The year is half over and summer is just around the corner. High time, then, to take another look at the most popular gins of the moment. Which gins are running the fastest this year and are most enjoyed by you?
Citadelle
Citadelle has been at the top of just about every ranking list for several years now.
Launched in 1996 by Alexandre Gabriel of Maison Ferrand, Citadelle Gin is France's first craft gin and a pioneer in the global craft gin movement . Distilled in traditional Charentaise copper stills, originally used for cognac, Citadelle stands out for its unique 'progressive infusion' method, in which 19 botanicals - including juniper berries, citrus fruits and spices - are individually macerated to retain their aromatic essence . The distillery is located in the 18th-century Château de Bonbonnet near Cognac, where organic juniper berries are also grown . Visitors can take part in tours and tastings since 2024, discovering the production processes and rich history of this award-winning gin .
In our top 10 best-selling gins, Citadelle appears no less than 3 times. With a lead at #1, Citadelle Gin is the favourite go-to gin of many customers, but aficionados are also enamoured of the newer Citadelle Jardin d'Été (#3) and the Citadelle Rouge (#10). Their latest addition, the Citadelle Cornichon, remains stuck in 36th place for now, but remains a fine choice for those looking to surprise their guests with something different.
Mombasa Club
Pioneered in all areas for its flavour and special, authentic design, Mombasa Club has long been in our top favourite gins.
Mombasa Club Gin is a classic London Dry Gin rooted in an 1888 recipe, originally developed for the exclusive Mombasa Club in colonial Kenya. The gin is distilled four times in London and contains a carefully crafted blend of botanicals, including juniper, coriander, cassia bark, angelica root, clove and cumin, resulting in a smooth, spicy flavour with subtle citrus and anise notes. With an alcohol content of 41.5%, Mombasa Club Gin offers an elegant and balanced experience, perfect for a classic gin tonic or to enjoy pure. The distinctive bottle with retro look and glass handle reflects the colonial charm and rich history of this special gin.
Mombasa Club has two flagship gins, and both have featured in our top 10 for several years. So whether you choose the classic Mombasa Club Gin (#4) or the Mombasa Club Strawberry (#8) is a matter of taste, because you'll be fine with both. Those who want to try something new for once can also try the Mombasa Club Lemon (#77) and the Mombasa Club Colonel's Reserve (#54).
Kyrö
From Finland, the fairly recent Kyrö Distillery has been making solid inroads for some time.
Kyrö Gin is an award-winning Finnish gin produced by the Kyrö Distillery Company in Isokyrö, Finland. Founded in 2012 by five friends in a sauna, the distillery is known for using 100% Finnish rye as the base for their spirits. Kyrö Gin, formerly known as Napue Gin, combines this rye with 16 botanicals, including locally picked birch leaves, meadowsweet, cranberries and sea buckthorn, resulting in a spicy and floral flavour reminiscent of a fresh Finnish summer. In 2015, Kyrö Gin was named the world's best gin for gin & tonic by the International Wine and Spirit Competition. A classic serving tip is with tonic, ice, cranberries and a sprig of rosemary. Located in a renovated 1908 dairy, the distillery has since built a reputation for innovative and high-quality spirits.
You get to choose from three different gins, each with their own distinctive style and flavour. Remarkably, all three appear in the top 30 most popular gins, so you'll have a good choice with all three: Kyrö Rye Gin (#9), Kyrö Dark Gin (#12) and the Kyrö Pink Gin (#26).
Maison Christian Drouin
Maison Drouin is of course known primarily for that delicious calvados, but did you know they also produced gin?
Christian Drouin is a renowned French distillery from Normandy, known for its high-quality calvados and innovative gin creations. Founded in the 1960s, the family business is now run by Guillaume Drouin, the third generation, who uses his expertise as an oenologist and agronomist to combine traditional techniques with modern innovations. A notable example is Le Gin de Christian Drouin, launched in 2015, which brings together more than 30 cider apple varieties and eight separately distilled botanicals, such as juniper, ginger, vanilla and lemon, to create a complex and elegant gin. Some editions, such as the Calvados Cask Finish, are also aged for six months in former calvados casks, providing extra depth and a unique taste experience. With more than 230 gold medals and exports to more than 50 countries, Maison Drouin remains a leading name in the world of craft French spirits.
You can see that quality is paramount at Maison Drouin by the popularity of their products. Drouin Le Gin can be found at #6, but Le Gin Pira also comes along at #18 and for those looking for something else, there is also the Gin Carmina at #35.
Scapegrace
The term "Scapegrace" is an old-fashioned English word that literally means ransom, rascal or incorrigible rascal. It was traditionally used to denote someone behaving outside social norms - often in a charming, reckless or mischievous manner.
In the context of Scapegrace Gin (a well-known New Zealand gin brand), the name playfully refers to breaking conventions and following one's own rebellious path - befitting the image of an artisanal, independent distillery that combines tradition and innovation. The brand is distinguished by its artisanal production, unique botanicals and striking aesthetics.
Distilled in a restored 19th-century copper pot still, Scapegrace uses a base of neutral grain alcohol and pure water from the Southern Alps, which has been naturally filtered for 80 years . The Classic Dry Gin contains 12 botanicals, including juniper, lemon and orange peel, coriander seed, cardamom and cinnamon, resulting in a fresh, citrusy and spicy flavour . Scapegrace Gold, with 57% alcohol, adds dried mandarin for a more intense citrus experience and was awarded as the world's best London Dry Gin in 2018 .
The Scapegrace Black is the world's first natural black gin, coloured by botanicals such as aronia berries, saffron and butterfly pea flowers, changing colour to purple-pink when tonic is added . The bottles are inspired by classic Dutch gin bottles, adding to the uniqueness of this brand.
In our top, we already find the Scapegrace Black at spot #7. We find the Scapegrace Classic slightly lower at #25, followed by the Scapegrace Gold at spot #32 and finally the Scapegrace Blood Moon at #44. That's still creditable on an assortment of more than 400 gins!
Nikka
From Japan, only one gin comes from Nikka, but wow, what a one! At the second spot in our top, this Nikka Coffey Gin has to pass only Citadelle.
Nikka Coffey Gin is a Japanese gin distinguished by its silky smooth texture and distinct citrus profile, thanks in part to its distillation in traditional Coffey stills. This gin combines 11 botanicals, including four Japanese citrus-yuzu, kabosu, amanatsu and shequasar-with classic ingredients such as juniper, angelica, coriander seed and citrus peel. A subtle touch of apple and the spiciness of Japanese sansho pepper add depth and a long, spicy finish. With an alcohol content of 47%, Nikka Coffey Gin is a sophisticated choice both pure and in cocktails such as the Martini or Gimlet. The gin has received international recognition, including a silver medal at the World Gin Awards 2021.
Belgian gins
A lot of gins are also produced in Belgium. Some of them are even so popular that they managed to reach our top. For instance, the Forest Dry Gins are still very much in demand, but the NOG (No Ordinary Gin) by Bert Bruyneel/Asta Morris is also doing well. Slightly lower in the top but still worth mentioning are the gins of Maredsous and Massy M43. In other words, those who like to serve a chauvinist-tinged Gin&Tonic are not left hungry!
Colourful and tasteful: Whitley Neill
Been on the market for years and wildly popular in the UK, but for now only broken through to bars and real foodies with us: Whitley Neill.
Whitley Neill Gin is an award-winning craft gin created by Johnny Neill, an eighth-generation distiller from a leading British distilling family. What makes this gin special is the combination of traditional London Dry Gin elements with exotic African botanicals, such as baobab fruit and Cape gooseberry, which create a unique, smooth and complex flavour with notes of citrus and spice. The gin is distilled in small batches in an antique copper pot still at the City of London Distillery, the first gin distillery in the City of London in 200 years. The brand also offers a range of flavour variants inspired by global ingredients, including Protea & Hibiscus and Aloe & Cucumber, which underline Whitley Neill's diversity and innovation.
Distinctive features include the beautiful, colourful bottles and the highly unusual flavours that complement this basic gin. Think Yuzu Strawberry, Rhubarb & Ginger, Blood Orange, Apple & Berry, Pineapple, Grapefruit and more. They even offer some non-alcoholic gins in their range! As such, Whitley Neill is about the only brand in our range that you can really surprise with and visually embellish your bar cabinet at the same time.
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I've known Broekmans since I graduated in 2006 and thanks to Jan I've come to know the passion for spirits. I dedicate myself every day to the webshop, customer service and all the IT involved. In my spare time, besides whiskey, I can also really enjoy rum, but just as much as a gin tonic or a simple bellini. In the words of Martien Meiland, if there's no alcohol in it, don't call me!
