The 5 Best Gins We Tasted in January 2024
As January wraps up, we here at Gin Raiders would like to commend the exceptional gins we’ve tasted this month, whether freshly released or just crossing our desk for the first time.
For those new to Gin Raiders, we evaluate gins based on our Chief Spirits Critic Jay West’s reviews, aggregated reviews from other reputable critics and our managing editor’s tasting notes. If a gin has been reviewed by enough experts, you’ll see an average score in the top left corner of its spirit image. Read more about our process here.
Out of the juniper spirits sampled in January 2024, these five stood out as our favorites!
5.) Edinburgh classic gin
As the flagship offering from Edinburgh Distillery, this classic gin aims to embody the spirit of Scotland’s capital. Drawing inspiration from the lush parks and gothic architecture of the city, the botanical mix includes orange peel, mulberries, pine buds, lavender and lemongrass.
Edinburgh Classic Gin’s nose reveals notes of pepper, lemongrass, coriander, juniper and basil. On the palate, pepper, bright citrus and lavender shine through. The finish is clean and crisp, leaving behind traces of lemon and grapefruit, complemented by a hint of salinity. In his review, Chief Spirits Critic Jay West deemed the gin an “instant classic full of life, flavor and fun.”
Bottled at 43% ABV, Edinburgh Classic Gin can be yours for under $35.
4.) Gin Mare
Crafted at an 18th-century chapel near Barcelona, Gin Mare strives to capture a Mediterranean essence. Inspired by the local flavors and culture of the region, this spirit boasts a blend of basil, rosemary and thyme, alongside juniper, orange, lemon and cardamom. Gin Mare also features the Arbequina olive as its star ingredient. According to the distillery, the acidity levels of the olive fluctuate annually, making each distillation a “culinary work of art.”
This savory herb garden gin makes for a marvelous dirty martini, especially garnished with oodles of olives and a lemon twist, à la Stanley Tucci. Resting at 42.7% ABV, Gin Mare can be found for around $42 per 700-ml bottle.
3.) Samuel Maverick Texas Dry Gin
Situated in the historic homestead of San Antonio’s early settlers, the Maverick family, Maverick Whiskey Distillery brings forth a dry gin with a Texan twist. This spirit is crafted using a copper hybrid pot still and Texas-grown grains. Embracing local flavor, it features a blend of homegrown rosemary, pecans, bay laurel, Mexican mint marigold and Valley grapefruit zest, alongside traditional juniper and coriander.
This gin is so gorgeously complex that we suggest enjoying it simply over ice, garnished with an expressed grapefruit twist or aromatic rosemary sprig. Bottled at 45% ABV, Samuel Maverick Texas Dry Gin can be found for $45 through the distillery’s online shop.
Maverick Whiskey Distillery also produces a delicious barrel-aged expression of Texas Dry Gin using #3 char white American oak barrels that previously held Maverick rye whiskey. The gin is then left to rest for two years inside the thick walls of a historic bank vault located just beneath the distillery’s building. Read more about this limited-release gin here.
2.) Waymar Gin House Signature Dry Gin
Hailing from Waymar Gin House in Tennessee, this American gin rests at an approachable 40% ABV. The blend features coriander, orris root, angelica seed, cassia, rose petals, cucumber, bitter orange, vanilla, lemon, and lime peel for a “jazzy and crisp” profile.
The nose is rich with perfumed honey, juniper and prominent lavender notes. On the palate, the gin offers a luxurious and layered experience, with flavors of honey, lavender, orange peel, coriander and a burst of cracked white pepper. The finish is long and evolving, gradually becoming sweeter and fruitier with hints of lemon, orange, vanilla and anise flower.
Priced at around $40, Waymar Gin will soon be available for online purchase. So stay tuned for the link!
1.) Big Gin Private Barrel PX Sherry Cask Finish
Crafted at Seattle’s Big Gin Distillery exclusively for Total Wine, this barrel-aged gin from Washington presents a distinctive double-cask finish. Aged for two years in an American Single Malt Barrel, it undergoes an additional one-and-a-half-year rest in a PX Sherry cask.
The nose is characterized by floral and perfume notes, complemented by hints of grape, honey and toffee. On the palate, it offers a sweet profile with flavors of plum, raisin, toffee, caramel and a subtle touch of juniper. The sherry influence is present but not overpowering. The finish is long, featuring a blend of fruit, raisin and tobacco from the PX cask.
“This is unreal, and wonderful,” West wrote in his review. “I’ve never had anything like it and wish more like this existed.”
Big Gin’s Private Barrel PX Sherry Cask Finish is difficult to find for sale considering its exclusive release — but if you happen to stumble across a bottle, do not hesitate to snag it.