Festive Spirits: Different Gins to Try This Christmas

If your celebrations come with a clink of glasses and a dash of seasonal sparkle, Christmas is the perfect time to explore a few new gins. 

From rich winter warmers to crisp botanical blends, there’s a whole world of flavours waiting to brighten your festive gatherings. 

Whether you’re hosting friends, pairing drinks with your Christmas feast, or treating yourself after a long day of wrapping presents, these gins offer something special for the season.

1. Spiced Christmas Gins

Many distillers release limited-edition holiday gins infused with warming seasonal spices. Expect notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, and sometimes even a whisper of mulled wine. These gins are rich, cosy and wonderfully aromatic – ideal for serving with a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick.

Perfect serve: Ginger ale or a classic tonic with orange peel.

2. Winter Berry Gins

If you prefer something fruity, winter berry gins offer bright flavours without being too sweet. Think cranberry, sloe, blackberry, raspberry, or even festive blends combining several berries. These are brilliant for Christmas cocktails and look stunning in the glass.

Perfect serve: Topped with lemonade or soda and garnished with fresh berries.

3. London Dry Classics

For those who like to stick to tradition, a well-made London Dry gin is always a festive winner. Clean, crisp and juniper-forward, it’s the ideal base for a Christmas Day G&T. With so many artisan distillers across the UK, it’s a great way to support local producers too.

Perfect serve: Premium tonic, ice, and a slice of lime.

4. Citrus-Forward Gins

Christmas doesn’t have to be all spice and berries. A citrus-led gin can cut beautifully through rich festive food, offering refreshing notes of lemon, orange or grapefruit. These gins are bright, uplifting and perfect for guests who enjoy something light and zesty.

Perfect serve: Mediterranean tonic with a twist of grapefruit.

5. Floral Winter Gins

For something more delicate, a floral gin brings a gentle, aromatic elegance to your Christmas drinks menu. Look out for blends with elderflower, heather, chamomile or rose. These pair wonderfully with lighter party foods and afternoon gatherings.

Perfect serve: Light tonic water and edible flowers for a touch of Christmas glamour.

6. Cask-Aged Gins

If you want a gin that feels truly luxurious, cask-aged varieties offer depth and warmth more commonly associated with whisky. Aged in oak barrels, these gins take on notes of vanilla, caramel and spice. They’re perfect for sipping neat by the fire.

Perfect serve: Neat over ice, or with a splash of ginger ale.

Festive Cocktail Ideas

Looking to elevate your Christmas drinks table? Try these easy mixes:

The Christmas G&T: Spiced gin, premium tonic, star anise and orange slice.

Winter Berry Fizz: Berry gin, prosecco and a few frozen berries.

Yuletide Negroni: Aged gin, sweet vermouth and a dash of campari for a warming pre-dinner drink.

Wrapping Up

Gin has never been more diverse or exciting, and Christmas gives you the perfect excuse to sample a few new flavours. Whether you lean towards spicy warmth, fruity sweetness or classic crisp botanicals, there’s a seasonal gin for every palate and every party.