In this article, we are going to discuss the 20 most popular gin brands in 2023. You can skip our detailed analysis of the largest producer of gin, the world’s best-selling gin brand, the ‘gin-naissance’, new entrants in the gin industry, and the global gin market size, and go directly to 5 Most Popular Gin Brands in 2023.
Whether you prefer a classic gin and tonic or a creative cocktail with a unique twist, there’s no denying that gin has a versatility that sets it apart from other spirits. With its rich history and various styles, gin truly is a drink that has stood the test of time.
Largest Producer of Gin:
Gin has been the native spirit of the U.K. for centuries, and with over 1,722 different gin brands, the country is considered the home of the beloved spirit. The U.S. ranks second with over 703 brands of gin.
The United Kingdom is also the largest exporter of gin in the world. According to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) data, gin exports from the U.K. hit $879 million last year, up from $651 million in 2021. Last year’s exports also surpassed the pre-pandemic exports of 2019 by 9%.
The U.S. remains the U.K.’s largest export market for gin, with 2022 exports totaling more than $279 million, an increase of 6% from 2019.
World’s Best-Selling Gin Brand:
With 7.7 million nine-liter cases sold in 2022, Gordon’s holds the title of the best-selling gin in the world. While it was once described as an ‘old boring wooly jumper’, Gordon’s needed some serious change to keep pace with the constantly evolving gin industry and appeal to the younger consumer segment.
Owned by Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO), the brand set out to reinvent itself under the irresistible invite ‘Shall we?’. It invited Fleabag creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge to provide the voiceover for colorful, witty ads and even launched the Gordon’s Premium Pink Distilled Gin to appeal to the 18- to 34-year old female drinker, with Instagram and Spotify playing important roles in the media mix. Unlike most of its competitors, Gordon’s decided not to focus on the ingredients and provenance, instead, preferring to zone in on people’s motivations – meeting for a gin and a catch-up.
This relaunch by Gordon’s in 2016 triggered unprecedented sales growth and the brand had already more than doubled in size by 2019, and hasn’t looked back since.
The Gin-naissance:
The increasing popularity of craft gin is causing a rapid expansion in the number of distilleries around the world, heralding the dawn of a ‘gin-naissance’. In the U.K. alone, there has been a distillery boom in recent years, with 49 new distilleries opening in 2017 and then a further 31 in 2018.
Similarly, gin has also re-emerged in India and held about 37% of the market share in the country. India’s first gin brand ‘Greater Than’ was introduced in 2018 and now in 2023, the country already has 12 brands, with more in the pipeline.
However, the craft trend isn’t solely limited to gin and if you’d rather just enjoy a cold, refreshing craft beer, please refer to Best Craft Beer Brands in Each U.S. State.
New Entrants in the Gin Industry:
Now that gin is fashionable again, a giant from another alcohol market has also entered the industry, looking for a piece of the sweet juniper pie. The beer behemoth Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) entered the spirits business when it acquired the California-based, award-winning spirits and canned cocktail company Cutwater Spirits in 2019. The company was previously called Ballast Point Spirits and was a part of Ballast Points Brewing, but was spun off when Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) acquired the company in 2015, in a deal worth a whopping $1 billion.
Cutwater Spirits is part of the ‘beyond beer’ portfolio of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) and is the best-selling, full-flavored canned cocktails brand in the U.S. The brand is of such importance to Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) that it even had its own advert during the 2022 Super Bowl.
In 2019, Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) also acquired a minority stake in North Carolina-based Durham Distillery, makers of the award-winning craft gin Conniption. This investment was made by Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) through its Focus on Female Founders program, making good on its promise to invest $100 million by 2028 in businesses founded or led by women.
Global Gin Market:
Euromonitor International reported that gin’s total volume increased by 7.7% to 105.2 million nine-liter cases in 2022, and global sales of premium gin bottles are growing at around 20% annually, two-and-a-half times the rate of overall spirit sales.
According to IMARC Group, the global gin market was valued at $15.3 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $20.2 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period. The growing demand for premium cocktails, rising consumption of pre-mixed and fresh cocktail recipes, and increasing demand for ready-to-drink (RTD) and luxury spirits represent some of the key factors driving the market.
With that said, here are the Most Popular Gins in 2023.
Methodology:
To collect data for this article, we have referred to several sources, including various subreddits and topics on Reddit, and then websites like Men’s Journal, Forbes, VinePair etc., looking for the Most Popular Gin Brands in the World in 2023. Then we assigned a score to these brands based on the number of times they appeared in the aforementioned sources and ranked them accordingly. When two brands had the same score, we ranked them by their ratings on Distiller.
Those of you who have a palate for nice but affordable whiskeys, please refer to 21 Best Whiskeys Under $50 in 2023.
20. Gordon’s
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Gordon’s is one of the world’s oldest gins, created in 1769 when Alexander Gordon founded his distillery. This juniper-forward gin with a crisp, clear taste has come to define the taste of the classic gin and tonic.
19. Bluecoat
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Launched in 2006, Bluecoat is a great example of the New American gin category. Philadelphia Distilling and its core spirit – Bluecoat Gin – have grown right alongside the city’s emerging cocktail scene. Bluecoat retails at around $30 a bottle.
18. Barr Hill
Insider Monkey Score: 3
This 45% ABV award-winning gin is approachable and well-suited to elevate any gin cocktail. The juniper-forward botanicals are brought to a perfect balance by the floral depth of the raw honey.
17. St. George Terroir
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Terroir began with a hike and a fir tree. Master distiller Lance Winters created St. George Terroir Gin to evoke the magic of the forest. With its pronounced notes of a pine forest, this West Coast gin tastes unlike any other gin in the market, and is currently among the most popular gin brands in the world.
16. Citadelle
Insider Monkey Score: 4
This top-quality brand has been the pioneer of the modern French gin since 1996. Citadelle was definitely among the world’s first artisanal gins, but age hasn’t faded its glory. A 700 ml bottle of this unique brand will cost you $35.5.
15. Tanqueray Nº 10
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Named after the stills of its origin, the Tanqueray Nº 10 Gin is the first ever small batch gin crafted using fresh citrus fruits. This award-winning, juniper-led spirit is owned by Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO).
14. Plymouth
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Distilled since 1793, Plymouth is heavier on the juniper and citrus side, but has an earthy quality on the front palate. Its flavor differs from the more common style of gin – the London Dry – because of a higher proportion of root ingredients and other botanicals in its recipe.
13. Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Drumshanbo is unique in that gunpowder tea from China is the gin’s driving flavor. The company behind this gin, PJ Rigney Distillery and International Brands, increased its accumulated profits to about $9.7 million in 2021, with sales growing by about 30% to more than $13.3 million. This Irish brand ranks among the top 15 most popular gins in 2023.
12. No. 3
Insider Monkey Score: 5
This ultra-premium London Dry Gin is the perfect balance of three flavors: juniper, citrus and spice, making it refreshing in taste and classic in style. The company also came up with a handcrafted glass that is scientifically proven to keep your Martini cooler for 50% longer.
11. Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Modeled after the London dry, Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin has been made in America since 1939. The company behind this popular gin brand, Pernod Ricard, boasted sales of about $10.72 billion in 2022, an increase of 21% from the previous year.
10. Aviation
Insider Monkey Score: 6
This American gin became super popular after Ryan Reynolds acquired a stake in the brand in 2018. Even though it is now owned by Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO), Reynolds still maintains an ‘ongoing ownership interest’ in Aviation and his hilarious adverts have turned the brand into one of the most popular gin brands currently.
9. Fords
Insider Monkey Score: 6
This Kentucky-based brand is steeped with nine botanicals, including juniper, lemon and orange peel, jasmine, and orris root, before a five-hour distillation. Music fans can check out the brand’s recent collaboration with Handsome Boy Modeling School, called Music to Drinks Martinis to – a bundle that includes martini recipes, an album, and a bottle of gin.
8. Tanqueray London Dry Gin
Insider Monkey Score: 7
This perfectly balanced gin brand is the bartenders’ choice as the best gin for gin and tonic. With 5.5 million 9-liter case sales in 2022, Tanqueray was among the best-selling gin brands in the world.
7. Roku
Insider Monkey Score: 8
Roku is the premium Japanese craft gin created by the House of Suntory in Osaka. The gin combines six very special botanicals, all sourced in Japan. Roku is among the most popular gin brands in the world in 2023.
6. Monkey 47
Insider Monkey Score: 8
The Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin contains a blend of 47 botanicals sourced from India and the Black Forest in Germany. The unexpected flavors from around the world come together for one unique blend that’s complex and delicious.
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Disclosure: None. 20 Most Popular Gin Brands in 2023 is originally published on Insider Monkey.