ONCE referred to as mother’s ruin, gin is now a regular tipple of choice – with even the royals getting in on the action.
King Charles has launched his own brand which uses rhubarb from his Highgrove garden and sells at £44.95.
But there are plenty of other flavoured gins in the supermarkets for more affordable prices.
Drinks expert Helena Nicklin, gives us her verdict.
Greyson’s Mediterranean Orange
70cl, £13.99 Aldi
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GET citrusy with this orange-flavoured one from Aldi.
It comes in a very cool bottle that looks far more costly than it actually is.
Setting the bar high, there’s an orange Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla feel to this bottle – and the contents are not half bad, for literally half the cash.
Gorgeously gluggable with juicy, warming flavours and sweet aromatics, it’s ridiculously easy drinking.
All you need is a Mediterranean- style tonic, plentiful ice and a chunky orange slice. Cheers.
Rating: 5/5
Hortus Orange & Passionfruit
70cl, £14.99 Lidl
LIDL’S own Hortus range can be a bit hit and miss but the price points are extremely friendly and they generally offer brilliant value.
If you aren’t sure how you feel about a flavour with your juniper then you won’t break the bank finding out here.
This orange and passionfruit glugger is terrifically tropical on the nose and slightly sweet in the glass.
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A smidge synthetic but when mixed with a fruity tonic and some fresh fruit it finds its feet.
Worth a go.
Rating: 3/5
Blackfriars Scottish Raspberry & Rhubarb
70cl, £17, Sainsbury’s
THIS one will split the spirit sippers as it sounds like it should be sweeter and fruitier than it is when you drink it.
Still, if you like your gin very floral and aromatic, with some serious tartness – like underripe rhubarb and raspberries can give – you’ll be a fan.
A good slug of lemonade rather than tonic will add more sweetness to balance it all up a bit.
Or if you like the sour hit, stick to a traditional mixer and add a stick of rhubarb to stir! Slightly pricier than some others, too.
Rating: 2/5
The Distiller Raspberry Lemonade Flavoured
70cl, £15 Asda
COMING in a gorgeous bottle that will look lovely in the drinks cabinet or make a great gift, this well-priced gin is heavy on the raspberry up front when you glug it – but not in an unpleasant way.
The lemony citrus element adds a splash of sweetness with acidity, which gives it all a rather lovely balance.
One for those who aren’t massive juniper heads, as it’s more like a flavoured vodka in the glass.
Serve with a drier lemonade, such as a traditional style, and enjoy in the sunshine.
Rating: 3/5
Limehouse Orange & Mango
70cl, £14.99, Tesco
YOU don’t often see mango thrown in as a gin botanical, so this is definitely a quirkier choice.
But makers Limehouse have done it – and done it well.
With lots of flavour that doesn’t overpower, it’s one that will sing with lemonade or a full-fat Indian tonic.
But it would also make a great twist for fruity retro cocktail recipes like Mai Tai or Sex On The Beach.
An interesting, talking point of a juniper glug, it would be lovely sipped while eating something sweet, too.
Rating: 3/5
Whitley Neill Japanese Cherry Blossom
70cl £20 (£9 off) Morrisons
A PRICEY option but Whitley Neill is a genuinely premium gin maker, so you get top tier on taste.
Fans of flavoured gins should make the most of this current sizeable discount on this special edition tipple.
With its Japanese vibes, the cherry you taste in the glass is fragrant rather than saccharine sweet and makes a cracking, complex pairing with the juniper.
A splash of citrusy yuzu brings it all together.
Sipped with a simple tonic and ice, it’s sensational.
Rating: 4/5
Haysmith’s Blackberry & Raspberry Bramble
70cl, £14.99 Aldi
FANS of full-on flavours will enjoy this brambly and autumnal Aldi gin with its authentic red and black fruit notes.
Lots of up-front fruit with a tart, raspberry finish, it’s tangy and refreshing.
Try this with a light aromatic tonic or a glug of original Schweppes – and why not chuck in a handful of raspberries for good measure?
It’s a super price point and a nice one to have in the cupboard for those evenings when you fancy something a bit different at gin o’clock.
Rating: 3/5
