ the distillation process
Gin is typically made from neutral grain alcohol, which can be a combination of a variety of grains including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. The grain alcohol is infused with a blend of botanicals, the most prominent being juniper berries. There are two primary methods of gin distillation: pot distillation and column distillation. Certain varieties of gin have more regulated production methods than others. For instance, western gin production regulations are not as strict as London dry gin or Plymouth gin.
💰average cost of gin
The cost of gin can vary across brands and varieties. On average, a bottle of gin can range from $20 to $50, so expect to pay around $35 for a decent bottle. Premium or aged gins are even more expensive ($60 – $100+).
🛍️ recommended brands of gin
The heavy hitters in the gin industry are well-known for a reason, because people know what to expect flavor-wise. There has been an increase in popularity of gins, and because of this there has been a huge uptick of craft distillers. Each distiller uses different kinds of botanicals to flavor their gin, so try a few to see what you like!
- Bombay Sapphire
- Tanqueray
- Plymouth
- Hendricks
- Bols Genever
- Aviation
- Monkey 47
- The Botanist
- Empress 1908
🫙 how to store gin
Store your gin properly to maintain the optimum taste and flavor profile. Keep the bottle sealed and store it in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and extreme temperature fluctuations. Like other liquors, gin does not require refrigeration. However, storing them in a cool, dry environment will help preserve their flavor and aroma.
🔴 genever
What it is: Genever, also known as Dutch gin, is the original gin style. It has a rich history, and it was first made and sold as medicine in the 16th century!
What it tastes like: Genever is maltier and heavier in body compared to other gins, with a more distinct flavor profile. It has a flavor that’s similar to a light-bodied whiskey.
What it’s distilled from: It’s made from malted grain, similar to whiskey, which gives it its distinct flavor. This gin is also very highly regulated, so it must be made according to industry standards.
Popular drinks made with it: Dutch Negroni, Genever Sour, or a Dutch Martini.
Popular brands: Bols, Genevieve, Diep 9.
🟠 London dry gin
What it is: London Dry is the most popular type of gin and a benchmark for most gin styles. Despite the name, it is not only made in London, but it must adhere to specific production methods.
What it tastes like: Classic London Dry gin has a strong juniper flavor, followed by citrus and spice flavors. The flavor is sometimes described as tasting like a pine tree. It’s known for its dry, clean taste with less sweetness compared to other gins.
What it’s distilled from: It’s distilled from a neutral grain spirit and botanicals and citrus peels, with the predominant flavor being juniper berries. London dry gin may not contain any artificial flavors. All the flavor has to come from natural botanical flavors.
Popular drinks made with it: Gin and Tonic, Martini, or Gimlet.
Popular brands: Tanqueray, Beefeater, Bombay Sapphire.
🟡 Plymouth gin
What it is: Plymouth Gin is a variant that, by law, can only be produced in Plymouth, England.
What it tastes like: Plymouth Gin has a softer, less dry flavor with a balanced combination of earthy, citrus, and juniper notes. It’s slightly sweeter than London Dry, but still considered a dry gin.
What it’s distilled from: It’s distilled from a mixture of grain spirits and botanicals, similar to London Dry, but with noticeable differences in the botanical mixture.
Popular drinks made with it: Gimlet, Collins, or a classic G&T.
Popular brands: The only brand legally allowed to make Plymouth Gin is the Black Friars Distillery.
🟢 western, new world, or new American gin
What it is: A modern style that has emerged with the craft distilling boom. This type of gin typically has a softer juniper flavor and instead features other botanicals. There are no regulations surrounding the production method of this style of gin, which has led to the increased number of distillers creating it.
What it tastes like: These gins possess a wide range of flavor profiles, usually lighter, with a more creative and complex botanical mix.
What it’s distilled from: Like most gins, they’re distilled from neutral grain spirits and a unique blend of botanicals. Each distiller can use whatever herbs and botanicals they like, including things like sea kelp or salvia.
Popular drinks made with it: These gins best shine in cocktails where their unique flavors can be highlighted, such as a Gin and Tonic or a Martini.
Popular brands: Hendrick’s, Aviation, St. George.
🔵 old Tom gin
What it is: Old Tom is a sweeter style of gin, often considered a link between London Dry and Genever. It was immensely popular in the 18th-century England. There are no rules regarding the production of Old Tom gin, so distillers can make it however they like.
What it tastes like: This gin has a sweeter taste than London gin. It has notes of citrus, juniper, and spice. Some brands are aged, which have a deeper flavor.
What it’s distilled from: Old Tom gin is distilled ****from grain spirits but sugar is added post-distillation.
Popular drinks made with it: Tom Collins, Martinez, or a Gin Rickey.
Popular Brands: Hayman’s, Ransom, Jensen’s.
🟣 sloe gin, flavored gin, & other gin liqueurs
What it is: Sloe gin is made by infusing blackthorn berries and sugar. Other gin liqueurs and flavored gins are made by infusing a variety of fruits or botanicals into gin, and adding sugar. Sloe Gin and gin liqueurs traditionally have a lower ABV of 15 – 30%. Certain brands of flavored gin have a higher ABV closer to 40-45%, like Empress 1908.
What it tastes like: Flavored gins & gin liqueurs are typically sweeter and taste like the fruits, berries, or botanicals they have been infused with. The most popular is sloe gin, which is infused with blackthorn berries, also called sloe berries. Other flavored gins that are stronger and do not have sugar added will have a nuanced flavor depending on what they’re infused with. For instance, Empress 1908 Rose is infused with rose petals and elderflower.
What it’s distilled from: These gins are distilled from a variety of grain spirits, and then they have coloring, flavoring, and even sugar added. The ingredients that are added range between gin brands.
Popular brands: Empress 1908, Haymans, Edinburgh, Pimms No. 1
Popular drinks made with it: Empress Martini, Cranberry Smash, Sloe Gin Fizz
⚫️ Navy Strength gin
What it is: Any gin that is over 57% ABV, or “navy proof.” This high alcohol content, or proof, refers to the days when British Royal Navy sailors would ignite their rations of alcohol to “prove” that it had enough alcohol to light on fire.
What it tastes like: The bright, piney flavor of gin with a stronger alcohol taste. Because of the strong alcohol flavor, it’s best to use slightly less of this gin in cocktails.
What its distilled from: This gin, like others, is distilled from grain spirits that has been infused with a variety of herbs and botanicals.
Popular brands: Plymouth, Magnus & Co., Four Pillars
Popular drinks made with it: Gin Martini, Saturn, Gimlet
⚪️ aged gin
What it is: Barrel-aged gin, similar to aged liquors like whiskey, rum, and tequila.
What it tastes like: Aged gin has a deeper more robust flavor which depends on the barrels it was aged in. Some distillers use sherry barrels, others use wine barrels or whiskey barrels.
What its distilled from: This gin, like others, is distilled from grain spirits that has been infused with a variety of herbs and botanicals. The gin is then placed into wooden barrels, such as oak barrels or spent wine barrels or whiskey casks, to age. The barrels impart a deeper color and flavor into the gin.
Popular brands: Monkey 47, The Botanist., Four Pillars
Popular drinks made with it: Gin Old Fashioned, Martini, Gin & Tonic.