As the days begin to grow sunnier and warmer, it’s finally time to put aside your favorite darker spirits like bourbon, rye, Scotch, and cognac. Darker, bolder spirits are perfect for slow sipping in large-backed chairs in the direct vicinity of a roaring fireplace on a snowy winter’s eve. But, they don’t feel quite as fitting on a 70-80 degree day. Spring and summer days (and nights) are made for lighter, mixable spirits. That’s why the end of March is the perfect time to stock up on lighter spirits like white rum, tequila, vodka, and gin.
Around these parts, we’re in the camp that few cocktails beat the classic gin & tonic (especially when you amp it up the way they do it in Spain). In honor of this classic (seemingly perfect) cocktail, we decided to take a look at the best bottles of gin for under $50. Check them all out below and then spend the rest of your day sipping G & Ts and celebrating spring.
Brooklyn Gin
Brooklyn Gin might not actually be made in Brooklyn, but that doesn’t really matter. This corn-based gin is high in botanical flavors like juniper, cardamom, citrus, and coriander. It’s perfect for a martini on a warm, spring night.
Aviation Gin
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Ryan Reynolds enjoyed this gin so much that he recently decided to purchase the company. He must be more of a fan of citrus-centric gins, because the floral aspect takes second fiddle to citrus and coriander. A good sipping gin, Aviation also works in all of your favorite cocktails.
Tanqueray #10
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Tanqueray #10 is a truly special gin. This compliment to the original Tanqueray burst onto the gin scene almost two decades ago and is known as one of the best martini gins on the market. It gets its unique flavor from the addition of white grapefruit, orange, and chamomile on top of the usual juniper, coriander, angelica, and anise.
Hendrick’s Gin
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You might think that England is the land of gin, but most of the gin you drink every day is produced in Scotland. One of the most famous brands in Hendrick’s which is know for the addition of Bulgarian rose and cucumber on top of the well-known juniper-based botanicals.
The Botanist
Produced since 2011, the Botanist is one of the most interesting gins in the world. That’s because, of the 32 ingredients, 22 are native to the island of Islay (off the coast of Scotland) where the gin is produced. It’s made by famed Scotch distiller Bruichladdich, but contains none of the peatiness the distillery is known for.
St. George Dry Rye
This is the gin for rye whiskey fans. That’s because it’s rye-based and warming and spicy — with the flavors of various spices and orange peel. It’s one of the best mixing gins on the market and works perfectly in a Negroni with the spiciness pairing well with the bitterness of the Campari.
Sipsmith London Dry
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Sipsmith is a micro-distillery in London that has carved out a strong following since it opened in 2009. Its London Dry Gin is made in the classic style with ingredients like juniper, coriander, angelica, licorice, orris, ground almond, cassia bark, cinnamon, orange peel, and lemon peel.
Caorunn
Yet another Scottish gin, Caorunn is made in small batched using the main traditional ingredients we expect in a gin as well as a handful of traditional Celtic botanicals like heather, bog myrtle, rowan berry, coul blush apple, and dandelion. The result is a complex gin that is easy to drink and easy to mix.
Anchor Old Tom
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Old Tom gin is one of the most classic styles of gin. Dating back to the 1800s, it’s sweeter than London Dry gin, but drier than Genever. Anchor’s version is pot-distilled with juniper and myriad other botanicals. In homage to the classic style, this version is sweeter than most gins due to the addition of stevia that is sourced from Paraguay.
Ford’s Gin
This gin was created by bartenders for bartenders. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t buy it. You should just know that you’re purchasing a gin designed to be used in cocktails. Juniper is definitely at the forefront of this gin, but it’s well-balanced with flavors like bitter orange, lemon, and grapefruit.
