Hendrik's gin is hands-down the BEST. Little Hendrik's little tonic water, and a few slices of fresh cucumber. Incredibly refreshing.

*Hendrick's

Hendrick's without a shadow of a doubt, served with Fever Tree tonic water and cucumber that has been sliced lengthways and wrapped round the interior of the glass. I think I'll go get some tonight!

I love Dry Fly, a local distillery in Spokane WA (yea I live here) http://www.dryflydistilling.com/ They make an awesome smooth gin from local wheat, and juniper berries! It's a good overall gin, smooth, not to tangy and balanced.
My 2nd fav gin is Bombay Sapphire, another smooth gin.
The best gin drink in my opinion is Tom Collins :)

Hendrick's, no contest. Cuke, a good tonic, and Hendrick's: the perfect spring/summer/fall drink. I just ran out, in fact...

Slightly Off topic -- I actually had dinner on the Hendrick's carriage of curiosities once, they served such delights as Quails eggs dipped in gold dust, glow in the dark jelly and Turkish delight injected with the same hormone the body produces when doing very rude things!

Bulldog is my absolute favorite. It's so smooth and works with so many different flavors. Delicious!

Hendrick's, this is the best gin I have ever tasted.

Tanquray is my favorite gin overall, but my husband and I recently tried New Amsterdam gin- which is super cheap but actually quite delicious!

I like Tanqueray but will happily drink any gin that isn't Bombay Sapphire. I loathe Sapphire. It is NOT gin. Sapphire's just way, way, WAY too sweet and doesn't taste like gin.

I agree with megangogo, New Amsterdam is great and is usually under $20. I also like the new Beefeater 24.

We discovered Hendrick's last summer and we're not looking back. We made a cucumber, basil, and ginger cocktail with it that was out of this world.

For Martinis, Plymouth is the best choice for me.

Plymouth - hands down. If I'm making a tonic or other iced concoction, I'll use Tanqueray 10 or Hendricks.

Martin Miller is my favorite, though I very much love Hendrick's. Boodles is our go-to affordable option. I'm starting to really like Aviation as well.

@dulanotes recipe?

Hendricks is the ONLY way to go. I never was a fan of gin until I had Hendricks and it is simply the best.

Tanqueray for a G&T. Henricks is also very good.

Bombay sapphire...really anything but Tanqueray. If someone gives me a drink with Tanqueray I know instantly. It tastes so sweet. It's awful.

Hendrick's, Junipero (from Anchor Brewing), Rogue Brewing's Pink Spruce gin, and Citadelle, a floral French gin.

I agree about Tanqueray being too sweet. I usually buy the cheapest thing I can find that isn't in a plastic bottle. This is normally Gordon's or Seagram's. Someday I will try Hendrick's with tonic and cucumber because that sounds delicious... I hope it won't ruin my conveniently cheap tastes.

Hendrick's is also my favorite, and I also find Bombay and most Tanqueray to be too syrupy. Aviation is rapidly gaining currency in our household. It's cleaner than Hendrick's but still full flavored.

Aviation gin makes the BEST martini EVER if you pair it with Dolin Blanc vermouth and Angostura orange bitters.

Anyone into Broker's Gin? It's been rated quite highly recently - I tried it a while back and thought it was pretty great. I have a bottle waiting to be opened once I finish my Bombay Sapphire.

Please pople, move on from Tanqueray - it's disgusting.
Go with Plymouth, No 209, Hendricks, Aviation, Junipero. Fever tree tonic. Or try a Gimlet or Southside

I like my gin to taste like gin, so while I like Hendrick's and Bulldog they are not my favorites.

Aviation is my current favorite, hands down. I also like Plymouth, Broker's, and sometimes Bombay Dry. Rogue's Spruce Gin is also quite good, if different.

Old Raj! And does Plymouth's Sloe Gin count? I like that as a desert.

Bluecoat is 1000x better than anything else on the market. After that I prefer Plymouth, and Hendrick's is acceptable.

Hendrick's hands down. With cucumber and mint ice cubes. http://bit.ly/d3Hf1H Summer in a glass!

I have popular tastes, it seems: Hendrick's is my all-time-tops, but it's a little less versatile when you want just a straight hit of ginny, junipery flavor. For that, I do the cheap route: New Amsterdam. Cheap, yes, but I find it to be really quite good, especially in a martini when I don't want a Hendrick's cucumbery version.
http://vicioustrollops.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-to-drink.html

Bluecoat is fantastic gin.

Old Grove Gin

One of the best craft breweries in the country (Ballast Point) has started distilling as well, and they make a gin that has quickly become my favorite. The downside is that it may be hard to find outside of San Diego....

I also tried "making" my own gin, by infusing vodka with spices (including Juniper berries). It turned out very nice (although brown, not clear, since I don't have a still). Got the idea and some instructions from Jeffrey Morganthaler's site:

http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-to-make-your-own-gin-without-a-still/

The result is also highly customizable, by adjusting the relative levels of the different spices, citrus, etc.

Just looking at the bottle of Hendrick's makes me want some.

mmmmmmm....

(I love the balance of herbal and floral)

have any of you who like hendricks ever tasted plymouth? It's 100% better on all fronts. I've even found a gin I like better- Corsair (prev of bowling geen, ky, now being distilled in nashville).

Not much of a gin drinker, but my go-to when i do is Beefeater. And that might have more to do with the commercials I grew up watching in Puerto Rico in the 80s than anything else. But I do like the flavor.

All these Plymouth recs (esp. for martinis or 'traditional' gin-ishness) make me wonder if I should branch out from Hendrick's when I make a non-G&T gin drink... THANKS, ALL!!

Hendrick's. Duh

Although non-traditional, G-vine and The London Gin both make fantastic G&Ts. A G-vine martini is very interesting as well if you substitute a grape for an olive in the mix. Another non-traditional one is Saffron Gin, which is amber-colored and has a strong taste of, well, saffron. The only cocktail I've found that it works in is a G&T, and I've heard that it pairs well with melon. Again, non-traditional examples there.

Hendricks is definitely very good, as is Plymouth (I've taken to drinking Plymouth Navy Strength on ice... really refreshing).

Am very interested in some of the west coast gins being produced (ie, Aviation), but they are hard to come by here in Spain. There are some Spanish gins that are popping up that are interesting though, like Gin Mare (thyme, rosemary, and other herbs) and Tannin's (rose flavored).

Kansas has Most Wanted Dry London Gin and it's quite good for the price. Think:Tanqueray on a Seagrams budget. It goes without saying that the vodka of the same name is stellar.

Gordon's. If it's good enough for James Bond, it's good enough for me. : ) (Would love to try Hendricks, but too $$ right now.)

hayman's and ransom old tom gins.

I know no one will agree with me, but I am loyal to Beefeater. It's probably because it's what my gin-loving family always drank when I was growing up. Also, it is comparatively cheap to the top shelf stuff. And admittedly I love the label - who doesn't love the yeoman warder on the bottle?

Hendrick's it's crisp clean and cucumbery. It is delicious in my favorite cocktail: Old Maid.

I'm wondering if all the Hendrick's lovers out there aren't true gin lovers? Boyfriend and I did a blind tasting of several gins and Hendricks came in dead last. Why? Because it doesn't taste like gin is supposed to taste - too floral and cucumber-y. That being said, I like the stuff just fine for certain cocktails.

Plymouth is by far my favorite - it's very smooth. Perfect in a martini.

Citadelle is actually very nice too. Who knew the French could make a good gin? The Brits better watch out.

Hendricks times a thousand. Other gin=> uggggly drunk. Hendricks=> happy jolly drunk.

Tanqueray! Although, it seems from the previous answers, I need to try Henricks...

zanchi: nope, I'm a "true" gin lover, and I drink it all, and my favorite is still Hendrick's. De gustibus and all that, but I'm true blue.

I always buy Gordon's, no reason in particular. My friend introduced me to gin & tonics and that's what she always bought, so I just stick with that. I'm like that with most spirits, not too picky.

Also, liquor is expensive up here in Canada, so I just buy what's cheapest, often. It doesn't last long, so I can't afford to buy something better. Not like I care, clearly :P

HENDRICK'S I only like Gin and I much prefer Hendrick's. It's just the best.

oh gin, how i love thee. let me count the ways. which is 3. for g&t's, any bombay or tanq is more than fine. for gin and sodas too. but for the special occasions when i'm in the mood for a gin martini, only henricks will do. and with a twist of lemon (no olives please!). Also, distillery 209 (a local sf brand) is pretty good as well,... but VERY strong.

Oh my -- Juniper Green -- sipping gin.

Hendricks is the most delicious gin I've ever tried.

But my favorite is Bulldog, hands down. It's damn near impossible to find in NYC, too. Which strikes me as incredibly strange.

new amsterdam - $20 for a handle and delicious.

Has anyone had 12 Bridges from portland? It's a light floral gin, hard to mix in strong cocktails (it would disappear in a Negroni, for instance) but makes an excellent, unique G&T as long as it has a good tonic water (Fentiman's, Q, or Fevertree)

Old Raj for more straight up. Bombay Sapphire for Tom Collinses

Hendricks on its own occasionally, Gordon's for most applications, Bombay Sapphire for martinis, although I'm always pleased to try different varieties. Gin is woefully under-appreciated in general.

Regarding gin and tonics, Fentiman's Tonic is wonderful, but I have only found it in a few locations. If you happen to see a bottle anywhere, it's worth a try.

Junipero is the best, but for sipping and martini's only. I'm surprised to see that you have it in the picture! My second favorite is Bombay.

Bombay Sapphire...just love the bottle

I love dry gin, it's my spirit of choice. But I wonder if all these picky people who swear on one brand over another would do a blind taste test for me. I think they mostly all taste the same! I'm happy with Gordons but my snob friends insist on a bigger brand. I should just buy the Gordons and put it in another bottle.

I love Hendrick's and tonic with a few cucumber slices.

I also really like Broker's gin. The bottle wears a little bowler hat!

Thirding the Bluecoat love! I'm not sure how available it is outside Philly, but it's by far my favorite gin. I like Hendrick's, but only with cucumber. Bluecoat I find more versatile, and more "delectable and interesting" rather than primarily just "interesting." If that makes any sense.

I am so taking notes from this thread. I love gin-based cocktails. Currently, I'm using New Amsterdam and am pretty satisfied with it. Good price point and mixes well in my G&Ts.

It sounds like I should try Plymouth next instead of Hendrick's. Bluecoat sounds interesting too.

Bluecoat Gin - distilled in Philadelphia, PA - simply delicious! Bombay Sapphire & Hendricks take second and third place.

Not heard of any of the brands here, but then I am in the UK. Regular brand would be Gordons, but if it was a special occasion I would splash out on Bombay Sapphire. However, you cannot beat homemade sloe gin!

1) Tanqueray Rangpur (!!!), 2) Tanqueray - original, 3) Hendrick's, 4) Plymouth. in that order. and never, ever Bombay Sapphire.

All of this reminds me of Mr. Krook's death by spontaneous combustion (leaned too close to a flame after having drunk too much gin?).

Asphalt Flowers I'm with you; love my Beefeater martini's. Also like Tanqueray with tonic. Never tried Hendrick's but will give it a whirl since it's so highly regarded here at AT.

Bombay with a good glug of cranberry juice & topped up with lemonade/spring water = delicious summer drink.
Hendricks makes a great G&T but Bombay is best when it comes to summer cocktails or winter sloe gin.

Boudier's saffron gin. Hands down. With ginger ale, it's sunshine and happiness in a glass

Bombay, because of the flavor. But after reading the comments to this post, I may have to give Hendricks at try!

I was excited to see Corsair mentioned! But as a correction, they are not fully moved from Bowling Green KY to Nashville. They do operations in both places.

Anyway, their gin is exceptional!

I am a fan of G&Ts...sadly, I have only tried 2 gins and those are Tangueray and Bombay Saphire. I like Tangueray better but may explore the feedback here to see if there's another I should try. I've also tried Tangueray Ten and really did not notice a difference between that and the original! I say save your $$.

Hendrick's hands down, and I also like Voyager Dry Gin from Pacific Distillery. http://pacificdistillery.com

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It's either Bombay Sapphire or Brokers for me, nice and smooth--and Brokers comes with a cute little bowler hat on the cap, and it's 90 proof!

I didn't like Hendricks at all

I cannot get my favorite here in Texas because McMenamins only sells in in OR – Edgefield distillery's Professor's Gin. So I opt for Aviation and Farmer's.

North Shore Distillery (Chicago),Hendricks,Citadel....gotta be smooth

I enjoy different gins for different beverages.
Tanquerey is my go-to for anything more citrusy
Beefeater for my dirty G&T because it's saltier
Bombay for straight up G&T
Hendricks for more herby/cucumber drinks

I was pleasantly surprised by the number of Hendricks fans. It is my go-to. Tanqueray is an okay substitute if I'm going out, but I will pass if Bombay is the only option. New Amsterdam is a good substitute when I don't want to spend $30-$40 for Hendricks.

Have to say I love thread... after just searching on the net for new gins to try, this is one of hte best. I particularly like the "why" it's a best gin. My fave is Tanq. I agree with some that Bombay is too botanical for me. Hendricks is not. It's a great gin, but I prefer the solid taste of Tanq. A second would be Plymouth or Gordons at the cottage. I wish I could get my hands on some of these great sounding gins - 12 Bridges, Juniper Green, Distillery 209, Most Wanted, Aviation, Gin Mare... They sound spectacular. I think there needs to be an underground gin railway to Canada. I'm most interested in knowing about the flavour... what makes it good. For me with Tanq it's very clear and crisp juniper flavour and stong aroma.

Have to say I love thread... after just searching on the net for new gins to try, this is one of hte best. I particularly like the "why" it's a best gin. My fave is Tanq. I agree with some that Bombay is too botanical for me. Hendricks is not. It's a great gin, but I prefer the solid taste of Tanq. A second would be Plymouth or Gordons at the cottage. I wish I could get my hands on some of these great sounding gins - 12 Bridges, Juniper Green, Distillery 209, Most Wanted, Aviation, Gin Mare... They sound spectacular. I think there needs to be an underground gin railway to Canada. I'm most interested in knowing about the flavour... what makes it good. For me with Tanq it's very clear and crisp juniper flavour and stong aroma.

Have to say I love thread... after just searching on the net for new gins to try, this is one of hte best. I particularly like the "why" it's a best gin. My fave is Tanq. I agree with some that Bombay is too botanical for me. Hendricks is not. It's a great gin, but I prefer the solid taste of Tanq. A second would be Plymouth or Gordons at the cottage. I wish I could get my hands on some of these great sounding gins - 12 Bridges, Juniper Green, Distillery 209, Most Wanted, Aviation, Gin Mare... They sound spectacular. I think there needs to be an underground gin railway to Canada. I'm most interested in knowing about the flavour... what makes it good. For me with Tanq it's very clear and crisp juniper flavour and stong aroma.

Have to say I love thread... after just searching on the net for new gins to try, this is one of hte best. I particularly like the "why" it's a best gin. My fave is Tanq. I agree with some that Bombay is too botanical for me. Hendricks is not. It's a great gin, but I prefer the solid taste of Tanq. A second would be Plymouth or Gordons at the cottage. I wish I could get my hands on some of these great sounding gins - 12 Bridges, Juniper Green, Distillery 209, Most Wanted, Aviation, Gin Mare... They sound spectacular. I think there needs to be an underground gin railway to Canada. I'm most interested in knowing about the flavour... what makes it good. For me with Tanq it's very clear and crisp juniper flavour and stong aroma.

Citadelle is the best and cheaper than Plymouth!