The Best Gins for Summer Drinking

The most citrus-forward expression from the Isle of Wight Distillery, Mermaid Zest builds on the distillery's flagship gin by adding grapefruit, cascade hops, Isle of Wight bergamot, lemon zest, and wild-foraged coastal rosemary. Like all Mermaid expressions, it is presented in a plastic-free bottle designed with the scales of a mermaid's tail in mind. Available in the US beginning February 2023. (SRP $34.99)

The inaugural spirit from Isle of Harris Distillers, founded in 2015 in Tarbert on the Isle of Harris in Scotland's Outer Hebrides, this gin is distilled in a small copper still known as The Dottach. Its most distinctive botanical is sugar kelp, sustainably hand-harvested by a local diver from the surrounding seas. Eight additional botanicals include juniper, coriander, cubeb, cassia bark, angelica root, bitter orange peel, orris root, and licorice root. Bottled at 45% ABV, it became available in the US in 2021. (SRP $65.99)

Distilled from 100% corn in Nikka's signature Coffey stills at Miyagikyo Distillery near Sendai, Japan, its 11 botanicals are distilled three different ways — atmospheric distillation for the gin botanicals, and vacuum distillation for both the Japanese citrus and sansho pepper components — before being blended together. Japanese botanicals include yuzu, amanatsu, shequasar, sansho pepper, and apple alongside traditional gin botanicals of juniper, coriander, angelica root, lemon peel, and orange peel. First released in 2017, it is bottled at 94 proof.

Produced at The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, Ireland, this expression was inspired by founder PJ Rigney's travels to Natal, Brazil during Carnival. Built on the foundation of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin's oriental botanicals and gunpowder tea, it adds a vapor-infusion of Brazilian pineapple, grapefruit, and lime. Available nationwide beginning September 2024. (SRP $36.99)

Produced by Hayman's of London, the oldest gin-distilling family in the city dating back to 1863, Vibrant Citrus is built on the distillery's classic ten-botanical juniper backbone. The citrus character comes from sun-dried peels of mandarin, pomelo, kumquat, and Persian lime, distilled together with the house botanicals over a two-day process. Bottled at 88.8 proof.

Developed by Casa Lumbre and Master Distiller Iván Saldaña, Las Californias takes its name from the historic region spanning what is now coastal California and Baja Mexico. The Cítrico expression is built around botanicals brought to the region through centuries of cultural migration, including lemongrass, figs, almonds, and citrus, all widely grown in the region today. The base juniper is Juniperus californica, a species that grows only in a small area between Hollywood and the Ojos Negro Valley. Bottled at 80 proof, available beginning June 2022. (SRP $32.99)

The first new permanent addition to the Hendrick's portfolio in nine years, Another Hendrick's was developed by Master Distiller Lesley Gracie at the Hendrick's Gin Palace in Girvan, Scotland. It retains the brand's signature rose and cucumber infusions while adding orange blossom and cacao as new botanical elements. Presented in a white bottle rather than the classic dark green, it is bottled at 88 proof and became available beginning February 2026. (SRP $34.99)

The third expression from Empress 1908, produced by Victoria Distillers in Victoria, British Columbia using small batch copper pot stills. Eight botanicals are used including juniper, lemon, jasmine, star anise, and cardamom, with fresh cucumber and lemon zest infused post-distillation. Bottled at 85 proof, it became available in the US beginning May 2024. (SRP $39.99)

A permanent addition to the Citadelle lineup since April 2021, Jardin d'Eté is inspired by the summer garden at Château de Bonbonnet in Ars, France, cultivated by Debbie Gabriel, wife of Citadelle founder Alexandre Gabriel. Built on the distillery's 19 original botanicals, it adds Charentais melon, yuzu zest, orange peel, and whole lemon, including the flesh and juice rather than just the peel, all cold distilled to preserve their fresh character. Juniper for the gin is sourced from the distillery's own orchard just across from the château. Bottled at 83 proof. (SRP $24.99)

Produced at Silent Pool Distillery on the Albury Estate in Surrey, England, adjacent to the spring-fed Silent Pool lake that lends the gin its name, Silent Pool was founded in 2015. Made with 24 botanicals through a four-step process combining maceration, tea infusion, vapor basket, and pot distillation, notable botanicals include local lavender, chamomile, elderflower, linden, fresh orange peel, pear, and honey sourced from beehives directly behind the distillery. Bottled at 86 proof. (SRP $59.99)

Produced at Torino Distillati near Turin, Italy, Malfy Gin Rosa is distilled using the peel of sun-ripened Sicilian pink grapefruit grown in Mediterranean coastal citrus groves. The peels are infused with Italian juniper in grain spirit for 36 hours before five additional botanicals — lemon peel, grapefruit peel, angelica root, orris root, and coriander — are distilled in a vacuum still. A small amount of rhubarb distillate is added, contributing the gin's pale pink color. Bottled at 82 proof. (SRP $29.99)

A flavored expression from Condesa Gin in Mexico City, Prickly Pear & Orange Blossom combines indigenous desert cactus fruit with the floral notes of orange blossom and the zest of Mexican limes. Distilled with prickly pear, orange blossom, raspberry, juniper, coriander, and lime, it is a clean and fruit-forward take on the brand's Mexico City Extra Dry Gin style. Bottled at 86 proof. (SRP $44.99)