Gifts for gin lovers
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The UK’s love of gin shows no sign of fading, and gin fans tend to be curious: they like trying new botanicals, new tonics and new garnishes. That makes them fun to buy for. Rather than another bottle that sits at the back of the cupboard, give them a way to enjoy, explore or even make their own.
A glass for their G and T
An engraved hiball for their gin and tonic
A tall hiball glass engraved “It’s Gin O’Clock” with their name. It’s the right shape for a long G and T with plenty of ice, and it gives a gin fan a glass that’s clearly theirs.
About £11.99.
Copa balloon glasses for the Spanish-style serve
The big, round copa glass holds plenty of ice and lets the aromas come through. A pair makes a smart present for a couple who like a gin in the garden on a summer evening.
Make it, taste it, grow it
A make-your-own gin kit
These kits come with botanicals, bottles and labels; you add a bottle of plain vodka and infuse it for a couple of days. It’s a fun weekend project, and they get to name their own gin.
A gin tasting set of small bottles
A box of miniatures from different distilleries lets them try new styles, from classic London dry to pink and citrus gins, without buying full bottles of each. A good excuse for a slow tasting evening with friends.
A herb-growing kit for fresh garnishes
Rosemary, thyme, basil and mint all make great gin garnishes. A windowsill growing kit gives them a supply of fresh sprigs, and it’s a present that keeps going long after the gin runs out.
A day at gin school
Many UK distilleries now run gin schools where you design your own recipe on a small copper still and take the bottle home. It’s a memorable day out, especially for two, and much more personal than a bottle off the shelf.
For a cosy evening in
A cosy night-in candle for G and T evenings
A scented candle labelled “Light me for a cosy night in”. Wrap it with a hiball glass and a bottle of tonic and you’ve put together a really thoughtful gift for not much effort.
About £29.
A whodunnit to go with a gin and tonic
A Cold Case Inc gift voucher lets them choose one of eleven online murder-mystery cases, played in a browser, with a message from you and a delivery date you pick. A perfect Saturday night for the gin fan who also loves a detective drama.
About £9.99 per case.
How to put together a gin gift
Some of the nicest gin presents are little hampers you assemble yourself. Start with a glass, either an engraved hiball or a copa, then add a small bottle of a gin they haven’t tried, two or three bottles of good tonic, and something for the garnish: a lime, a sprig of rosemary, a few dried orange slices. Wrap it all in a box with tissue paper and it looks far more expensive than it is.
It helps to know their taste. Fans of classic London dry gin usually like juniper-forward flavours and a simple slice of lime. Those who prefer pink or fruit gins may enjoy a lighter tonic and berries. If you’re unsure, a tasting set lets them work it out themselves, and a gin school day helps them discover exactly which botanicals they like best.
Finally, think about the occasion. A make-your-own kit is great fun for a birthday weekend, a candle and glass suit a thank-you or a Secret Santa, and a gin school day is a generous present for a big birthday or a retirement.
A note on drinking well
The best gin gifts celebrate flavour and craft, not volume. Avoid oversized novelty glasses and “bottomless” themed gifts. For someone cutting back, there are some excellent alcohol-free botanical spirits that work beautifully with the same glass, tonic and garnish.
More personalised ideas: Engraved glasses at You Personalise · Birthday cards at Lush Lobster
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