Gin
London Dry, cucumber, pink. In twenty years, gin went from dusty to the busiest shelf in the liquor store. Here you'll learn what's in gin, what types of gin there are, how much alcohol it contains, how to drink it, and which glass to choose.
The best-known gin brands
Three gin brands you'll find in almost any bar. Each comes from a different corner of the shelf.
Tanqueray
Just four botanicals, bottled at a remarkably high strength. If you want to know what a dry, piney gin should taste like, start here.
About Tanqueray →Gordon's
More gin is sold nowhere else in the world. It's at the legal minimum and milder than Tanqueray. For an uncomplicated gin and tonic, many bars reach for this bottle.
About Gordon's →Hendrick's
Scottish gin with rose and cucumber, in the dark apothecary bottle. This bottle brought the contemporary style to the Netherlands.
About Hendrick's →Our spirits page features all the brands we cover, from gin to whiskey.
Every gin in one place, by brand
3 brands and 13 varieties, each with its own page about flavor, cocktails, and the right glass.
One flavor is required; the rest is up to you
What goes into gin? Juniper, at the very least, because most of the flavor must come from it. That's required by law, and it's really the only rule. Beyond that, distilleries can add whatever they like. Along with juniper, they usually add coriander, angelica root, orris root, and citrus peel. That's where things start to differ. This freedom means there are now hundreds of very different gins on the shelves.
Gin starts as neutral alcohol, usually made from grain. It goes through the still again with the botanicals. Sometimes they hang in a basket in the vapor; sometimes they go right into the still. The alcohol content varies from bottle to bottle. The minimum is 37.5%, and most are between 37.5 and 47%. The higher the percentage, the more you can taste the botanicals in a gin and tonic. That's why more expensive gins are often a little stronger.
In brief
Four styles you'll find on every shelf
Gin flavors vary depending on what can be added after distillation. And on how far a distillery is willing to stray from juniper.
London Dry
The strictest kind. All the flavor must come through during distillation; nothing can be added afterward, and almost no sugar is allowed. Dry, piney, and spicy. The name has nothing to do with London.
Contemporary gin
The modern style. Juniper takes a step back, giving flowers, cucumber, tea or spices more room. It's still gin, it just looks very different.
Flavoured gin
Gin with fruit added after distillation, such as strawberry, raspberry, lemon or passion fruit. Sweeter and easier to drink. Usually bottled at the legal minimum strength.
Non-alcoholic
Legally, it's not gin, but it's made with the same botanicals. You miss the body of the alcohol. With plenty of ice and a robust tonic, you get as close as possible.
Old Tom is the sweeter predecessor. Navy Strength is 57% ABV. And sloe gin is actually a liqueur made from sloe berries.
Piney and spicy, almost always with citrus
Juniper & citrus
That piney, resinous juniper, almost always topped off with citrus peel. With a contemporary gin, you may also smell flowers or cucumber.
Dry and spicy
Dry, with a touch of pepper from the coriander and something earthy from the angelica root. A flavoured gin is sweet and fruity on the palate.
Clean and short
Dry and clean, with juniper and sometimes a slight bitterness from the iris root. The higher the proof, the longer you taste it.
This is what a classic London Dry gin tastes like. A contemporary gin scores higher on fruity and lower on spicy. A flavoured gin scores around 4 on sweetness.
Three ways to drink gin
You hardly ever drink gin neat. It's all about the proportions, the ice and what you garnish it with.
As a gin and tonic
5 cl gin to 15 cl ice-cold tonic in a large glass filled to the brim with ice. More ice melts more slowly than less ice, so don't skimp. Choose a garnish to match the gin. Lemon peel with a London Dry, cucumber with Hendrick's.
Gin and tonic recipe →In a Dry Martini
Stir 60 ml gin and 10 to 20 ml dry vermouth for thirty seconds with plenty of ice. Strain into an ice-cold glass and finish with lemon peel or an olive. Stir, don't shake, to keep it clear.
Dry Martini recipe →In a Negroni
Equal parts gin, Campari and red vermouth over a large ice cube, with a piece of orange peel. Bitter, sweet and spicy all at once. This is where a robust gin really shines.
Negroni recipe →The best-known gin cocktails
No spirit features in as many classics as gin. Start with these recipes.
Gin and tonic
Gin, tonic, plenty of ice, and the right garnish. Simple, and that's why it's difficult.
Negroni
Equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Three ingredients, no doubt.
Dry Martini
Gin and dry vermouth, ice-cold and clear. The most talked-about cocktail there is.
Tom Collins
Gin, lemon, sugar, and sparkling water. A gin fizz for those who don't like tonic.The right glass for gin
A gin and tonic needs a large glass with room for plenty of ice. A Martini, on the other hand, calls for a small glass that stays ice-cold. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
What else you'd like to know about gin
Can't find your question here? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
To the cocktail recipes →What percentage is gin?
What's the difference between gin and jenever?
What does London Dry mean?
Which gin is best for a gin and tonic?
Where does the gin and tonic combination come from?
How much ice should you put in a gin and tonic?
Buy gin
Want the bottle delivered straight to your door? Order gin online from Gall & Gall. Gall & Gall has 125, 32 of which are on sale.
Prices as of November 6, 2026, as reported by Gall & Gall. You can see the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; you pay nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.
