Gin is the critical ingredient of the classic martini, a cocktail of elegance and style that remains timeless. I find it can be enjoyed as an aperitif, post-dinner digestif, or secret afternoon tipple.
Understanding the best gins for a martini is paramount in achieving the ultimate martini. Like most things, it’s all about attention to detail, so using high-quality gin should be considered a vital step.
From the famous shaken, not stirred quote of James Bond to a seductive passionfruit martini, here are seven perfect gins to create a martini to remember.
Best Gins For A Martini
I took the liberty of selecting the best gins for a martini, and these eight unequivocal gins will take your martini to the level.
1. Bloom London Dry Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Bloom Gin
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Clear
Review
Bloom London dry gin was the vision of female Master Distiller Joanne Moore and was launched in 2009. The purpose of his lighter floral gin was to introduce non-gin drinkers to the pleasures of gin.
The three key ingredients of chamomile, honeysuckle, and pomelo added to the base botanicals of juniper, coriander, angelica, and cubeb berries, was to add a floral freshness.
On The Nose
Juniper, chamomile, sweet honeysuckle and zesty pomelo aromas.
On The Palate
I noticed parma violet carries through to the palate with plenty of juniper. The zesty tangs of pomelo create orangey hints leading to a silky mouthfeel of sweet citrus and chamomile.
Why It’s Good In A Martini
Makes for a perfect Ginspresso Martini with its floral notes, the candied sweetness of honeysuckle, and the zesty tang of pomelo complement the sweet notes of milk chocolate and coffee liqueur.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
2. Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin
Overview
- Distiller: The Shed Distillery
- ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
- Country: Ireland
- Colour: Clear
Review
Drumshando gunpowder gin is a traditional gin with a twist, carefully crafted in Ireland. Venturing into uncharted territory using botanicals like meadowsweet from Ireland and gunpowder green tea from China.
Meadowsweet, juniper angelica root, caraway seeds, cardamom, coriander, orrisroot, and star anis are steeped and boiled in copper pot stills. Finally, gunpowder tea, oriental grapefruit, lemon, and kaffir lime, are vapour infused.
On The Nose
Forward citrus highlighted the subtle herbaceous notes of juniper, green tea, and meadowsweet.
On The Palate
On the palate, flavours of grapefruit dominate, while juniper and green tea linger mid-palate, and the finish is sweet with a slightly spicy note.
Why It’s Good In A Martini
I would say this is the perfect gin for curious minds that want to explore something different. It’s ideal as a mixing gin, yet still smooth enough to be used in a Drumshando Gunpowder martini.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
3. Whitley Neill Original London Dry
Overview
- Distiller: Whitley Neill
- ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Clear
Review
Eighth-generation member of the Greenall Whitely family founded the Whitely Neill gin brand in 2005 by launching the award-winning Original London Dry gin.
The addition of baobab and Cape gooseberry fruits adds a contemporary twist to a traditional gin with the extra seven botanicals of juniper, cassia bark, coriander seed, orris root, angelica root, sweet orange, and lemon.
On The Nose
I found the baobab tart fruit releases a distinctive citrusy aroma to this juniper-forward gin, plus gooseberry’s bittersweet notes.
On The Palate
Piney fresh juniper opens the tastebuds to a bouquet of cut herds with a faint sweetness muddled with potpourri florals and exotic spices. The finish is delightfully long with laces of cocoa and candied lemon peel essences.
Why It’s Good In A Martini
The Whitley Neill original London dry gin shines as the main ingredient in a martini. Its softer, smoother flavours create an enjoyable James Bond moment of pure sophistication.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
4. Arbikie Kirstys Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Arbikie
- ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
- Country: Scotland
- Colour: Clear
Review
Inspired by the unique landscape surrounding the family-owned working farm, the botanicals are chosen to accentuate the elements of ocean, rock, and land.
The Scottish gin is named after the Master Distiller Kirsty Black, which chose kelp, carline thistle, and blaeberries to provide a seaside character to the gin, made from a base of three varieties of homegrown potatoes.
On The Nose
The fresh, crisp fragrances of sea air open the nose to aromas of fruity blaeberries notes and a hint of rose water with a whiff of fresh cracked black pepper.
On The Palate
The gin is well-balanced with smooth and creamy notes expertly intertwining the warm mid-tones of blaeberries with earthy savours of carline thistle and the delicate hint of spiced black pepper.
Why It’s Good In A Martini
I recommend Arbikie Kirstys Gin due to its saltiness for a savoury dirty martini with a fresh, crisp, coastal aroma of salinity.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
5. OPIHR Oriental Spiced Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Opihr Gin
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Clear
Review
Opihr gin is and oriental spiced gin is full of exotic flavours. It takes its mix of handpicked botanicals following the ancient oriental spice route, where the spices are distilled using the same London dry gin method from 1761.
The ten botanicals of cubeb berries, black pepper, coriander, orange peel, cumin, grapefruit peel, angelica root, cardamom, ginger, and juniper are steeped in copper pot stills ahead of distillation.
On The Nose
The rich, robust notes of warm earthy cumin and sweet fragranced cardamom are unmistakable, plus the sharp burst of grapefruit citrus.
On The Palate
I feel that the oriental spice tantalizes the palate with a warming mouth feel, while the soft camphor notes of cubeb berries balance the hints of spicy sweetness from the ginger.
Why It’s Good In A Martini
Opihr oriental spiced gin is the perfect companion for a Spiced Martinez as cubeb berries’ earthy notes are complimented by the smooth flavours of Assam tea-infused vermouth.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
6. Silent Pool Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Silent Pool
- ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Clear
Review
The first of the series launched in 2015, Silent Pool Distillery, aims to craft intricately realized gin using signature botanicals from the distillery’s surroundings.
With 24 botanicals creating a symphony of flavours, the juniper-driven gin is layered with oils from macerated chamomile, elderflower, rose, and lavender florals, plus kaffir lime and citrus.
On The Nose
The fresh aromas of piney eucalyptus and kaffir lime, black pepper, with hints of faint lavender and elderflower.
On The Palate
The clarifying notes of citrus are grounded with earthy infusions of spicy cassia bark and cubeb berries. I especially enjoyed the honey note on the semi-sweet finish.
Why It’s Good In A Martini
Silent Pool gin’s bold, bright aromatics offer a stirred martini with ample flavours and depth, with just a dash of orange bitters accentuating the citrus.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
7. Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Bombay Sapphire
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Clear
Review
Bombay Sapphire is a classic style London dry gin that is distilled using ten handpicked botanicals of almond, angelica, coriander, cassia, cubeb pepper, grains of paradise, juniper, liquorice, lemon, and orris root.
As I discovered on my recent visit to the Bombay Sapphire distillery, the botanicals are placed in large vapour-infused baskets and popped into Carterhead stills to capture every last drop of flavour.
On The Nose
Pine fresh juniper and zesty aromas of fresh lemon and subtle spices.
On The Palate
This is a juniper-forward gin and lemon zest leading to a heart of mild peppery spice and herbal flavours. I especially like the clean juniper finish with hints of mixed herbs.
Why It’s Good In A Martini
This is a clean and crisp juniper-forward gin that is perfect for anyone wanting a classic martini experience.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
8. No.3 London Dry Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Berry Bros. & Rudd
- ABV: 46% (92 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Clear
Review
No.3 London dry gin is uniquely distilled in the 100-year-old brick-encased copper pot still found in Holland, creating a precise balance of the three key ingredients of juniper, citrus, and spice.
Voted the world’s best gin four times in a row, it took the collaboration of master distillers, top mixologists, and Dr David Clutton, the only person to hold a PhD in Gin!
On The Nose
The nose is greeted with bright, uplifting notes of juniper, with a crisp aroma that heightens the senses.
On The Palate
Fresh floral notes support the juniper-forward gin with warming traces of cardamom spice. It’s accentuated with plenty of citrussy tangs while the coriander’s gingery spice lingers.
Why It’s Good In A Martini
The Dutch believe that the higher abv of No.3 London dry gin accentuates the gin flavours, providing the classic Gin Martini with clean and crisp flavours.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
Andrew’s Top Pick
Top Pick: Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin
My top pick for the best gin for a martini is Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin due to its clean delivery of citrus, pine, florals and fragrant exotic spices.
Rules For The Perfect Martini
Stirred, shaken, dirty, wet, and dry are some ways to order your martini, depending on your preference. But what makes the perfect martini? Following three simple rules will ensure your favourite martini is perfect.
- Martini consists of three ingredients, so make sure your ingredients are high quality for the best flavours.
- Properly chill your glass in the freezer before adding ingredients.
- Stirring your martini above all other styles promotes less dilution from the ice.
Conclusion
Distilleries are experimenting and creating contemporary gins that take an already expertly distilled liquor a step further with exotic herbs from around the world to develop richer, smoother, softer gins that are perfect for creating an iconic martini for connoisseurs to beginners to enjoy.
Also read: What To Mix With Gin, Except Tonic: 12 Must-Try Mixers
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from The Drinks Geek blog. We write articles on several fascinating areas of drinks, including different brands, drink types, cocktail recipes and more.
