10 best supermarket gins: top-quality spirits at bargain prices
Tesco, Aldi or Waitrose: who makes the best gin?
Gin remains extremely popular in the world of spirits and you can now get supermarket own-brand booze without having to buy “value” lines.
Own-brand alcohol has typically been pretty poor over the years, with gin barely distinguishable from some cleaning fluid at times. Fortunately, things are different these days. There’s an astonishingly large range to choose from.
Thanks to the country's increased appetite for the humble G&T, you can get everything from classic London Dry Gin to some crazy flavours in colours as striking as their tastes.
We’ve trawled the aisles for the best own-brand gins from the UK’s top supermarkets. Tonics at the ready...
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10. Waitrose - Heston Citrus Sherbet Lazy Gin
High-end supermarket Waitrose has teamed up with culinary wizard Heston Blumenthal to create this curious gin.
The recipe might be secret but this apple-based gin is enhanced with citrus botanicals to give, as the name suggests, a lemon sherbet zing. Heston suggests serving it with mediterranean tonic and a stick of liquorice - a sherbet fountain in drink form.
9. Sainsbury’s - Blackfriars Gin
We love the fresh and lively aroma of the Blackfriars Gin, from Sainsbury's Taste The Difference range.
Similar to some others, it’s distilled four times and uses a range of 10 different botanicals. Overall, this provides a complex but balanced flavour. You really wouldn’t guess this was a sub-£20 gin in a blind taste test.
8. M&S - Dry Gin No.01 Spice
This top-notch dry gin has been specially made for M&S by Thames Distiller in London, led by master distiller Charles Maxwell.
At first taste it’s a classic London Dry Gin, but other flavours gradually appear surface thanks to botanicals like rosemary, ginger and coriander. It’s both “standard” and complex at the same time.
There’s also a No.02 Zest edition that has orange peel, liquorice, angelica and cassia.
7. Sainsbury's - Orange & Blossom
Not all flavoured gin is pink so if you want something a bit different check out this orange and blossom gin from the 150th birthday range at Sainsbury’s.
At its heart this is a London Dry Gin made with eight different botanicals but also infused with orange, orange blossom and thyme. This gives it an unusual amber hue and a flavour profile that’s very fruity but also floral and a touch herbal.
6. Asda Extra Special - Pink Gin
Asda has a huge range of own-brand gin with all kinds to choose from including a number of flavoured liqueurs.
We like the pink grapefruit and elderflower blend but this pink gin is a great choice if you want a proper gin with some fruit flavour. Alongside some typical botanicals, it’s infused with natural strawberry, raspberry and redcurrant making it a perfect summer-time gin.