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These 8 Outstanding Gins Hail From Unexpected Places

A gin martini
A gin martini | © Don LaVange / Flickr

Gin, the spirit flavored with juniper berries, is generally associated with Britain (where most gins are distilled) or Spain (where the “gin & tonic” is practically the national drink). But some of the best gins on the market today are distilled in places you’d never expect. In honor of World Gin Day on June 10, here are eight of our very favorite gins from all around the world. Happy drinking!

Argentina: Apostoles Gin

Apostoles uses yerba mate—the plant used to make mate, the most Argentine of beverages—in its gin, plus eucalyptus, peppermint, and pink grapefruit, producing a creamy, soft, and herbal gin.
Hermoso viernes para un Tónico de Pomelo con amigos: una pizca de jugo de pomelo en polvo, 50ml de #ApostolesGin, 125ml de agua tónica #PulpoBlanco, hielo y tomillo fresco.
A post shared by Príncipe de los Apóstoles (@apostolesgin) on Mar 17, 2017 at 9:25am PDT

Australia: Four Pillars Gin

Incorporating local botanicals like Tasmanian pepperberry and lemon myrtle, as well as classic ones like cinnamon, star anise, and whole oranges (peel and flesh), Four Pillars is a citrusy, spicy, peppery gin perfect for use in a gin and tonic.
A bit in love with this cheeky shot of our #RareDryGin from the #Juniperlooza Festival gang. Tickets are on sale for this rockin’ #Melbourne gin festival planned for 19-20 Nov. We’ll be there kicking it with loads of awesome distillers, and plenty of delicious gin! Check out the @juniperlooza account for more details and plenty of #ginporn. #FourPillarsGin #CraftDistilling
A post shared by Four Pillars Gin (@fourpillarsgin) on Oct 4, 2016 at 10:26pm PDT

New York, USA: Brooklyn Gin

Nearly half of Brooklyn Gin’s 11 botanicals are citrus peels of various types, lending the gin a citrus-forward flavor and a clean finish. The juniper berries are hand-cracked to release the essential oils for additional vibrancy, and lavender and cocoa nibs add complexity.
F R E S H 🍸🍋🍊😍 #BrooklynGin #FreshGin #DrinkLocal #Handcrafted #SmallBatch #Made_In_NY #Brooklyn #Gin #GinUp #GinTonic #Ginoclock #Ginstagram #Drinkstagram 📷 @ameliatubb
A post shared by Brooklyn Gin (@brooklyngin) on Apr 18, 2017 at 11:06am PDT

Germany: Monkey 47 Gin

The “47” in Monkey 47‘s name refers to two things: The gin contains 47 different botanicals (many of them from Germany’s Black Forest) as flavorings, and it’s bottled at 47 percent ABV, or a whopping 94 proof. It’s as complex as you’d expect from that number of ingredients, with plenty of spicy, fruity, woodsy, and herbal notes, but is surprisingly balanced. Enjoy it in a martini.
Discover the Black Forest with our Monkey! #blackforestwanderlust #monkey47 #gin #monkeygin #blackforest #schwarzwald #ginlovers #instagin #leica #ginstagram #monkeydrum #heimat #rarebuttrue #drinks #gincocktails
A post shared by Monkey 47 (@monkey47_dry_gin) on Mar 17, 2017 at 10:22am PDT

Italy: Bordiga Occitan Gin

With a recipe dating back to 1888, Bordiga Occitan’s gin is flavored with just four ingredients: wild juniper handpicked in the Maritime Alps near the distillery, plus cardamom, angelica, and a secret citrusy ingredient the distillery won’t name. We’d suggest using the gin in a Negroni, the classic Italian cocktail.
In need of the #perfect #G&T? Look no further! Our junipery #London dry #Occitan, @craftginclub’s Gin of the Month, is available online at freud.eu and @masterofmalt 💚🍸#cocktails #classic #italian #gin #juniper #summertime
A post shared by Bordiga1888 (@bordiga1888) on May 29, 2017 at 6:01am PDT

Maine, USA: Bimini Gin

Bimini Gin has been referred to as “summer in a bottle,” and with its bright, clear, citrusy flavor, we can’t disagree. It’s less woodsy tasting than most gins, and the inclusion of hops and grapefruit zest in addition to the usual juniper and coriander lends it a fresh note.
Any day can be a beach day.
A post shared by Bimini Gin (@biminigin) on May 5, 2017 at 1:29pm PDT

Sweden: Hernö Gin

Produced in the northernmost distillery in the world, Hernö has won more awards than any other and it’s our own personal favorite. Its botanicals include lingonberries (any Ikea-goer will recognize the fruit as uniquely Swedish), and its flavors are balanced and complex enough for a martini, but bold enough to stand up to citrus. Try it in a Last Word. It’s tough to find in the U.S., so it makes a great souvenir of travels to Scandinavia.
National Day of Sweden. Let’s paint all in blue and yellow! #hernogin #junipercask #ginstagram #visitsweden #swedishmoments #sweden #sverige #högakusten #ångermanland #härnösand
A post shared by Hernö Gin by Jon Hillgren (@hernogin) on Jun 6, 2017 at 12:03am PDT

Vermont, USA: Barr Hill Gin

Barr Hill’s distiller was a commercial beekeeper for decades before he started distilling gin in 2011, and his product is flavored with just two elements: juniper and honey that’s added just before bottling. As a result, it has an unusual floral quality and slight viscosity, toeing the line between London Dry and Old Tom styles.
Don’t miss Barr Hill Cocktail Week at @beauvermont 🐝 A group from the distillery will be headed over for the 4pm kick off tomorrow night, come hang out! #raiseyourbarr #barrhillgin #tomcatgin #barrhillvodka
A post shared by BARR HILL (@caledoniaspirits) on May 25, 2017 at 2:50pm PDT

About the author

Kathryn has eaten her way around the globe, seeking out local delicacies in more than 40 countries and counting. After receiving a Master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, she began writing about travel, food, and drink, and has held editorial roles at luxury publications including Conde Nast Traveler and the Robb Report. When she's in NYC, she can generally be found on a barstool at one of the city's best cocktail bars or at home sipping fine wine with her cat on her lap.

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