Flavoured gins are one of my favourite things ever. Believe it or not (my picture may suggest otherwise!) I’m not actually a big drinker, at all… but I do enjoy indulging with a glass of flavoured gin once a week as a lovely treat to myself. You can tell how much I love them by the amount of bottles I own, and so I thought I would round up and share with you some of my all time favourites.
Edinburgh Gin Raspberry Liqueur – Edinburgh Gin is 100% my favourite brand for flavoured gins, I think they are incredible and are always the ones I reach for the most. Gin liqueurs tend to be much sweeter than your standard gins, and also lower in strength – but for me and my super sweet tooth, they are perfect. This raspberry one is amazingly refreshing and gives just the right amount of sweetness. I find I enjoy it most, simply served over ice with your standard non flavoured tonic.
Zymurgorium Sweet Violet Gin Liqueur – Top marks to this company for the packaging as a starter (the two tall bottles at the back). The bottles, once empty will make wonderful keepsakes to decorate your kitchen with. A Manchester based company, you may just have heard of them through that facebook image of their parma violet gin picture that went viral. After seeing it, I knew this gin would either be incredible, or be terrible. Honestly, I found it bloody incredible and it’s up there right at the top of the list with the Edinburgh Gin for me. I sat contemplating ordering it all weekend, and I’m really glad I did – once it’s gone, it will 100% be a repeat purchase. Basically, if you like parma violet sweets, you’ll like this; it literally tastes like liquid parma violets. I partner mine with lots of ice and lemonade, but it would also go wonderfully with tonic, or even enjoyed on its own over ice. One for the sweet toothed amongst us, taste wise it’s actually easy to forget that you’re drinking alcohol at all.
Zymurgorium Turkish Delight Gin Liqueur – Yes. To. This. Again, I enjoy it with lemonade; but it would go seriously well with a chocolate tonic. This one isn’t like any gin I’ve ever tasted before, in its own weird and wonderful way. Very moreishly sweet, I get the obvious rose hit, but also some botanical hits too. A wonderfully complex, delicious concoction.
Slingsby Rhubarb Gin – A Yorkshire company (always a winner!) – Harrogate to be precise. This is a proper gin, and wow guys – this is the ONE! So this was actually gifted to me by Slingsby Gin for some work I did with them over Christmas for their mini gin tree decorations. However, I was never asked to actually promote the full sized bottle at all – it was literally just a thank you gift. But it’s honestly (honestly, please trust me on this one it’s beautiful) one of the nicest gins I’ve ever had, and it was just too gorgeous not to share. If you’re a gin fan, you must try Slingsby gin. I mean it when I say I’m not a big drinker at all, and this bottle emptied super fast over the festive period at my house. Another repeat purchase without a question of a doubt. My favourite pairing for this gin is with the Fever Tree Mediterranean tonic water.
Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger Gin – Again, top marks for the packaging here. Another rhubarb offering, but this one has a hit of ginger too. Pretty much on par with the Slingsby Gin, a really nice find from a company that knows their gin. Refreshing, but with a spicy hit. The tart and spiced combination is balanced beautifully, and it makes for a real treat. This one works wonderfully with just your standard tonic, but would also go well with ginger ale / beer – dependant on your taste.
Poetic License Strawberries & Cream Picnic Gin – Prior to purchasing, I read a review that it was very sweet and creamy and I guess that’s what attracted me to it. It’s actually not as sweet as I thought, but then it is a gin and not a gin liqueur. Plus, I do have a very sweet taste in drinks so it may taste sweeter to other people. It’s a gorgeous spring-summer pale pink colour (perfect for picnics I suppose!), and it’s very refreshing and delicate. I personally didn’t get the strawberry hit as much as I thought I would… to me it’s more of a pink gin as oppose to a sure strawberry flavour; but still a gorgeous gin nonetheless. I had this one with standard tonic water – but for the sweet tooth friends amongst us (like me) you may prefer it with lemonade. It would also go very well with a botanical tonic water.
Bakewell Gin – Purchased over the festive period, I was after a sugary sweet hit with this. Now, whilst you do get the cherry bakewell elements – if you are after a sweet bakewell flavoured drink, I think there are other alcohols that would work better. That being said, it’s still a lovely gin and it always draws attention when I have visitors. As you can see, the bottle has gone down quite well so I don’t want to discredit this gin in any way, it is lovely and has made my favourites list… but for the price (I paid £40 including delivery), next time I feel my money may be better placed on something else. In my opinion, this one may have worked better as a gin liqueur. I still enjoy it though, and when I do – I partner it with lemonade.
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