Words: Tim McKirdy
Illustration: Sara Pinsonault
Published: April 17, 2025
For more than a decade, a swell of producers have offered inventive alternatives to traditional London Dry gin, expanding the category with approachable expressions that place less emphasis on piney juniper. Similarly, they’ve looked beyond the classic supporting cast of savory herbs and bitter roots to instead focus on vibrant fruits and expressive flowers, all with the added upshot of delivering a sense of place.
That’s not to say London Dry doesn’t deserve our attention or isn’t worthy of its status as the standard bearer for the category. Without it, there would be no classically made Dry Martinis or Negronis — no bittersweet dance pairing gin’s juniper with tonic’s quinine.
Still, modern interpretations from increasingly international producers represent the lion’s share of new products that arrive at the VinePair HQ for our annual gin tasting. Equally refreshing are the newer craft outfits challenging the London Dry stalwarts with their own take on the traditional style. And of that OG old guard: how do they fare against the fresh contenders looking to take their crown?
Find out right here in our list of the 30 best gins to drink in 2025.