See also: A guide to drinking serious gin in Bangkok


Broker’s (TBA) 

They say: “Broker’s Gin does not follow the modern trend of using weird and wonderful spirits and botanicals. There are no oddball ingredients in Broker’s Gin. We believe our forefathers did an unbeatable job perfecting gin recipes over many hundreds of years.”
 
We say: A powerful, grassy odor settles to a very well-balanced taste. It’s slightly bitter, with an undercurrent of lemon peel and a pink pepper ending. A simple and satisfying, classic gin taste.  
 
Verdict: The smoothest of all the eight gins in our test. Balanced and not overpowering. 

Beefeater 24 (B1,200)

They say: “On the nose notes of citrus, juniper and the aromatic scent of Sencha are immediately apparent. In the mouth there’s a burst of citrus followed by juniper developing into a long finish with spicy coriander balanced by the dryness of angelica and the woodiness of liquorice.” 
 
We say: Wow. The seriously alcoholic scent overpowers everything. It tastes equally as fiery and numbs everyone’s throats before juniper and something citrusy come through, though there’s little depth.
 
Verdict: Save it for cocktails only.

Bombay Sapphire (B1,090)

They say: “We believe the best juniper in the world comes from the hills of Tuscany and these berries are at the heart of Bombay Sapphire’s botanical recipe . . . and bring a dry, fragrant, herbal aroma to our gin.”
 
We say: The scent is quite subtle and reminds some members of our panel of tequila. In the mouth, this one has a syrupy consistency and is characterized by a sweet, mildly floral flavor which leaves a notably bitter aftertaste.  
 
Verdict: Drunk straight, not too bad thanks to that sweetness. 

Beefeater (B799) 

They say: “The principal botanicals in Beefeater Gin are juniper, coriander and citrus peels, which provide the freshness and lift. The other botanicals in the recipe add complexity and depth.”
 
We say: On the nose, it comes across like something Gillette would make, and the taste doesn’t match the depth of the other gins. It’s neither heavily spiced nor rich with juniper. The alcohol also tastes quite harsh, and the taste of men’s perfume lingers on the tongue. 
 
Verdict: Aromatically challenged.

Tanqueray (B1,023)

They say: “A blend of the purest triple-distilled spirit and a handpicked selection of four botanicals... said to have been Frank Sinatra’s favorite gin.” 
 
We say: Very similar to Beefeater: little discernible fragrance, and what there is reminds us of men’s after shave. The taste is a bit peppery but, overall, uneventful and among the most bitter in the group. 
 
Verdict: On its own, quite uninspiring. Could serve as a good base for infusion. 

Gilby’s (B393)

They say: “[Gilby’s] flavor is introduced to the alcohol when it is in a vaporous form and made to pass through a ‘filter’ of juniper berries, herbs and spices.”
 
We say: Sweet and lemony, more like a flavored vodka than a gin. In fact it reminds everyone on the panel of Sprite. But the alcohol is not too harsh, and there’s a tangy, orange-peel dimension. Not what you’d expect from a gin, and noticeably different from the rest. 
 
Verdict: As a cheap party drink, it’ll do.

Gordon’s Gin (B825) 

They say: “The strength of the juniper gives Gordon’s the classic gin taste . . . Coriander gives the dry and citrus taste (rather than lemon or orange peel that gives a blunt and overpowering taste in many other gins).”
 
We say: This was the surprise of the bunch. Regularly bashed for being boring, Gordon’s did well in this blind test. Along with Broker’s, it stood out as the most well-balanced drink: not-too heavily alcoholic, and characterized by the classic juniper-rich gin flavor.
 
Verdict: Don’t believe the haters. This one’s not bad. 

Hendrick’s (B2,545)

They say: “Hendrick’s wondrous botanical signature consists of flowers, roots, fruits and seeds from the world over. They function to complement and set the stage for our delicious duet of infusions: rose petal and cucumber . . . an extraordinarily smooth gin.”
 
We say: The most divisive gin in the tasting. Some are really impressed by the dominant taste of coriander seed, others find it too raw, compounded by a very green, grassy taste. Recognizably a gin, yet also really different from the other bottles. 
 
Verdict: For some tasters, the pick of the bunch. 
 
All gins were tasted blind and served neat at room temperature.