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5 Best Gins For Beginners The Daily Pour Bottle Raiders

Leo Migdal
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5 best gins for beginners the daily pour bottle raiders

The shelves of the Mothers Ruin gin bar, which stocks 144 gins from around the globe. Don’t let that overwhelm you; instead, look to the five best gins for beginners. (Photo: Rodger Bosch/Getty Images) Starting to sample a new liquor category can feel daunting — you don’t know what you’re looking for besides a bottle with some words on it. And when it comes to gin, the number of brands in production makes choosing one like throwing a dart in an ocean and hoping to nab a fish. Don’t waste your efforts; here are five best gins for the beginner gin drinker.

Described as soft and citrusy, this gin makes for a smart beginner’s choice. Other tasting notes to expect are candied zest, cardamom and coriander. Plymouth Gin is produced in — you guessed it — Plymouth, England, and is one of few gins with a geographical indication. Plymouth Gin is sweeter than the average dry gin, which will open your palate to gin botanicals without being too hot to handle. You can usually find this 41.2% ABV gin for under $35, nice! This gin has it all: balanced juniper and citrus, mixing versatility and a thrifty price tag.

Beefeater is a classic London Dry gin that begs to be enjoyed in any standard gin cocktail your bartender could dream of. Beefeater is also known for its clean flavor; therefore, making it a good stepping stone to moving on to more complex gins. Lesley Stockton is a writer focused on kitchen and entertaining. Her coverage includes grilling, kitchen knives, and cookware, just to name a few. Whether you prefer a dry martini or a refreshing gin and tonic, your gin of choice defines the cocktail. If you love gin, you know how it can unfold like a story with each sip: Juniper is the main character, while spices, citrus, and other aromatics play the supporting roles.

We believe there’s a gin for almost any imbiber, even the folks who think they don’t like it. If you’re turned off by assertive, sprucy gins, we have a pick for you that’s smooth and bright. If you like old pine boxes in dusty attics and want to capture that sensory experience in a glass, we have a gin for you, too. Food and drinks writer (and Wirecutter contributor) Tammie Teclemariam and I tasted 12 gins in all. To find the best ones to suit many tastes and budgets, we focused mainly on London Dry gins because they are the most widely available and the easiest to compare, thanks to a standardized... We also included a couple of bottles that we believe are true all-purpose gins, meaning they mix exceptionally well into three of the most common gin cocktails: a dry martini, a gin and tonic,...

At its core, gin is a simple neutral grain spirit. The liquid’s complexity and unique character come from the addition of botanicals, which impart various flavors into the spirit during production. While juniper berries are the most famous — and only mandatory — botanical used, distillers implement a melange of other berries, seeds, fruits, herbs, spices, and roots to round out a gin’s flavors. The supporting ingredients and their influence vary from gin to gin, leading to a broad spectrum of expressions and styles that practically demand categorical exploration. Because of this, it’s possible that those who claim they don’t like gin simply haven’t found a gin they like yet. But where does a curious drinker begin to figure out what gin is their jam?

Talking to a bartender or two to learn what they’re into is a good place to start, particularly given gin’s breadth. To that end, we asked 15 bartenders to highlight the brands they’d recommend to get into the aromatic spirit. Their responses provide a starting point for beginners, but they’re also a reflection of how eclectic gin can be, which ultimately makes it an exciting category to explore. “If you’re just starting to explore gin, I always recommend beginning with the original Hendrick’s. It’s beautifully balanced, soft, floral, and infused with hints of cucumber and rose, making it super approachable and easy to enjoy. Unlike stronger gins with higher ABV, Hendrick’s has a slightly lower alcohol content, so it’s smoother and less intense.

It’s also really versatile, great in a refreshing Gin & Tonic with a slice of cucumber or even sipped neat if you’re feeling adventurous.” —Bryan Correntin, lead bartender, Marion, Miami “My favorite way to introduce gin to a gin agnostic is with an Eastside. The harmony of mint and cucumber puts anyone at ease, even more so when supported by a quality gin. The bottle I most often reach for in these instances is Fords Gin. Not because it’s the softest or the quietest gin, but because each botanical and ingredient was deliberately chosen to make the best cocktail possible. Fords doesn’t try to upstage, it acts as a canvas.

It boosts the individual flavors, so a new gin convert won’t think, ‘Wow, what a delicious gin!’ but instead ‘Wow, what a delicious cocktail!’” —Thomas Eslinger, beverage director, République, Los Angeles Gin cocktails have always been part of the staple of classic cocktails, but for some reason, the spirit on its own garners a lot of commentary and controversy. Like whiskey or whisky, there are rules and regulations for gin production. It must be distilled from something natural, such as barley or wheat; one of the botanicals used must be juniper, and it must be at least 40% alcohol by volume. Flavor-wise, gin is somewhat of a blank canvas with which the distiller can paint with a broad brush, using a variety of herbs, spices, and botanicals to give their gin flavor and character, and... But how can someone just getting into gin know where to start?

Get in the boozer; we're going shopping. We spoke with Alessandro Pisi, Bar Director of The Duck & The Peach, La Collina, and The Wells in Washington DC, and Valentino Longo, bartender and owner of ViceVersa in Miami, to get their... From modern gins inspired by Mediterranean flavors or aged in oak barrels to the most traditional of London Dry varietals, there really is a gin for everyone, and that includes the newbies. Whether you've got a taste for sweet or savory, herbaceous or floral, gin and tonic, or gin martini, leave it to the experts to lead the gin novice to the promised land. The London Dry Gin category is seen somewhat as the backbone of the gin category. London Dry Gin is an elevated spirit and makes for a more than worthwhile martini or simple gin and tonic compared to other gins while also being balanced and easy to enjoy.

For Alessandro Pisi, Sipsmith is an excellent place for the entry level gin drinker. Produced in the London neighborhood of Chiswick, Sipsmith as a brand has only been around since 2007. Pisi describes Sipsmith as a classic London Dry with a little extra spice, making this an ideal choice for the gin beginner looking to add something classic to their collection that has a little... Bold and aromatic with notes of green olive and juniper, this is undoubtedly a gin for all. In the spirit of modernizing the classic London Dry Gin, No. 3 Gin is another example of a classic London Dry that has been designed for the modern day gin drinker who wants to pay homage to a classic in every sip.

For Valentino Longo, it is the balance and flavor of No. 3 that makes this a gin designed to be enjoyed in a martini with nothing more than a splash of vermouth and a twist of lemon. As November concludes, we here at Gin Raiders would like to commend the exceptional gins we’ve tasted this month, whether newly released or just crossing our desk for the first time. For those new to Gin Raiders, we evaluate gins based on our Chief Spirits Critic Jay West‘s reviews, aggregated reviews from other reputable critics and our managing editor’s tasting notes. If a gin has been reviewed by enough experts, you’ll see an average score in the top left corner of its spirit image. Read more about our process here.

Out of the juniper spirits sampled in November 2023, these five stood out as our favorites! This floral gin hails from Shelter Distilling in California. Gin The Third’s botanical mix incorporates rose hips, rose petals, lavender, vanilla, juniper, anise and cucumber. With scents of heady perfume and green juniper berries, dreamy rose jam and vanilla dominate this bold spirit. Hints of the cucumber come through as well, alongside soapy (in a good way!) lavender. Offering a round finish with a touch of clove spice, we loved this elegant gin in a Bee’s Knees and French 75.

Keep sweet and bubbly cocktails in mind when using this one. Whether you’re not a fan of gin, want to mix up your typical Friday night drink, or you’ve just never tried it, you might have no idea where to start! Luckily, you’ve come to the right place; so, what is the best gin for beginners? It is recommended you start with the best quality gin within your budget. You don’t want to spend too much on a drink you may or may not like. Similarly, you don’t want to sacrifice quality and just go for the cheapest option.

Whenever you try something new, you don’t just stop at one. What you’ll end up liking will depend on your particular taste, so just because you don’t like one doesn’t mean you won’t like them all! There are plenty to choose from, and this beginner’s guide will give you insight into the tastes of the more common brands. There is a huge selection of types of gin to choose from; different types, brands, and flavors – it can be a little overwhelming! It’s not all about the brand, though; there are many different ways to serve and drink gin and this will vary depending on the brand you choose. As we enter summer, it’s time to indulge in the classic Gin & Tonic.

To guide us through the world of gin, I partnered with Bartender Magazine, and recently spoke with some of America’s most esteemed mixologists. With their wealth of knowledge and experience, these experts shared their insights on the best gins for a G & T or martini and the top traditional, contemporary, and value-priced gins. Renato Tonelli, the Beverage Training Director at Dante New York City and the 2023 World Class US Bartender of the Year, offered a diverse selection of gins. He recommended Beefeater for a classic G & T, Plymouth as a Best Gin Overall, and Tanqueray No. TEN or Hendricks for a contemporary style. He suggested Bombay Dry Gin for those seeking value, while Tanqueray was his top pick for a martini.

Steve Yang, Beverage Director at Brenner Pass, Black Lodge, Metzger Bar and Pink Room, and USBG World Class National Finalist in 2022 and 2023, notes that Classic London Dry style gins are always best... His pick is Tanqueray. Botanist or Monkey 47 are his top picks for Best Overall Gin. He opts for Japanese gins like Suntory Roku or Nikka Coffey Gin as his choice for Best Contemporary Style Gin. For Yang, the Best Value Gin is Gordon’s, which he noted “has similar botanicals to Tanqueray” but was better priced. His top gin for a martini is Tanqueray No.

TEN, “kept very, very cold.” Jessi Pollak, Bar Manager for Spoon and Stable and World Class US Bartender of the Year in 2022, chose Fords as the best gin for a G & T. Her Best Overall Gin is Tanqueray No. TEN, her best Contemporary Style Gin was Jin Jiji India Dry Gin. Pollack’s top pick for Best Value Gin is Fords, while her choice for a Gin Martini is Future Gin. Gin might be the spirit with the most potential for creativity.

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