Beverage Testing Institute’s Hall Of Fame Picks

Five colorful Gin & Tonic cocktails on bar counter.

getty

With more than 6,000 gin expressions produced across 160 countries, the category has never been more diverse or more competitive. Distillers now draw on botanicals from every corner of the globe, crafting spirits that range from juniper and citrus-forward London Dry classics to floral, regionally expressive modern gins.

Yet amid this explosion of innovation, only a select handful consistently rise to the top. The Beverage Testing Institute’s (BevTest) Hall of Fame recognizes those rare bottlings. These gins deliver sustained, medal-winning excellence year after year. Below is a closer look at three standout gins, each from a different continent, that embody the very best the global gin renaissance has to offer. Tasting notes are my own.

Atian Rose Gin, 43% ABV, 750 ml.

Atian Rose is a small-batch South African gin made by Gin Runners/Atian, using 13 unique botanicals sourced from the Cape province. It’s vapor-distilled, naturally pink, with no added sugar or coloring. It’s positioned as a “rose gin” that also showcases South Africa’s fynbos—the brand partners with conservation non-profit FynbosLIFE to support the protection of local plant species.

Alongside juniper, the botanical bill includes rooibos, licorice, buchu, cubeb, cardamom, African ginger, almond, coriander, lemon, grapefruit peels, rose hips, and rose geranium, all vapor-infused for a delicate extraction.

The gin features a perfumed rose and rose geranium up front, supported by grapefruit and lemon peels and a subtle but well-integrated juniper core. Underneath the citrus and juniper framework are rooibos tea, buchu’s minty/black-currant notes, and a hint of ginger and licorice.

It’s light-to-medium bodied on the palate with a clean, creamy, and crisp character showcasing flavors of juniper and fresh citrus, followed by cardamom, coriander, and a sweet-tea note from the rooibos. Rose and rose hips add floral potpourri notes, while buchu adds a subtle herbal, almost eucalyptus-like edge.

The finish is long, dry, and refreshing, with a hint of candied sweetness and lingering notes of pink grapefruit zest, piney juniper, subtle rosewater, and a hint of sweet spices and rooibos. The gin is excellent in a G&T or a delicate sour where the florals can shine.

Cemetery Gin, 45% ABV, 750 ml.

Cemetery Gin was created for Virginia City, Nevada, a Comstock Lode boomtown, as a local “house gin.” It’s distilled in nearby Reno by Comstock Distillers and made entirely with Nevada-grown ingredients. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Comstock Cemetery Foundation to help restore historic graveyards, hence the name. The gin is BevTest’s highest-ranked American gin and an absolute must-have for any gin enthusiast’s home bar.

The gin is distilled with juniper berries, Nevada pine nuts, coriander, cardamom, angelica root, and orange and lemon peels. The pine nuts are the signature local twist, adding a resinous, nutty depth.

The gin features pronounced aromas of juniper and citrus peel, followed by a distinct toasted-pine-nut note—resinous, slightly buttery—wrapped in coriander, cardamom, and a touch of earthy angelica.

It’s medium-bodied and assertive on the palate, showcasing classic dry gin flavors of juniper, lemon pith and sweet orange, followed by spice notes of coriander seed, cardamom, and a hint of pepper. The Nevada pine nuts add a rounded, nutty richness that are reminiscent of pine resin and a hint of marzipan, balancing the citrus bite.

The finish is long and slightly drying, with lingering notes of juniper, orange pith, gentle bitterness from angelica, and a lingering roasted-nut echo from the pine nuts. This gin is built for bracing G&Ts or a very characterful martini.

England, Hampshire. 28 April 2021. Highclere Castle, home to the Earl of Carnarvon and setting of the popular tv series “Downton Abbey”.

gettyHighclere Castle Gin, 43.5% ABV, 750 ml.

Highclere Castle Gin is inspired by the gardens and farming estate surrounding Highclere Castle—the real-life setting of Downton Abbey. It’s distilled at historic Langley Distillery near Birmingham, often cited as one of England’s oldest gin distilleries. It uses a 19th-century copper pot still nicknamed “Jenny” and spring water drawn from an ancient underground aquifer beneath the site.

Ten botanicals are used, many sourced from the castle’s walled gardens: juniper, lavender, lime flower, orange and lemon peels, angelica root, coriander seed, cassia, licorice, and cardamom. A novel twist is the use of estate-grown oats in the botanical basket, contributing a notably creamy texture.

The gin features classic London Dry aromas of juniper, citrus, and angelica, but is surrounded by refined floral notes of lime flower and lavender. The floral notes contribute a sophisticated, “English garden” note, delicate rather than perfumy. Underneath are hints of cassia and sweet licorice.

It has a medium-plus body and is beautifully balanced, showcasing flavors of piney juniper and bitter orange at the core. Coriander and cardamom add gentle spice while angelica and licorice bring earthy sweetness. The oats impart a silky, almost creamy mid-palate texture rather than a distinct flavor, rounding off the edges of the alcohol.

The finish is long, smooth, and creamy with lingering notes of juniper, dry citrus peel, faint floral notes, cassia, and a soft cereal/oat echo. This is a premium, luxurious classic London Dry—equally happy sipped neat, in a martini, or in a sophisticated G&T.

From the fynbos-driven florality of South Africa’s Atian Rose to the pine-nut richness of Nevada’s Cemetery Gin and the refined English garden elegance of Highclere Castle Gin, these Hall of Fame selections illustrate how far the modern gin world has evolved.

Each gin is unmistakably rooted in its place of origin, yet all share the same virtues: precision, balance, expressive botanicals, and consistent award-winning quality. In a category defined by limitless creativity, these gins stand as benchmarks—proof that true craftsmanship always rises above the noise.

Beverage Testing Institute’s Hall Of Fame Picks

Tags: