The Best American Gins

First released in 2006, Aviation Gin was developed in collaboration with Seattle bartender Ryan Magarian and Portland-based House Spirits Distillery. The American gin begins with a neutral grain spirit infused with seven botanicals—juniper, Elettaria cardamom, lavender, sarsaparilla, coriander, anise seed, and dried sweet orange peel—which are steeped and heated in a stainless-steel vessel before the spirit is redistilled. It is bottled at 42% ABV. The brand was acquired by Diageo in 2020, with actor Ryan Reynolds remaining a co-owner.

Bluecoat American Dry Gin is distilled at Philadelphia Distilling and was first released in 2005. Beginning with a neutral grain spirit, the gin is redistilled with botanicals including juniper, coriander seed, citrus peel, and angelica root, all of which are certified organic. The distillery relocated to Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood in 2016. It is bottled at 47% ABV.

Junípero Gin is an American gin produced in San Francisco, first released in 1996 by Anchor Distilling Co., now known as Hotaling & Co. Made in a London Dry style, it features juniper as the primary botanical alongside others such as aniseed, cardamom, cubeb, grains of paradise, and citrus peel. The gin is distilled in small batches in a copper pot still, left unfiltered, and bottled at 49.3% ABV (98.6 proof).

Gray Whale Gin is a California-made gin featuring botanicals sourced along the migratory path of the California gray whale, which spans from the Arctic to Baja California. Ingredients are hand-harvested, wild foraged, or organically farmed and include Big Sur juniper, Baja citrus, Sonoma fir needles, Mendocino sea kelp, Santa Cruz mint, and Central Valley almonds. A portion of proceeds supports ocean conservation efforts through partnerships with organizations including Oceana.

Koval Dry Gin is produced by Koval Distillery in Chicago, a woman-owned distillery founded in 2008. Made from an organic rye-based spirit, the gin is redistilled with a blend of 13 botanicals, including juniper, angelica root, coriander, grains of paradise, and rose hip. Only the heart cut is used in production. It is certified organic and kosher and bottled at 47% ABV.

Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin was created in 2012 by 3 Badge Mixology founder August Sebastiani as a tribute to his uncle, Zio Valerio, an avid cook and gardener. Made from a neutral grain spirit, the gin is distilled with five botanicals—juniper, cucumber, lemon, sage, and lavender—selected to reflect the ingredients his uncle favored. It is bottled at 45% ABV.

St. George Terroir Gin is an American gin made with a dozen botanicals inspired by California, including Douglas fir, California bay laurel, and coastal sage. Fir and sage are distilled separately to preserve their character, while juniper and bay laurel are vapor-infused and the remaining botanicals, including wok-roasted coriander seeds, fennel seed, and Seville orange, are distilled in a copper pot still. Produced at St. George Spirits in California, the gin is bottled at 45% ABV.

Barr Hill Gin is produced by Caledonia Spirits, a Vermont-based distillery founded in 2008 by beekeeper Todd Hardie and now led by owner and head distiller Ryan Christiansen. Made from a grain-based spirit, the gin is distilled with juniper in a custom extraction still, with raw northern honey added prior to bottling. It is bottled at 45% ABV.

St. George Botanivore Gin is an American gin made with 19 botanicals. Sixteen are steeped overnight in neutral spirit before distillation, including botanicals such as bergamot, Saigon cinnamon, and citra hops, while juniper, California bay laurel, and fresh cilantro are vapor-infused during distillation. Produced at St. George Spirits in California, the gin is distilled in a copper pot still and bottled at 45% ABV.

Greenhook Ginsmiths American Dry Gin is produced in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, using a base spirit distilled from organic wheat. The gin is vacuum-distilled in a copper still with a blend of botanicals including juniper, chamomile, elderflower, coriander, citrus peel, cinnamon, and orris root. This low-temperature distillation method helps preserve the more delicate botanical aromas. It is bottled at 47% ABV.