The Best Gin Gift Ideas for Christmas

By Heather | October 11th 2021

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… Actually I’m not sure what he’s getting me for Christmas this year, but a nice bottle of gin surely wouldn’t be unwelcome!

If you’re struggling to choose the ideal gift for the gin lover in your life, hopefully this look at our top gins for Christmas will make the choice a little clearer.

We can also take the uncertainty out of the festive season this year by delivering your beautifully wrapped gift box direct to the recipient, and adding a personalised message. So even if you can’t get to your loved ones this year, they’ll certainly know you’re thinking about them.

Eden Mill Candy Cane Gin. 40% ABV

This candy cane inspired Gin from Eden Mill is a striking Santa red, the colour derived from hibiscus and bilberry botanicals. Candy cane gin might sound a bit crazy to some but it really works well, achieving a pleasant subtle minty flavour on a sweet fruity berry background. The gin is sweet to the taste with plenty of mint, lots of juicy red berry fruit, and a warming hit of peppery spice on the finish.

As a serving suggestion, Eden Mill recommend that you top up a measure of candy cane gin with a good quality tonic water and add a garnish of blackberries. Why not try a candy cane swizzle stick for some extra festive flair?

Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin, 43% ABV

Ideal for Christmas gifting, Rare Citrus is a new offering from Silent pool. The gin is distilled using Silent Pool’s signature four tier process to produce an extremely clean and clear spirit. The gin is infused with some of the world’s rarest varieties of citrus, including buntan, Buddah’s hand, hirado, natsu dai dai and green seville orange. All sourced from renowned citrus collectors in Portugal. The gin is fresh and fruity with a honeyed floral sweetness and bursts of zesty citrus flavour.

As their signature serve, Silent pool suggest 50ml of rare citrus gin and 100ml of fever tree tonic over plenty of ice and a twist of grapefruit.

Kintyre Gin, 43% ABV

Distilled at the Beinn An Turic distillery (“Hill of the wild boar” to those of us who don’t speak the native language), Kintyre Gin has been growing in popularity in the few years since it’s initial launch. The gin is produced using water taken straight from the hills behind the distillery and is infused with Icelandic moss and sheep sorrel. These botanicals which are unique to this particular gin, are both found growing on the Torrisdale Castle Estate, home to the Gin distillery. Kintyre is citrusy and floral with balancing vegetal flavours and a hint of spice.

As their perfect serve, Beinn An Tutic recommend a good quality tonic, plenty of ice and a garnish of fresh basil leaves to bring out the herbaceous characteristics of Kintyre.

Citadelle Gin, 44% ABV

Based on a recipe dating back to France in the 1700’s, Citadelle Gin was originally produced in Dunkirk, which was at the time, a port used mainly for the import of spices. The modern incarnation showcases oriental spices and botanicals that would have been shipped through the port at the time. The spirit is triple distilled in copper stills over an open flame and infused with botanicals including Moroccan coriander, French Juniper, orange peel, cardamom, cumin, nutmeg, angelica and star anise. The resulting gin is fresh, citrusy and loaded with warming spices.

Citadelle recommend a perfect serve of a 50/50 Martini with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Edinburgh Gin Mulled Gin Liqueur, 20% ABV

One of the best things about the festive season is definitely mulled wine. Usually, the Edinburgh Christmas market would be throwing out wafts of mulling spices across the city centre, but for obvious reasons, this year I’ll have to get my mull on at home. The distillers at Edinburgh Gin have used mulling spices in place of more traditional gin botanicals to create a liqueur with a sweet mulled flavour. Cinnamon, clove, orange zest, mulberries, lemongrass and lavender all combine in a drink that is spicy, sweet, warming and extremely festive!

As a perfect serve, the distillers recommend adding a good quality prosecco for a delicious mulled gin bellini.

Wild Island Distiller’s Cut, 43.7% ABV

Hailing from the beautiful Hebridean Island of Colonsey, Wild Island gin is infused with 16 botanicals, all hand foraged on land close to the distillery. These include, heather flowers, bog myrtle, sea buckthorn, lemonbalm, meadowsweet and wild water mint. The gin is fresh and clean with loads of lemon citrus flavours balanced by a subtle floral sweetness and a touch of mint on the finish.

To really appreciate the flavours of Wild Island try it in a traditional Gin and tonic with a good quality unflavoured tonic, plenty of ice and a sprig of mint to highlight the locally foraged  wild mint and lemonbalm.

Edinburgh Gin Christmas Gin, 43% ABV

Created in 2014, Edinburgh Gin-Christmas edition is always a popular choice this time of year. The gin is infused with botanicals of clove, pine, heather, milk thistle, liquorice, nutmeg and, as a not so subtle nod to the Nativity story, the rather luxurious flavours of frankincense and myrrh. These indulgent flavours create a warming winter gin that packs in plenty of citrus and spice.

As a perfect serve, the distillers suggest enjoying this gin in a classic G&T with a premium tonic, plenty of ice and a zesty orange garnish to compliment the citrus flavours and aromas of the gin.

Hills and Harbour Gin, 40% ABV

The first offering from Crafty Distillery in Newton Stewart, “the gateway to the Galloway Hills”. The gin really is representative of it’s locale, using botanicals of noble fir needles to symbolise the expansive forests of the area, and bladderwrack seaweed for the nearby coastlines. The spirit is fresh and smooth, with plenty of earthy juniper and fresh pine giving way to tropical and citrus fruit and a refreshing hint of sea salt.

To bring out the tropical fruit flavours, Crafty suggest a double measure over ice, with a top up of premium tonic water and a juicy slice of fresh mango.

I’m sure any one of these lovely bottles would go over well with the gin connoisseur on your Christmas list. I’m certainly hoping to find one under the tree this year.

Cheers!