There can be few places as stunning as the Cairngorms National Park. And it’s here that you’ll find Kinrara Distillery, just outside Aviemore. Isle of Harris Gin is best enjoyed neat over ice, or served with Walter Gregor’s Tonic Water and a wedge of red grapefruit. It was time to paint myself in to the picture, only I’d be holding a tasting glass and an artistically licensed chiselled chin…it was time to see if the Drovers Gin was as pleasing on the taste as it was on the eye. Malfy offers a variety of flavors, but the clear favorite is the Gin Con Limone. The brand uses coastal-grown Amalfi lemons and Sicilian varieties in its lemon-flavored gin, promising a taste of the sunshine in every sip. To round off the neat spirit, there is some fiery greenery at play for sure. Whilst not instantly recognisable to my internal flavour wheel, which would perhaps lean towards coriander, it is the shiso leaf providing the herbaceous undertones.

Gin That You Need to Know - The Spruce Eats 8 Best Bottles of Gin That You Need to Know - The Spruce Eats

Whilst I chose to pair with a light tonic and garnish with orange, to bring an additional citrus element to the fore, the Dog and Spoon suggestion of lemon and rosemary deserves further inspection. It’s a double garnish that suggests a complementary kiss on the forehead of both the citrus and herbal inclusions that I have little doubt would work incredibly well! Tasted neat, and there is a longevity that refuses to relent! The gin coats the palate with rich, juniper led oils, that hold your tastebuds hostage for minutes after each sip. It’s as deliciously impressive as it is moreish. The first of several navy strength gins on our list is a relative newcomer to the Scottish Gin scene. Launching in May 2020, Biggar Gin have built on their growing following with the playfully named Biggar Strength. Winner of a silver medal at the London Spirits Competition 2020, it uses the locally foraged hawthorn berry as a key botanical. As it falls under a 40% ABV, Sloe gin can’t technically be called ‘proper’ gin. But its popularity and variety make it an important part of any thorough gin guide anyway. And if you’re looking for a bottle to enjoy, Spirit Works’ offering is the way to go. The Aranami Stregth continues to be distilled under contract at Silent Pool Distillery in the Surrey Hills, though Jenny diligently oversees each and every production. And in a similar way to the original gin, the Aranami Strength is also comprised of 20 botanicals, 7 of which hail from Japan. Though it’s probably fair to say that this isn’t your standard botanical menu listing. Those that the bottle discloses include yuzu, salted sakura, furano lavender, kabosu, sansho pepper, vanilla ume and shiso leaf. One ‘for the curious’ for sure!If you can't find Portofino, we do also recommend Monkey 47 for a Negroni. It's complex, flavorful profile will nicely complement the oft-overbearing Campari. Roku means “six” in Japanese: named as such because there are six very important botanicals in the gin. All sourced from Japan, the bottle offers a unique flavor on the market when mixed with another eight more traditional gin botanicals: juniper berry, coriander seed, angelica root, angelica seed, cardamom seed, cinnamon, bitter orange peel, and lemon peel. To taste neat, and there is an initial sweetness that washes over the palate – the zing of fresh lemon brings the tastebuds to life and grips your attention. I would go further to say that the flavour profile brings in suggestions of pithy lemon zest and peel, which only serves to enhance the citrus profile. A citrus forward gin you say? Tell me more… Keep collections to yourself or inspire other shoppers! Keep in mind that anyone can view public collections - they may also appear in recommendations and other places.

Isle of Harris Gin Review | From the Gin Shelf Isle of Harris Gin Review | From the Gin Shelf

Cotton Jar with Lid - Elegant Glass and Metal Qtip Holder for Kitchen, Home Decor, Bath Accessories - The Fern CollectionAs with many distilleries, producing gin is the perfect way to keep cashflow going until the whisky has matured. However, the gin’s success has surpassed all expectations, which in turn has contributed to a higher number of employees than initially targeted. And it seems I’m not alone. Since its launch, the Aranami Strength has gone on to snag a whole host of awards, including two stars in the ‘Great Taste Awards 2020’, a gold medal in the ‘Women’s Wine and Spirits Awards 2020’, the ‘Industry Choice Award’ in ‘The Gin Guide Awards 2020’ and was named the ‘Best Navy Strength Gin’ in the ‘World Gin Awards 2020’. Here’s better there are lots more plaudits and podium finishes to come! Known as one of the world’s most famous gins, Bombay Sapphire contains ten botanicals sourced from countries covering almost every continent. Alongside juniper, the spirit features lemon peel, coriander, angelica root, orris, grains of paradise, cubeb berries, cassia bark, almonds, and licorice.