For the upcoming World Gin Day, we take you on a global tour through seven distinctive gins that reflect their unique terroirs, traditions, and trailblazing perspectives — each a spirited celebration of craft, culture, and creativity in every bottle.
As World Gin Day approaches — the global celebration of gin is held annually on the second Saturday of June, so this year it falls on Saturday 14 June — there’s no better time to raise a glass to the remarkable diversity of the juniper-led spirit that has evolved far beyond its London Dry roots.
From the windswept citrus groves of the French Riviera to the volcanic shores of the Azores, gin today tells stories that go well beyond the botanicals in the bottle. Whether it’s a Dutch distiller reviving a 17th-century recipe, a Japanese sake brewery weaving rice lees and cedar into a new kind of gin, or an Australian distillery infusing its spirit with Sangiovese grapes, we’ve curated the following expressions that are rewriting the rules of what gin can be.
Happy World Gin Day!
1689 Dutch Dry Gin :: The Netherlands
Few gins connect the past and present quite like Gin 1689. Crafted in The Netherlands by two Dutch founders and distilled at Herman Jansen, one of Holland’s oldest family-run distilleries in Schiedam — the historic home of gin’s precursor, genever — this contemporary spirit comes with a centuries-old soul that’s a tasty tribute to the origins of gin.
Gin lovers may know this. The story of gin began when William III, better known as William of Orange, arrived in London to ascend the English throne back in 1689. He had brought gin with him from his native Netherlands, and famously kicked off the original gin craze. Over three centuries later, Gin 1689 would resurrect a long-lost recipe unearthed in the Royal British Library and lovingly recreating it into the 1689 Dutch Dry Gin, offering a flavour profile that’s a sensory journey through time: a bold juniper backbone layered with dried quince, pippin, orange and lemon peel, finished with warm, spice-laden notes of nutmeg, aniseed, and cloves.
If gin history had a flagship bottle, this may just be it. Sip it neat, have it in a gin and tonic, or mixed into a classic Martini — this is legacy and royalty in a glass.
:: You can find the 1689 Dutch Dry Gin from Exquisite Elixir at a recommended retail price of S$76. ::
The Gardener Gin :: France
If you’re hankering for a taste of the French Riviera in your gin, you probably can’t do much better than The Gardener Gin. While the dynamic world of gin continues its bold exploration of hyper-local botanical choices or unusual styles, this gin makes a stoic statement by looking back to look forward, offering a contemporary homage to the London Dry style while bottling the sun-soaked art de vivre of Provence. With a touch of Hollywood too, no less.
This Provence-inspired spirit is conceived by an impressive trio: gin legend and award-winning master distiller Tom Nichol of Tanqueray fame, Rhône Valley’s Famille Perrin, and Brad Pitt. Yes, that Brad Pitt.
What makes The Gardener truly fascinating in the context of modern gin is a philosophical choice towards unerring, meticulous simplicity. Distilled in copper stills using wheat and flavoured with classic gin botanicals such as juniper, coriander, licorice, and angelica as well as a luscious, fragrant medley of citrus — think pink grapefruit, bright lemon, and sweet-bitter oranges from Cap d’Antibes — it is a classic London Dry at heart but dripping with Riviera charm.
The result is a gin that’s not just beautifully balanced and elegantly aromatic — it’s also a distilled portrait of place. An evocative and beautifully-balanced sip of Mediterranean sunshine, you’ll want this in a gin and tonic by the waterfront, or an elegant French 75 in a classy setting.
:: You can get The Gardener Gin from Malt Wine Asia at a recommended retail price of S$108. ::
Ghosts of the Ocean Baleia Gin :: Portugal
In the ever-expanding world of gin where botanicals and all manner of back stories jostle for attention, Ghosts of the Ocean carves out a compelling niche with its deeply contemporary, ocean-conscious ethos. Based in the Azores, an island archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean that belongs to Portugal, its gins are more than bottles containing distilled spirit — they are a rallying cry for marine conservation.
Take its Ghosts of the Ocean Baleia Gin. Distilled on the Azores island of São Miguel, Baleia — which means ‘whale’ in Portuguese — draws on the pristine purity of the archipelago’s waters and as well as its volcanic terroir. A marine twist on the classic London Dry style, it is inspired by the sperm whale and uses locally-sourced botanicals such as seaweed and rock samphire to imbue the gin with an unmistakable maritime character — briny, fresh, and irascibly wild. The result is a gin that whispers the story of the sea in every sip, making it a standout among contemporary gins exploring terroir-driven narratives.
Its briny, distinct umami notes make it not only alluring for sipping, but also makes a great gin for a slightly dirty take on a Martini. It’s definitely a gin for those who don’t just want to drink something good, but also do some good while sipping. Also check out the rest of the Ghosts of the Ocean range, each of which pays tribute to other ocean denizens such as the orca, dolphin, and even the Portuguese Man O’War.
:: You can find the Ghosts of the Ocean Baleia Gin — as well as the rest of its range — from Ghosts of the Ocean Singapore at a recommended retail price of S$125. ::
Cygnet 22 Gin :: Wales
If luxury gin had a voice, it might just sound like the crystal clear mezzo-soprano of acclaimed classical Welsh singer, Katherine Jenkins OBE. Well, it just so happens that she just has the right spirit to match her pristine pipes — she’s the co-founder of Cygnet Gin, and her flagship Cygnet 22 Gin is not just another entry into the crowded back bar of your favourite gin palace but a melodious blend of craftsmanship and contemporary elegance.
Crafted in Wales at the historic Copperworks Distillery by sixth-generation distillers, Cygnet 22 is the result of Jenkins’ desire to create a sipping gin that speaks for itself, neat or mixed. The defining flourish? Manuka honey — a nod to Jenkins’ own vocal regimen — which lends the gin a rich, velvety mouthfeel that’s a far cry from your standard juniper-forward pour. And that’s just one of its 22 botanicals, many of which are commonly found in her native Wales such as heather, marigold, and lemon balm.
In the broader landscape of contemporary gin Cygnet 22 is a sophisticated outlier, one that confidently straddles the line between a classic London Dry poise and the smooth and elegant richness of the most premium of vodkas. Whether you’re a seasoned gin drinker or simply seeking an elevated pour, Cygnet 22 is a lyrical reminder that the best gins don’t just shout — they sing.
:: You can get the Cygnet 22 Gin from Angra Wine & Spirits at a recommended retail price of S$149. ::
Naught Distilling Sangiovese Gin :: Australia
When it comes to contemporary gins, few flirt with a creative zeitgeist quite like the distilleries from Down Under. You have the likes of Melbourne-based Naught Distilling, for example, one of the more forward-thinking players in the market. But while Nought’s range captures the gin-loving public’s imagination with the use of indigenous botanicals such as wattleseed and macadamia, it is the Naught Distilling Sangiovese Gin that really stands out for us.
This striking award-winning release is special in that it represents part of the growing wave of wine-influenced gins redefining what juniper-led spirits can be. What sets this gin apart is its bold use of Sangiovese grapes, better known for going into some of Italy’s most iconic red wines such as Chianti and Brunello, as a central ingredient. It’s not merely a throwaway botanical note, but offers a rich, sensory experience — think hints of dried cherry, red fruits, dark chocolate, and spice weaving seamlessly through its juniper base. The result? A mouth-warming, luxurious fruit-forward gin that still honours the structural elegance of a classic spirit. You’ll want this with tonic, or used in cocktails like the New York Sour (bonus points if you use a Chianti float) or a Clover Club.
A masterclass in how modern gin distillers are borrowing from other craft disciplines to push flavour boundaries while offering terroir, story and soul, it’s little wonder that this unique expression has swept trophies and awards aplenty.
:: You can get the Naught Distilling Sangiovese Gin from Wines & Spirits at a recommended retail price of S$98. ::
Sakari Gin :: Japan
Here’s a pretty unusual gin from Japan — Sakari Gin. Among the new wave of contemporary Japanese gins, Sakari by Hyogo-based sake producer Nihonsakari stands apart for its soulful homage to sake heritage. Produced in Nishinomiya — one of Japan’s famed sake brewing towns — this unique craft gin reimagines the juniper-based spirit through a distinctly Japanese lens by rooting it in sake kasu, the fermented rice lees left over from sake production. The result is a gin that’s not only uniquely Japanese, but one imbued with the spirit of sake itself.
At its heart is its rice-based soul, the sake lees delivering an underlying creamy softness and umami-rich character not found in more conventional grain-based gins. From there, things get even more intriguing. The dominant botanical isn’t just juniper (though that’s present) but also sugi or Japanese cedar, which echoes the traditional wooden barrels once used to store sake and adds a warming, woodsy aroma evocative of old traditional Japanese breweries.
The rest of the botanical list reads like a haiku to Japan’s terroir: sansho pepper, sakura petals, hinoki cypress, shiso leaves, and yuzu from the Hyogo region, all of which lend aromatic complexity while anchoring the gin in seasonal, hyper-local familiarity.
The result offers heady, incense-like aromas with a herbaceous backbone, making it ideal for sipping neat or lacing a classic Negroni with Japanese characteristics. It is a compelling liquid tribute to place and provenance, one that somehow manages to bridge two great Japanese traditions — the old world of sake, and an exploratory new one in gin.
:: You can find Sakari Gin from Inter Rice Asia at a recommended retail price of S$120. ::
Juno Extra Fine Gin :: New Zealand
Then there’s Juno Gin, which hails from the pristine slopes of Mount Taranaki in New Zealand’s Taranaki region. Named after the Roman goddess of marriage and domestic harmony — and also a cheeky nod to gin’s essential ingredient, juniper — Juno is the creation of husband-and-wife duo Dave and Jo James, who traded science and food engineering for the art of small-batch distilling.
Theirs is an artisanal approach that elegantly channels both classical gin tradition and contemporary New World flair. Their signature Juno Extra Fine Gin, for example, uses pure Mount Taranaki water and hand-selected local botanicals including orris root, kaffir lime leaves, green cardamom, Angelica root, manuka and cassia bark for a distinct New Zealand provenance. The award-winning premium gin leans into bright citrus notes and a peppery finish, making it an easy candidate for a bracing extra-dry Martini, or a refreshingly crisp Tom Collins.
We also like that Juno has a commitment to sustainability that underpins everything they do, from a specially commissioned copper still that minimises waste production to harvesting rainwater for cooling their condenser. With an ethos of “turning the everyday into the extraordinary”, Juno Gin represents the modern craft gin movement at its most personal: a story of passion, place, and purpose, distilled into every sip.
:: You can find the Juno Extra Fine Gin from Juno Gin at a recommended retail price of S$93. ::
Follow us on Telegram to get updated on events and other spirited announcements!
