The Best Gin: London Dry, New Western and Old Tom, Matched to Your Martini, G&T or Negroni
The best gin for a martini is rarely the best gin for a gin and tonic, and neither one is what you want in a Negroni. So we sort gin the way we do at the counter: first by style (juniper-forward, botanical or lightly sweet), then by the drink you're making. Every bottle below ships nationwide.
In This Guide
Our Picks at a Glance
- Best gin overall: Tanqueray London Dry. Bold juniper, high proof, works in everything.
- Best gin for a martini: No. 3 London Dry. Six botanicals, juniper first, built for a dry martini.
- Best gin for a gin and tonic: Bombay Sapphire. Bright, peppery and lively with tonic.
- Best gin for a Negroni: Beefeater London Dry. Citrus and juniper that stand up to Campari.
- Best gin for beginners: Hendrick's. Cucumber and rose, gentle on the juniper.
- Best gin under $25: Beefeater. A bartender's favorite at an everyday price.
- Best Old Tom gin: Scofflaw Old Tom. Lightly sweet, made right here in Illinois.
- Best splurge gin: Monkey 47. Forty-seven botanicals from Germany's Black Forest.
- Best gin gift: Empress 1908 Indigo. Turns from indigo to pink when you add tonic.
The Best Gins, Compared
ABV is the producer's published US strength. Flavor is how each gin tastes neat, before ice or tonic.
| Bottle | Style / Origin | ABV | Flavor | Price tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanqueray London Dry | London Dry / UK | 47.3% | Big juniper, dry | Under $30 | Martini, G&T, all-purpose |
| Beefeater | London Dry / London | 44% | Juniper, orange peel | Under $25 | Negroni, value |
| Bombay Sapphire | London Dry / UK | 47% | Bright, peppery, citrus | Under $30 | Gin and tonic |
| Plymouth | Plymouth gin / England | 41.2% | Soft, earthy, rooty | Under $40 | Dry martini |
| Sipsmith London Dry | London Dry / London | 41.6% | Juniper, lemon, smooth | Under $40 | Martini, G&T |
| No. 3 London Dry | London Dry / Netherlands | 46% | Juniper-led, dry, pine | Under $50 | Martini purists |
| Hendrick's | New Western / Scotland | 41.4% | Cucumber, rose, soft | Under $40 | Beginners, G&T |
| Citadelle | Dry gin / France | 44% | Floral, spice, citrus | Under $30 | Negroni, G&T |
| The Botanist | Dry gin / Islay, Scotland | 46% | Herbal, floral, layered | Under $40 | Sipping, G&T |
| Monkey 47 | Dry gin / Germany | 47% | Complex, berry, spice | $50 to $75 | Splurge martini |
| Empress 1908 Indigo | New Western / Canada | 42.5% | Floral, citrus, tea | Under $40 | Gifts, color-changing G&T |
| Scofflaw Old Tom | Old Tom / Illinois | 45% | Lightly sweet, floral, spice | Under $40 | Martinez, Tom Collins |
Best Gin for a Martini
A martini is mostly gin, so the gin needs enough body and proof to carry the drink. Juniper-forward London Dry gins make a crisp, classic martini. Plymouth makes a softer, rounder one.
Made at the Black Friars Distillery in Plymouth, Plymouth is earthier and softer than London Dry, with less sharp juniper and more root and citrus. It has been a martini gin for well over a century, and it still makes the smoothest classic dry martini we know.
Just four botanicals, led by a big hit of juniper. The high proof keeps the martini cold and structured, even with a generous pour of vermouth. If you like your martini dry and bracing, this is the one.
Created by the London wine merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd and distilled in the Netherlands. Only six botanicals, with juniper front and center and grapefruit and cardamom behind it. It's the gin for a purist's martini: dry, clean and very piney.
Tanqueray's premium bottling, distilled with fresh whole citrus. Brighter and more grapefruit-driven than the standard bottle. Our pick for a martini with a lemon twist.
Best Gin for a Gin and Tonic
Tonic is bitter and sweet, so you want a gin with enough citrus and spice to cut through it. Higher proof helps too. A G&T made with a 40% gin can taste watery.
Ten botanicals, vapor-infused, so the flavor is bright and aromatic rather than heavy. Lemon peel, coriander and pepper pop right through tonic. Big wedge of lime, plenty of ice, and you're set.
Made by the Bruichladdich whisky distillery with 22 botanicals foraged on the island of Islay. Herbal, floral and layered. In a G&T it tastes like a walk through a meadow. Garnish with a sprig of thyme or mint.
Colored with butterfly pea flower, it pours deep indigo and turns pink the moment you add tonic or citrus. Floral, citrusy and soft. It's also a crowd-pleasing gift.
Six Japanese botanicals including sakura flower, yuzu peel and sencha tea. Delicate and citrusy. Serve it in a tall glass with tonic and thin slices of fresh ginger, the way Suntory suggests.
Want it all in one box? Our Gin & Tonic Kit has the essentials.
Best Gin for a Negroni
Campari and sweet vermouth are loud. A Negroni needs a gin with enough juniper and citrus to stay in the conversation, which means a classic London Dry style at 44% or higher.
Distilled in London, with juniper and a strong Seville orange note that lines up perfectly with Campari's bitter orange. It's the gin many bartenders reach for first when building a Negroni, and it's priced for everyday use.
Pot-distilled in France with 19 botanicals. Floral and spicy with a round texture, it makes a richer, more aromatic Negroni. It's also one of our best-selling gins.
A bartender-designed London Dry with nine botanicals, built specifically to work in cocktails. Juniper, citrus and a hint of floral. Rock solid in a Negroni, a Tom Collins or a Gimlet.
Prefer a shortcut? Our Negroni Kit includes gin, Campari and sweet vermouth. For more on the bitter side of the drink, read The Best Bitter Liqueurs.
Best Gin for Beginners
If you think gin tastes like a pine tree, start with a softer, more floral New Western style. Less juniper, more cucumber, citrus and flowers.
Infused with cucumber and rose after distillation, which softens the juniper and gives it a cool, fresh finish. The bottle we hand to people who say they don't like gin. Serve it with tonic and a slice of cucumber.
Italian gin with juniper and bright citrus. Light and easy, great with soda water and a lemon wheel on a warm evening.
Best Value and Splurge Gins
An American dry gin that's briefly rested in oak barrels, which gives it a slightly smoother, rounder edge. A reliable party gin for punches and pitchers.
From North Shore Distillery, one of Illinois' first craft distilleries after Prohibition, right up the road from our stores. Juniper-forward with bright citrus and a floral lift. A great local gin for a martini or a Southside.
Forty-seven botanicals, many from the Black Forest, including lingonberries and spruce. Dense, complex and still balanced. The gin to stir into a martini for a special night. Also available in a 375ml bottle.
From the Nolet family, who also make Ketel One. Turkish rose, peach and raspberry give it a fruity, floral style. An elegant gift for someone who likes a lighter gin.
London Dry vs. New Western vs. Old Tom
All gin is a neutral spirit flavored with juniper. The style tells you how much juniper, how the flavor gets in, and whether there's any sweetness.
London Dry
A method, not a place. The botanicals must be distilled into the spirit, and nothing can be added after distillation except water, more neutral spirit and a trace of sugar, so no added flavor and no added color. That makes London Dry gins crisp, dry and juniper-forward. Tanqueray, Beefeater, Bombay Sapphire and Sipsmith are classic examples.
New Western (contemporary) gin
Juniper is still there, but other botanicals take the lead: cucumber, rose, citrus, tea or local herbs. Hendrick's, Empress 1908 and Roku all fit here. Easier for newcomers and great with tonic.
Old Tom
The lightly sweetened gin style of the 1800s, sitting between Dutch genever and London Dry. It's what classic recipes like the Martinez and the original Tom Collins were built on. Try Scofflaw Old Tom, made in Illinois with osmanthus blossom, or Aviation Old Tom, which gets its rounded sweetness from barrel aging rather than sugar.
Plymouth and genever
Plymouth gin is softer and earthier than London Dry. Genever, the Dutch ancestor of gin, is malty and closer to whiskey. Try Bols Genever if you're curious.
How to Serve Gin
- Martini: stir 2.5 oz gin with 0.5 oz dry vermouth over ice, strain into a chilled glass, finish with a lemon twist or olive.
- Gin and tonic: fill a tall glass with ice, add 2 oz gin, top with 4 oz good tonic and garnish to match the gin: lime for London Dry, cucumber for Hendrick's, grapefruit for floral gins.
- Negroni: equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, stirred over ice, with an orange peel.
- Gimlet or Southside: gin, fresh lime and simple syrup, shaken. Add mint for a Southside.
- Neat: worth trying with complex gins like Monkey 47 or The Botanist, slightly chilled.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best gin?
Tanqueray London Dry is the best all-around gin for most people. It works in a martini, a G&T and a Negroni. For beginners, Hendrick's. For a splurge, Monkey 47.
What is the best gin for a martini?
No. 3 London Dry is the best gin for a classic dry martini, and Tanqueray makes a bold one for less. Plymouth makes a softer, smoother martini.
What is the best gin for a gin and tonic?
Bombay Sapphire is our pick for a gin and tonic. Its bright citrus and pepper cut through tonic. The Botanist and Roku are great alternatives.
What is the best gin for a Negroni?
Beefeater is the best gin for a Negroni. Its juniper and orange notes balance Campari and sweet vermouth, and it's affordable enough to make them often.
What's the difference between London Dry and Old Tom gin?
London Dry is dry, with no flavoring added after distillation and at most a trace of sugar. Old Tom is slightly sweeter and rounder, the style used in 19th-century cocktails like the Martinez.
What is the best gin for people who don't like gin?
Hendrick's is the best gin for people who don't like gin. Its cucumber and rose notes soften the juniper. Malfy and Empress 1908 are also good starting points.
Shop Gin at The Liquor Barn
London Dry, New Western, Old Tom and craft gins from Illinois to Islay. Ships nationwide. Family-owned since 1982.
Shop All Gin Cocktail Kits Tonic and MixersThe Liquor Barn operates three retail locations in Vernon Hills, Wheeling, and Niles, Illinois. We are a licensed Illinois retailer and ship to states where direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping is permitted. Prices and availability change; the product page always has the current price. Questions about shipping to your state? Contact us here. Please drink responsibly.
