Our recommendation for the best value in gin goes once again to Broker’s London Dry Gin ($16.95; 94 proof) made from English wheat and 10 botanicals. Floral, herby and a bit piney, it packs a big alcohol punch, so watch out!
Citadelle Gin ($19.95; 88 proof) is made in France using 19 botanicals. It’s a bit different from most gins, with its orange peel aroma and sharp flavor edged with spearmint. Juniper has a much smaller role in this gin than in most.
Death’s Door Gin ($29.95; 94 proof) is made on Washington Island, in Wisconsin’s beautiful Door County, and named for the strait in Lake Michigan that runs between the island and the mainland. Made from the island’s 2010 harvest of organic hard red winter wheat, wild juniper berries and organic botanicals, it’s got a very piney aroma and assertive anise flavor.
Edinburgh Gin ($34.99; 86 proof) is made with Scottish juniper, pine, heather and milk thistle, resulting in an unusual, quite delicious taste. It’s got a smooth, rich, creamy aroma with a hint of cinnamon and clove. Its flavor is strongly reminiscent of pine, with notes of nutmeg and orange.
Dry Fly Washington Dry Gin ($44; 80 proof)
This is a winner, distinctive and flavorful, made entirely with botanicals from sustainable farms in Washington State. Its unusual aroma wafts orange, cocoa and cherry. The flavor is fruit driven rather than herbal, with very light juniper notes. A smooth, easy-drinking gin that marches to its own drummer.
