With the ninth annual World Gin Day falling this Saturday 10 June, there is no better way to celebrate than with a G&T! After a record-breaking year for gin sales in 2016, there is an increasing array of new and delicious gins available on the market, each with their own heritage and unique blend of botanicals. We've rounded up seven of the best to sip on this World Gin Day – and all summer long…
STORY: The best places to celebrate World Gin Day
World Gin Day Gin
For the very first time, World Gin Day has its own official gin which is the result of a collaboration between That Boutique-y Gin Company and the organiser of World Gin Day, Emma Stokes. This bespoke spirit has been made using a single ingredient from each of the seven continents, and is available as a limited edition release of 880 bottles.
RRP: £31.95, available from retailers including Amazon and Master of Malt.
Caorunn
This small-batch, quadruple-distilled Scottish gin is handcrafted using the finest pure grain spirit, natural Scottish water and a blend of 11 botanical gin ingredients by just one man, Caorunn's Gin Master, Simon Buley. To celebrate Wold Gin Day the gin company have collaborated with mixologist Tristan Stephenson to create two delicious apple-based cocktails that will be served at the Worship Street Whistling Shop on 10 June only.
RRP: £29.00 for 70cl, available on Amazon and at Waitrose stores
Brighton Gin
Created by five gin-loving Brightonians in 2014, in three short years Brighton Gin has gone on to prove hugely popular with both locals and gin connoisseurs around the UK, leading it to be voted The People's Choice Gin in the 2017 People's Drinks Awards. Brighton Gin is distilled by the seaside with a blend of organic British grain spirit, juniper, fresh orange and lime peel, locally-grown coriander seed and milk thistle.
RRP £40.00, stockists include Majestic Wines, Harvey Nichols, Fortnum & Mason, Master of Malt and most fine independents throughout Brighton & Hove.
Ableforth's Bathtub Gin
With its delicious mix of botanicals such as juniper, orange peel, coriander, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom, it's easy to see why Ableforth's Bathtub Gin is a multi-award winner. The bold flavour and high quality spirit has led this gin to receive awards from the likes of the World Gin Awards and the International Spirits Challenge – perfect for World Gin Day.
RRP: £31.25 for 70cl. Available at Amazon and other leading retailers.
Portobello Road Gin
This popular London-based craft gin brand is giving green-fingered gin fans the opportunity to grow their own juniper at home by sending a juniper plant to each customer who purchases a 75cl limited edition gift-wrapped bottle this summer, available exclusively at Waitrose. The limited edition gin features nine botanicals such as lemon peel and liquorice root for a tasty and refreshing tipple.
RRP: £25 for 75cl, limited edition 'Grow your own Juniper' bottles available exclusively at Waitrose stores while stocks last.
Moonshot Gin
One of the most unique gins on the market, That Boutique-y Gin Company's Moonshot gin is made solely with botanicals that have been sent to space. All of the ingredients were sent into the stratosphere at an altitude of at least 24km, while moon rock from a lunar meteorite has also been used as a botanical to create a spirit that is quite literally out of this world.
RRP: £32.95, available from Master of Malt.
Pinkster Gin
This Cambridgeshire-born gin is hand-steeped with fresh local raspberries to give it a distinctive pink colour that is unlike anything else on the market. The result is a dry but smooth gin that has a hint of fruit, perfect to serve over ice with tonic water, a raspberry and a sprig of mint.
RRP: £35 for 70cl, available from Harvey Nichols, Majestic, Ocado and Selfridges.