The best brandy to buy 2026 - taste tested by experts
Buy the best bottle of brandy by reading our expert review of this complex spirit, including the best armagnac, cognac and calvados.
Brandy is a hugely diverse umbrella term in the world of spirits, but a deliciously flavoursome one at that. To get technical, largely speaking, to be classified as a brandy, the base ingredient of the spirit needs to be grape-based (with the exception of Eaux de Vie and fruit brandies such calvados, which uses apples or pears). Because of the widespread nature of grape vines and the diversity of different varieties, grape brandy is produced pretty much everywhere around the globe, so here’s our pick of the best brandies to buy – including a few unusual ones. Look out for armagnac in particular: this rustic cousin to cognac is one of France’s most underrated brandies, and offers age and complexity at highly affordable prices. Our pick of the top 10 best brandies ranges from £25-80 a bottle, and includes cognac, armagnac and calvados, so you're sure to find a bottle for you. For more drinks inspiration, check out our reviews section for over 400+ expert reviews, including round-ups of the best pink, sloe, citrus and rhubarb gins, plus gift guides including our best gifts for wine lovers. Best brandy to buy at a glance Best Italian brandy: Vecchia Romagna Risvera Tre Botti, £46.90 Best limited-edition brandy: Courvoisier Rouge Luxe, £59.99 Best value brandy: St-Rémy XO, £25.95 Best brandy for gifting: Martell VSOP, £52.75 Best traditional cognac: Frapin 1270 Premier Cru Grande Champagne cognac, £48.95 Best armagnac: Chateau De Laubade VSOP, £47.77 Best refreshing cognac: Hine H By Hine cognac, £44.55 Best calvados: Boulard Calvados VSOP, £45.75 Best for sherry lovers: Gonzalez Byass Lepanto Solera Pedro Ximenez brandy, £72.72 Best pisco: Qollqe Italia grape pisco, £36.44 Best brandy alternative: Metaxa 12 Stars, £28 Jump to: What is brandy? What are the different types of brandy? Best brandy to buy 2026 Best brandy to buy 2026 Vecchia Romagna Risvera Tre Botti Latest Prices Best Italian brandy Championed by many as the best brandy producer in Italy, Vecchia Romagna was always destined for success. The house was founded by Jean Bouton, a French spirits producer and supplier to the Imperial House of Napoleon. Having enjoyed success in France, Bouton moved to Emilia Romagna and, in 1820, laid the foundations for one of the nation’s greatest distilleries. The Tre Botti is a decadent blend of brandies aged in French oak, Slavonian oak and former red wine barrels. The end result is a nose of stewed dried fruits sweetened by hazelnut and cinnamon. Toasted hazelnut and oak are joined on the palate by more dried fruit and baking spices, with the experience deepened by the introduction of clove. Latest Prices Courvoisier Rouge Luxe Available from Amazon (£59.99) Best limited-edition brandy A limited-edition offering from the world’s most awarded cognac house, this bottle pays homage to the brand’s illustrious history, dating back to 1828. Courvoisier’s red-and-gold motif takes centre stage here: metallic ink and embossed lettering elevates the eye-catching design, and the elegant, frosted bottle makes a classy gift. The liquid inside is even more impressive than the bottle: smooth vanilla notes are deepened by a slick leather and sandalwood combination, with chewy dried fruits lingering at the finish. Available from: Amazon (£59.99) St-Rémy XO Available from Ocado (£25.95), Master of Malt (£27) Best value brandy There are few brandies on the market that can boast a reputation comparable to St-Rémy XO. The world first sipped this back in 1990, and the bottle has gone on to win countless awards in the decades since. Presented in a striking black bottle, this is arguably the best-value brandy on the market, often coming in under £25. Oak and vanilla are lathered with honey on the nose, with each aroma carried through to the palate and met with brown sugar and ginger, chewy figs and cracks of pepper. Available from: Ocado (£25.95) Master of Malt (£28.22) Martell VSOP Available from Master of Malt (£52.75), Ocado (£48.35) Best brandy for gifting A bit of jargon-busting for you here: VSOP denotes a Very Superior Old Pale, a brandy that's been aged for a minimum of four years. An offering from one of the world’s most-famous cognac houses, the Martell VSOP comes in at less than half the price of the legendary Martell Cordon Bleu and gives you plenty of bang for your buck. Deliciously complex, the nose is a puddle of juicy summer fruits bursting with peach and plum; these fruits are carried through to the palate where they’re sprinkled with pepper and dry oak. Available from: Master of Malt (£52.75) Ocado (£48.35) Frapin 1270 Available from The Whisky Exchange (£48.95) Best traditional cognac Considering brandy is historically intertwined with winemaking, it makes sense that location is of vital importance when deciding which tipple to opt for here. Frapin is produced in the Grande Champagne region, a sector of the Cognac region that many would argue is its finest. The Frapin 1270 is dedicated to the Frapin’s family’s history in the region, dating back to the eponymous year. This multi-award-winning expression is worthy of its name; the nose boasts an alluring mist of lime and a more forthright plume of vanilla. Creamy vanilla carries through the palate, along with butterscotch and dashes of bright pepper. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£48.95) Chateau De Laubade VSOP Available from Master of Malt (£47.77), Amathus Drinks (£41.80) Best armagnac One of the most accessible armagnacs out there, this VSOP (a ‘very superior old pale’ brandy, aged for a minimum of four years) brings a wonderful, light sweetness of honey, aromatic flowers and vanilla. Laubade combines some classic grape varieties from the Bas region (arguably the most premium) including Baco, Folle Blanche and Colombard, each one breathing life and character into the spirit. Available from: Master of Malt (£45.95) Amathus Drinks (£41.80) Hine H By Hine Cognac Latest Prices Best refreshing cognac Hine is somewhat reinventing the direction of cognac, away from the traditional view of a brandy balloon glass, cigar pairing and dusty leather armchair. As fine as these things might be under the right circumstances, a lighter, more refreshing side to cognac is on the rise and H By Hine has been designed with the cognac cocktail in mind, especially long drinks, where it excels. Try it over ice, combined with ginger ale and a slice of orange zest and be prepared to be converted. Latest Prices Boulard Calvados VSOP Available from Amazon (£39.25), Master of Malt (£45.75) Best calvados The first of our ‘anomaly’ brandies, calvados, is every bit a brandy, proudly French and is quite possibly Normandie’s finest export (save for butter and camembert.) Boulard’s VSOP is distilled from cider produced in the Pays d'Auge region and matured in oak for a minimum of four years, giving a rich, buttery texture, notes of green apples and a little sweet Tarte Tatin. It makes a mean Old Fashioned cocktail too. Available from: Amazon (£39.25) Master of Malt (£45.75) Gonzalez Byass Lepanto Solera Pedro Ximenez brandy Available from Amazon (£75.20), Master of Malt (£85.74) Best for sherry lovers Gonzalez Byass is widely known for its exceptional sherry. In fact, a trip to Jerez is certainly incomplete without a visit to the company’s huge facility, which includes what can only be described as an Ampitheatre of Sherry and a museum, paying homage to the artistry of this excellent fortified wine. Gonzalez Byass also produce an outstanding brandy, which, after 12 years in a Solera vat (a smart term for marrying vessel) it is then aged for a further three years in thick, sticky sweet Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. Think notes of woody spice, intense dried fruit and tobacco. As complex as they come. Available from: Amazon (£75.20) Master of Malt (£81.82) Qollqe Italia grape pisco Available from Amathus Drinks (£36.44) Best pisco Peru’s supreme grape brandy is a thing of beauty when turned into a refreshing pisco sour (the national drink) but it is an unfettered delight on its own, poured over ice or paired with tonic. Qollqe is one of Peru’s only pisco distilleries with a female master distiller and the Italia (made from a base of fragrant Italia grapes) is full of light elderflower notes, fresh green apple and lemon zest. Truly outstanding. For more, check out our round-up of the best pisco to buy. Available from: Amathus Drinks (£36.44) Metaxa 12 Stars Latest Prices Best brandy alternative Ok, so technically NOT a brandy. In the technical sense anyway. However we simply had to include this remarkable Greek ‘spirit drink’ (a clunky EU term) in this list, because it has all the hallmarks of a well balanced brandy: oak age and complexity, sweetness and delicate floral notes. Metaxa has nearly 130 years of heritage and is quite possibly the world’s oldest ‘bottled cocktail’, bringing together oak matured grape distillates, highly aromatic sweet wines from the Isle of Samos and a unique tincture of Mediterranean herbs, spices and rose petals. If you’re looking for a unique alternative to your traditional brandy, this needs to be near the top of your list. Latest Prices What is brandy? Brandy is a broad term. The most ubiquitous brandies we drink are distilled from wine. However, this definition would exclude a number of brandy variations, such as grappa. To put it simply: brandy is a spirit made by distilling fruit, as opposed to whisky, which is made from grains and cereals. Historically, the origins of the word ‘brandy’ are rooted in the Dutch name brandewijn – literally ‘burnt wine’ – which dates back to the 12th-century process of boiling wine down to reduce the volume in casks before transporting it overseas. The happy accident was that it ended up even more viscous, rich and utterly delicious, given the lengthy maturation in oak casks, which imparted both flavour and colour. What are the different types of brandy? Brandies can fall under many categories, labelled according to where the brandy was produced or what it's made from. Cognac is made in the Cognac region of France, while armagnac is produced in the Armagnac region. Aside from provenance, the two varieties are also separated by nuances in the distillation process. Another much-adored category of brandy is calvados, which is produced in Normandy using apples and pears. Grappa is made using pomace leftover from winemaking (it was traditionally considered a poor man’s drink), and must be produced in Italy, San Marino or the Italian portion of Switzerland. Pisco is similar in character to grappa, but this Latin American spirit is made using fermented grape juice. What is the difference between XO and VSOP in brandy? The terms on labels when buying a bottle of brandy can feel confusing on your first purchase, but they are simple to decode. There are different grades of brandy and these signal the quality of the alcohol – mainly denoted by age. On cognac, VSOP denotes a Very Superior Old Pale, a brandy that's been aged for a minimum of four years, whilst brandy marked XO legally has to have been aged for six years, although these are often much older. More spirits reviews The best bourbon The best artisan gins The best traditional gins The best rum The best whisky The best vodka The best sustainable spirits to buy Which brandy do you drink? We'd love to hear your product suggestions. This review was last updated in January 2026. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
Searching for the perfect gin to give as a present? We have rounded up our favourite craft, flavoured and independent gins to give as a gift.
When there's a whole world of gin to choose from, how do you know which will make the most special presents? We're here to help with our expert taste test of the most special, beautifully bottled gin. Read on to discover our top picks for birthdays and beyond. For a unique gift, check out our 5 most unusual gins we've tried for a memorable present, including apple crumble and seaweed flavoured gins. For more, visit our reviews section and find over 400 practical buyer's guides, including taste tests of whisky, vodka, rum, brandy and more. We also have reviews of gin glasses plus expert gin taste tests, including round-ups of the best pink gins, sloe gins, citrus gins and rhubarb gins, plus gift guides like the best letterbox gifts to order online. Looking for a personalised gift idea? Best gin to buy at a glance Best bottle design: Silent Pool, £43 Best flavoured gin: Malfy con Arancia, £31.95 Best classic gin: Beefeater London dry, £19.25 Best crowd-pleasing gin: No.3 London dry gin, £38.95 Best flavoured liqueur: Foxdenton Golden Apricot Liqueur, £29.81 Best Scottish gin: Ben Lomond Blood Orange & Pink Grapefruit gin, £37.13 Best award winning gin: Three Wrens Apple Crumble Edition Gin, £39.67 Best back-to-basics gin: Death's Door Gin, £41.95 Best gin gift from across the globe: Four Pillars rare dry gin, £37.95 Best gin for a gin novice: Ableforth’s bathtub gin, £32.50 Best gin for Martini lovers: Mare Mediterranean Gin, £39.95 Best traditional English gin: Hepple Gin, £38.25 Best regional gin: Shivering Mountain premium dry gin, £39.50 Best vermouth to gift: Martini riserva speciale ambrato, £19.25 Best 'gin' for non-drinkers: Seedlip non-alcoholic spirit, £21.50 Best gin to buy as gifts 2025 Silent Pool (43% ABV) Latest Deals Best bottle design A gin that looks as great as it tastes – the aqua blue of the Silent Pool bottle is mesmerising. A delicious mix of chamomile, lavender and honey flavours, it's made on the Albury Estate in the Surrey Hills, so it's a real product of its location. Wrapping up a bottle of this will definitely earn you brownie points. Latest Deals Malfy con Arancia (41% ABV) Latest Deals Best flavoured gin gift Give a taste of Italian sunshine with a bottle of Malfy gin. The colourful bottles make a brilliant addition to a bar cart, whilst the gin itself lives up to the promise too. The bold and zesty Malfy Con Arancia, made with a mixture of Italian oranges and Sicilian blood oranges, is our favourite (perfect for a summer spritz), or try the refreshing con Limone or tart Malfy Gin Rosa (with Sicilian grapefruit) options. Latest Deals Beefeater London dry (40% ABV) Latest Deals Best classic gin Nothing beats a classic, and Beefeater is arguably the grandfather of gins. Crafted in central London, the distilling process still utilises copper pot stills to this day and, from the distillery’s home in Kennington, you can see directly into the Oval cricket ground. With juniper at its heart and balanced with botanicals, Beefeater is best when simply mixed with tonic and ice. It never goes wrong as a decent bottle to give on special occasions, and is widely available in supermarkets if you need something last-minute. Latest Deals No.3 London dry gin (47% ABV) Latest Deals Best crowd-pleasing gin Produced by Berry Bros & Rudd (the oldest wine and spirits merchant in the UK), this gin takes some beating. Expect to find citrus, cardamom and lashings of all-important juniper. No.3 subscribes to the ‘if it ain’t broke, don't fix it’ mentality, and is all the better for it. Outstanding, simple and a crowd-pleaser. Latest Deals Foxdenton Golden Apricot Liqueur (17.5% ABV) Available from Foxdenton (£28.50), Master of Malt (£29.81) Best flavoured liqueur Imagine eating a bowl of poached apricots in the sun in the South of France - that is what this gin tastes like. Intensely fruity (made with Isle of Wight apricots and London Dry Gin) the apricot flavour comes mainly as an after taste when mixed with tonic, but is also more than sweet enough to be enjoyed on it’s own, and would work brilliantly with a cheeseboard. For something more festive, try the Christmas Liqueur made with Winslow plums and a blend of Christmas spices, in a striking red bottle that’s perfect for bringing out at Christmas parties. Available from: Foxdenton (£28.50) Master of Malt (£29.81) Ben Lomond Blood Orange & Pink Grapefruit gin (38% ABV) Available from Ben Lomond Gin (£33), Master of Malt (£37.13) Best Scottish gin Scottish gin Ben Lomond draws inspiration from Loch Lomond, using botanicals from the surrounding peaks to create vibrant flavoured gins alongside its classic Original. Our favourite is the newest Blood Orange and Pink Grapefruit, a zesty citrus gin inspired by vibrant Scottish sunsets. The grapefruit adds a sherbety touch to the sweet orange for a versatile bottle. For fans of berry gin, the Blackberry and Gooseberry gin has rich dark fruit aromas and well balanced tart fruit with a sweet finish. Available from: Ben Lomond Gin (£33) Master of Malt (£37.13) Three Wrens Apple Crumble Edition Gin (40% ABV) Available from Amazon (£39.95), Master of Malt (£39.67) Best award winning gin Apple crumble gin may sound like a novelty, but the awards quickly stack up for this quality bottle from Three Wrens: winning a 3-star Great Taste Award in 2021, gold at the World Gin Awards and gold at the 2021 World Gin Masters. Both apple and warming oat notes come through clearly in this unusual bottle, distilled with Cheshire apples, cinnamon and Demerara sugar for the sense of the classic pud in a glass without ever being too sweet. Available from: Amazon (£39.95) Master of Malt (£39.67) Death’s Door Gin (47% ABV) Available from Amazon (£41.95) Best back-to-basics gin In a world where most craft gins seem to stuff tons of botanicals into their recipes, this wonderful brand from America stands out for its simplicity. Death’s Door uses just three botanicals: juniper, coriander and fennel. The result is an earthy gin sure to impress for its outstanding balance. Available from: Amazon (£41.95) Four Pillars rare dry gin (41.8% ABV) Latest Deals Best gin gift from across the globe An Aussie gin built on the four pillars of a copper still, water from the Yarra Valley, local botanicals and a whole lotta love! Beautifully balanced, full-bodied and full of Aussie personality. A ray of sunshine from the southern hemisphere to chilly UK climates. Latest Deals Ableforth's Bathtub Gin (43.3% ABV) Available from Master of Malt (£34.95), Amazon (£39.27) Best gift for a gin novice One of the new wave of gins to hit shelves in the past few years, this is ‘compounded’ by adding the botanicals to a neutral spirit and steeping until the flavour develops. The result is a gin that is delicate yet balanced – perfect for the beginner. Available from: Master of Malt (£34.95) Amazon (£39.27) Gin Mare (42.7% ABV) Latest Deals Best gin for martini lovers The martini is having a moment once again. The question is, how do you like yours? If you enjoy it with an olive rather than citrus zest, Gin Mare is the one for you. Rich and smooth, this Spanish gin has a distinct savoury backbone. Latest Deals Hepple gin (45% ABV) Available from Amazon (£38.25) Best traditional English gin When it comes to flavour, chefs know more than most. Hepple is distilled in the North East and is the brainchild of well-known chef and forager, Valentine Warner, and it shows. This is a gin made with passion and flavour at the very heart of it, and can be enjoyed simply over ice. Available from: Amazon (£38.25) Shivering Mountain premium dry gin (40% ABV) Available from Shivering Mountain (£39.50) Everything about Shivering Mountain is inspired by its Peak District location. The name comes from Mam Tor, the mountain overlooking the distillery, known locally as Shivering Mountain. Premium bottle Botanicals in the dry gin include gorse, heather, bilberries and sloes, adding extra depth to a classic London dry style gin. The dramatic bottle design makes it a great gift, too. Available from: Shivering Mountain (£39.50) Martini riserva speciale ambrato (18% ABV) Available from Ocado (£17.20) Best vermouth to gift Vermouth is to gin what McCartney was to Lennon: together they make a great pair, but as individuals, they're also star performers. For anyone who is building a decent collection of different gins, try giving them a bottle of Martini’s latest. It's spicy yet delicate, with blossoming elderflower notes. Available from: Ocado (£17.20) Seedlip non-alcoholic spirit Latest Deals Best 'gin' for non-drinkers For someone who is teetotal or simply having a break from booze, Seedlip is the perfect go-to drink. Seedlip Garden 108 is a gin-like, alcohol-free distilled spirit that pairs brilliantly with tonic. Latest Deals Spirit reviews The best rum The best bourbon The best artisan gins The best traditional gins Best sustainable spirits More reviews Best wine glasses Best champagne glasses Best whiskey glasses Best hampers Best advent calendars For more product picks, visit our reviews section to find all our gin taste tests. What's your favourite gin? Leave a comment below... If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
16 best tequilas taste tested, for sipping, cocktails and more
The best bottles of tequila to buy, as selected by the experts. Including everything from mezcal to añejo, sotol, reposado and 100% agave tequilas.
Tequila is an agave-based spirit that can only be produced in certain parts of Mexico (just like champagne has to come from a particular region of France). It's been around for centuries and is made using the pineapple-shaped heart of the agave plant. When done right, tequila is a silky smooth drink, with light touches of citrus. Some tequilas are ideal for cocktails: start with a classic margarita or try a colourful tequila sunrise with grenadine and orange juice. Other tequilas – especially pure versions, made with 100% agave – can be enjoyed in a short glass with ice. Depending on the style of tequila, the notes and aromas can vary from rich, buttery fudge and toffee to sharp citrus and herbaceous flavours. Our drinks expert Brendan Hodrien is a lifestyle writer who specialises in drinks reviews and he has found 16 top tequilas to buy. He has previously written about the best drinks for The Independent, The i and Evening Standard, more often than not waxing lyrical about Islay whiskies. Read on to discover the best buys, including bottles from big names in the tequila world such as Patrón, VIVIR, Fortaleza and Herradura, as well as unique artisan bottles perfect for gifting to a tequila fan. Whether you're after a bottle to make tequila and tonics, an authentic tequila or want to try something new with mezcal or sotol, we've got the bottle for you. Read on to discover our pick of the best tequila. For more, visit our reviews section and find taste-tests for pisco, gin, vodka, rum and more, plus gift guides such as the best cocktail gifts. The best tequila to buy at a glance Best floral tequila: Código 1530 Rosa tequila, £45.75 Best for a tequila and tonic: El Rayo Plata tequila, £39.95 Best big brand tequila: Patrón Reposado tequila, £55.25 Best unusual bottle: Kah Blanco tequila, £41.99 Best traditional tequila: Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver tequila, £36.95 Best Mexican highlands tequila: Cazcabel Reposado tequila, £30.95 Best authentic tequila: Rooster Rojo blanco tequila, £25.95 Best award-winning tequila: 1800 Silver tequila, £38.95 Best premium authentic tequila: Fortaleza Reposado, £72.60 Best artisan mezcal: Del Maguey Vida mezcal, £55 Best budget tequila: Tapatio Reposado tequila, £28.95 Best blended tequila: Gran Centenario reposado tequila, £43.95 Best mezcal: QuiQuiRiQui Matatlan mezcal, £42.99 Best añejo tequila: Herradura añejo tequila, £58.75 Best blanco tequila: Ocho blanco tequila, £27.25 Best blowout tequila: Gran Patrón Piedra tequila, £229 The best tequila taste tested 2024 Código 1530 Rosa tequila undefined Best floral tequila This ultra-premium tequila is backed by American country music singer, George Strait. A family recipe let loose just over a decade ago, the Código 1530 is a super-smooth spirit that will encourage you to rethink how you feel about tequila. It's full of bright fruits and silky agave, owing to the month it spent in cabernet wine barrels. Read our full Código 1530 Rosa tequila review. undefined El Rayo Plata tequila Latest Deals Best for a tequila and tonic Smooth, modern tequila, made for a T&T (tequila and tonic). This bottle is the passion project of a couple of young Brits who fell in love with tequila and quit their day jobs for the cause. Smooth and herbaceous, tonic helps bring out the more complex and oily citrus notes of this impressive, peppery spirit. Read our full El Rayo Plata tequila review. Latest Deals Patrón Reposado tequila Latest Deals Best big brand tequila Patrón likes to say it didn’t invent tequila – just perfected it. Famed for coffee liqueur and an exquisite line of tequilas, Patrón's briefly aged expression is smooth with vanilla and vibrant with citrus, oozing with silky agave and honey. Read our full Patrón Reposado tequila review. Latest Deals Kah Blanco tequila undefined Best unusual bottle A fascinating-looking bottle of tequila that celebrates an equally fascinating local custom. This earthy, citrus-laced tequila comes in a hand-finished calavera (skull-shaped bottle) in tribute to the traditions of Mexico's Day of the Dead. Read our full Kah Blanco tequila review. undefined Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver tequila undefined Best traditional tequila The ideal cocktail base from the world’s oldest and biggest tequila brand. Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver is a premium offering from this mammoth distillery – it's a slick, 100 per cent agave spirit that has well-balanced smoothness and sweetness. It's perfect for a margarita. Read our full Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver tequila review. undefined Cazcabel Reposado tequila Latest Deals Best Mexican highlands tequila Straight from the highlands of Jalisco (a coastal Mexican state) is this deliciously balanced tequila, made with one eye on the past and one eye on the future. Truly an artisan offering, the distillery itself is based in the highlands, putting the operation close to where the agave is grown. Cazcabel Reposado is chewy with caramel and punchy with cinnamon and pepper – it makes an excellent Mexican negroni. Read our full Cazcabel Reposado tequila review. Latest Deals Rooster Rojo blanco tequila undefined Best authentic tequila Tequila from the town of Tequila (in the Mexican state of Jalisco) itself. This bottle comes from the Fabrica de Tequilas Finos distillery, a producer of many fine spirits. Rooster Rojo blanco is the brainchild of esteemed master distiller, Arturo Fuentes Cortes. It's full of herbaceous and citrus flavours, sparked to life by fiery pepper. Read our full Rooster Rojo blanco tequila review. undefined 1800 Silver tequila Latest Deals Best award-winning tequila Jose Cuervo’s premium cousin, 1800 tequila was made to celebrate the year when tequila was first successfully aged in wood. This 100 per cent agave tequila is smooth and refreshing, slick with notes of aloe vera and hints of citrus. Read our full 1800 Silver tequila review. Latest Deals Fortaleza Reposado undefined Best premium authentic tequila Made to an age-old recipe using age-old processes and age-old equipment, this is an ultra-authentic tequila. Fortaleza Reposado is dry at points but also bursting with citrus, full of sticky sweetness with caramel and toffee ahead of orchard fruits. Read our full Fortaleza Reposado review. undefined Del Maguey Vida mezcal undefined Best artisan mezcal Del Maguey is the brainchild of Californian artist turned mezcal maestro Ron Cooper, who has been importing this agave spirit since 1995. It has since become the darling spirit of the hipster world. This example shows how different it can taste from tequila, with smoky elements and an earthy undertone. undefined Tapatio Reposado tequila undefined Best budget tequila This reposado (meaning ‘rested’ for between two and 12 months) is made from 100% blue agave by one of the true godfathers of tequila production, Carlos Camarena. Expect rich, buttery notes alongside a distinct citrus freshness. Slight earthy notes come from the ex-bourbon casks in which it is rested for around four months. undefined Gran Centenario reposado tequila undefined Best blended tequila This reposado tequila spends around 10 months maturing in French wine casks. It’s then blended with other tequilas to develop a distinct, vanilla-tinged floral top note. undefined QuiQuiRiQui Matatlan mezcal undefined Best mezcal QuiQuiRiQui (translating to ‘cock-a-doodle-doo’) is a mezcal that ranges in flavour as you sip it, from smoky to sugary sweet and peppery at the end. It comes from Matatlan, the home of mezcal in Mexico. undefined Herradura añejo tequila undefined Best añejo tequila An añejo is a tequila that's rested in oak for longer than a year, but fewer than three years. Herradura was founded in 1870 and still makes its product in the exact same way. Notes of sweet vanilla, toffee popcorn and black pepper mark this out as excellent example of an añejo tequila. undefined Ocho blanco tequila undefined Best blanco tequila This spirit places heavy focus on the very essence of tequila: agave. Each batch comes from a different field or rancho, contributing distinctive characteristics of that terrain. It's produced in conjunction with Tomas Estes, an official Tequila Ambassador for the Mexican Government. undefined Gran Patrón Piedra tequila Latest Deals Best blowout tequila A definite treat-yourself tequila (just look at the price), Patrón's extra añejo is made from 100% blue weber agave from the highlands of Jalisco. This tequila is matured in both American and French oak casks and has notes more akin to whisky than tequila. Latest Deals More spirit and drinks reviews The best bourbon The best artisan gins The best traditional gins The best rum The best whisky The best vodka The best brandy The best rosé The best sustainable spirits to buy Tequila cocktail recipes Tequila sunrise Classic margarita Top 10 tequila cocktail recipes This review was last updated in February 2024. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
The best flavoured gins taste tested 2025
From rhubarb and traditional sloe to pink, pineapple and even red wine infused gin, read our expert reviews of the best flavoured gins to buy
The purists might sniff, but gin has moved into some surprising new flavour and aroma territories. Alongside major brands that you'll find in every supermarket, such as Whitley Neill, Malfy and Sipsmith, there are also smaller gin brands throwing additional ingredients into the mix to make unique gin flavours. Flavoured gin is a broad term that can cover everything from sherbety citrus gins (think tart lemon, pink grapefruit or orange gins) to colourful fruit creations filled with berries, or grown-up oak-aged gins that take inspiration from wine-making techniques. Our extensive round-up guarantees a flavoured gin for every palate. Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley, of worldsbestspirits.com, are seasoned writers and commentators on fine spirits and cocktails. Their book, Distilled, acts as an A-Z of craft spirits from across the world and won the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards Drinks Book of the Year 2015. Good Food’s Content Editor Lucy Roxburgh is WSET Level 2 qualified and writes a range of drinks reviews for Good Food, including best cocktail subscriptions, best gins to give as gifts and best flavoured vodkas. Read on to discover all their picks for the best flavoured gins. If you're looking for a memorable gin gift, check out our picks of the top 5 most unusual gins we've tried. For more, visit our reviews section to find more than 400 practical buyer's guides, including taste tests of gin, vodka, rum and brandy, plus round-ups of the best rhubarb gins, pink gins and citrus gins. Best flavoured gins at a glance Best rhubarb gin: Warner's rhubarb gin, £37.50 Best red wine gin: Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz gin, <a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1587439&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thewhiskyexchange.com%2Fp%2F35767%2Ffour-pillars-bloody-shiraz-gin%3Fsource%3D%26source%3Dawin%26utm_source%3Dshopwindow%26utm_medium%3Dlink%26utm_campaign%3Daffiliatewindow%26aw_publisherid%3D169609%26aw_creativeid%3D0%26aw_productid%3D22241767739%26aw_sitedomain%3DSovrn%26awc%3D400_1647426120_fe3ffcf62f49558da51393db41d9ae8c" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener">£44.95 Best lemon gin: Malfy Gin Con Limone, £31.95 Best raspberry gin: Whitley Neill raspberry gin, £26.25 Best plum gin: Edinburgh Gin plum and vanilla liqueur, £14.75 Best pineapple gin: Boutique-y Gin Company spit-roasted pineapple gin, £33.95 Best sloe gin: Elephant sloe gin, <a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1587439&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thewhiskyexchange.com%2Fp%2F32718%2Felephant-sloe-gin-half-litre%3Fsource%3D%26source%3Dawin%26utm_source%3Dshopwindow%26utm_medium%3Dlink%26utm_campaign%3Daffiliatewindow%26aw_publisherid%3D169609%26aw_creativeid%3D0%26aw_productid%3D22145643523%26aw_sitedomain%3DSovrn%26awc%3D400_1647427436_6d65169d712f89573fbb8eaeb124a46f" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener">£26.95 Best upgrade for gin liqueur fans: Edinburgh Gin rhubarb and ginger gin, £26.75 Best orange gin: Sipsmith zesty orange gin, £30.80 Best cherry gin: Gordon’s Morello cherry, £18.50 Best passionfruit gin: Gordon’s tropical passion fruit, £18.50 Best rosemary gin: Bathtub rosemary and grapefruit gin, £34.95 How we tested flavoured gins We looked for the best examples of popular flavoured gins (the kind you'd find in bars and pubs) – so predominantly fruit-based gins, such as rhubarb, raspberry or lemon. Alongside these classics, we also looked for creative flavours, such as red wine or oak-aged gins. The flavour of the fruit or spice should be identifiable when tested blind. Flavoured gins can often be overpoweringly sweet – we wanted well-balanced gins that weren't sickly and still had enough bitter notes from juniper and aromatics. Gins were tasted with plain tonic and then with lemonade to judge how well they tasted with different mixers. Read more on how we test and review products at Good Food. Best flavoured gins to buy 2025 Warner's Victoria Rhubarb Gin Available from Waitrose Cellar (£37.50), Majestic (£37) Best rhubarb gin Size: 70cl ABV: 40% This Northamptonshire-based distillery is owned by husband-and-wife team Tom Warner and Tina Keogh-Warner, who have combined seasonal English fruit with their already hugely popular Harrington Dry Gin. Rhubarb is the flavour of the moment, and this fine example – which traces its origins to the original crop of rhubarb grown in Buckingham Palace's kitchen garden during the reign of Queen Victoria – has a wonderful tangy, crisp freshness, backdropped by a delicious fruity note. Drink it lengthened with a dry tonic over ice and you’ve got yourself a perfect summer sipper, fit for a king or queen. Available from: Majestic (£37) Waitrose Cellar (£38) Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz gin undefined Best red wine gin Size: 70cl ABV: 37% What’s not to like here? A premium Australian gin from industry favourites Four Pillars, combined with the dry spiciness of Shiraz grapes. The grapes are left to infuse in the gin for eight weeks before the juice is pressed and blended with yet more gin, taking on a wonderful dark purple hue in the process. It makes for a killer bramble cocktail, or add a hearty measure to a glass of prosecco. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£44.95) The Bottle Club (£41.79) Malfy Gin Con Limone Available from The Great Wine Co (£33), Ocado (£31.25), The Whisky Exchange (£31.95) Best lemon gin Size: 70cl ABV: 40% Produced in Turin, this flavoursome Italian beast brings together some classic botanicals (including Italian juniper, angelica and coriander) and then adds in an infusion of very zesty lemons, which are sourced from Sicily and the Amalfi Coast. An undeniable burst of citrus dominates the flavour, but in a marvellously refreshing way. Works best with tonic, plenty of ice and, if you’re still craving more citrus, a twist of oily Amalfi lemon zest. Available from: The Great Wine Co (£33) Ocado (£31.25) The Whisky Exchange (£31.95) Edinburgh Gin plum and vanilla liqueur Available from Master of Malt (£14.75) Best plum gin Size: 20cl ABV: 20% Technically a liqueur because of its 20% ABV, this is a wonderfully fruity homage to lost summer days in the garden, sipping on a tall glass of something. The tangy, sweet plum notes combine with an aromatic Madagascan vanilla flavour, alongside orange peel, lemongrass, mulberry, lavender and pine buds. It’s a great ingredient in a spritz, or perfect with prosecco. Available from: Master of Malt (£14.75) Boutique-y Gin Company spit-roasted pineapple gin Available from Master of Malt (£33.95), Drink Supermarket (£31.99) Best pineapple gin Size: 70cl ABV: 40% Pineapple works sensationally well with gin. This variety uses whole pineapples, which are spit-roasted with demerara sugar to give them a caramelised coating. The resulting flavours are then extracted and combined with a bold, juniper-forward gin. It’s sweet, pineappley and distinct, but it’s also surprisingly moreish and almost liqueur-like. Mix with sparkling water and ice for a long spritzer-style drink. Available from: Master of Malt (£33.95) Drink Supermarket (£31.99) Elephant sloe gin Available from Master of Malt (£33.25) Best sloe gin Size: 50cl ABV: 35% Elephant is a fine example of this classic gin flavour. Plump sloes are macerated in an award-winning London dry gin (made in Germany) for several months, before being sweetened and bottled. The result is a very fruity, tart, rich spirit, which isn’t cloyingly sweet like some other examples on the market. Try this over ice with a Sicilian lemon tonic and you may find you have a new summer classic on your hands. Available from: Master of Malt (£33.25) Edinburgh rhubarb and ginger gin undefined Best upgrade for gin liqueur fans Size: 50cl ABV: 20% Star rating: 4/5 If you like the sweetness of a gin liqueur, this is the perfect way to dip your toe into a higher percentage gin. Having originally launched as a gin liqueur, the success of Edinburgh Gin’s rhubarb and ginger flavour inspired the brand to launch this as a full strength gin. The addition of stem ginger adds warmth and subtle spice that leads the palate, followed by sweet and tart rhubarb. Best served with tonic to let the rhubarb shine. undefined Sipsmith zesty orange gin Available from Laithwaites (£30) Best orange gin Size: 70cl ABV: 40% Star rating: 4/5 Based on a classic London dry gin, this bottle lives up to its ‘zesty’ title. Both fresh and dried orange peel alongside fragrant bergamot zest makes for a gin that bursts with citrus flavour. It develops into tangy marmalade notes and gentle spice to prevent it from being too sweet. This orange gin would be great in cocktails – we’ve got plenty of citrus cocktail recipes for inspiration – and Sipsmith suggests adding a splash to hot chocolate, too. We also tried the Sipsmith lemon drizzle gin, which was pleasingly tart and again delivered a punch of citrus flavour. Available from: Laithwaites (£30) Whitley Neill raspberry gin undefined Best raspberry gin Star rating: 4/5 Size: 70cl ABV: 43% Whitley Neill has a huge range of flavoured gins, including lime, rhubarb, violet and even quince, but the raspberry gin is our top pick. Whitley Neill gins are made in their City of London distillery and the raspberry gin has won the silver award at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in 2020 and 2021. Made with Scottish raspberries and balanced with punchy juniper, liquorice and coriander, this is a versatile and vibrant flavoured gin. undefined Gordon’s Morello cherry gin Available from Sainsbury's (£19) Best cherry gin Size: 70cl ABV: 37.5% Gordon’s is an instantly familiar name in the world of gin, with its trademark green bottles visible at many pubs and bars. They’ve since expanded into flavoured gins – the refreshing Mediterranean Orange variety launched back in 2020 is an example of a citrus gin done simply and well. The Morello Cherry blends the classic London dry gin with juicy Morello cherries that lend sweet yet tart depth to the gin along with their deep red-pink colour. Try using in a bramble cocktail for an interesting complement to the blackberry liqueur. Available from: Sainsbury's (£19) Gordon’s tropical passion fruit gin Available from Asda (£18.50) Best passion fruit gin Size: 70cl ABV: 37.5% Another easy-to-find launch from Gordon’s. Perfect for summer days, this tropical twist on Gordon’s classic London Dry is sunshine in a glass. The passion fruit aroma is subtle to pick out on the nose, but comes through pleasantly in drinking. It is well-balanced without being too sweet, with clear juniper notes present. Serve in a refreshing tall spritz or use to add an extra boost of tropical tartness to a passion fruit martini. Available from: Asda (£18.50) Bathtub Gin grapefruit & rosemary Available from Master of Malt (£34.95) Best rosemary gin 70cl ABV: 43.3% Grapefruit & rosemary marks Bathtub Gin’s first flavoured gin variety. It's unique in that the flavour was chosen by consumers, with more than 2,500 votes deciding this new launch. On the nose, its classic juniper forward along with the aromatic rosemary adding almost savoury notes. Fresh grapefruit is clear on the palate even as the rosemary deepens, but the flavour of Bathtub gin itself is still clear. It’s a great option for those without a sweet tooth: herbal rosemary and tart grapefruit don’t add the sugary sweetness that can be present in gins that are flavoured with berries or sweet tropical fruit. This makes it best in a simple gin and tonic – add a slice of grapefruit to garnish. Available from: Master of Malt (£34.95) What is gin made from? Gin is made by distilling a neutral grain alcohol (such as vodka) with juniper berries and other botanicals. To be classed as gin, it must contain juniper berries – but the other chosen botanicals can vary and this is what makes each gin distinct. In a flavoured gin, fruit (whether fresh, dried or zest) or aromatics are also added. These, along with the botanicals, are infused into the raw spirit to release their flavours and potentially add colour, too. What is pink gin? The term pink gin originally referred to a cocktail of Plymouth gin and Angostura bitters, created by the British Navy. Today, pink gin is normal gin that has been flavoured with fruits or aromatics (such as rose petals) to lend it a pink hue and usually extra sweetness, without adding sugar or lowering the alcohol percentage. Pink gins can vary from subtle, pale rose-tinted tipples to bold and juicy berry gins. How to drink gin There’s no right or wrong way to drink gin – there’s plenty of options depending on your personal preference. Neat: high quality spirits can be drunk neat, aka on their own without mixers. This allows you to taste the flavours and aromas of the gin itself without being distracted by aromatics from tonic water or sugary lemonade. Add ice to have it ‘on the rocks’. Gin and tonic: perhaps the most familiar way to drink gin. Our collection of gin and tonic recipes has plenty of ideas for matching different garnishes to gins, and also includes gin-infused bakes. Cocktails: from a long fizzy spritz to a classic negroni or martini, gin is the basis for lots of popular cocktails. We’ve got over 50 gin cocktail recipes to get you started – experiment with different flavoured gins to add extra flavour. What are the best gin glasses? Once you’ve got the perfect bottle, find the best gin glasses to sip your G&T from, whether that’s a roomy goblet or chic tumbler. Oliver Bonas Rina green gin glasses Available from Oliver Bonas (£19.50/set of 2) This quirky gin glass duo is great for gifting to a gin lover. A modern take on a traditional gin bowl, these have a short colourful stem and textured design to the glassware. Available from: Oliver Bonas (£19.50/set of 2) Lakeland crystal-look acrylic tumblers Available from Lakeland (£19.96/set of 4) If you’re planning a picnic or want drinks in the garden, these acrylic tumblers are a lightweight, shatterproof alternative to glass. They look like expensive crystal glassware with a roomy 350ml capacity – much more chic than plastic cups or gin from a tin. Available from: Lakeland (£19.96) Gin recipes and buyer's advice Sloe gin recipes Gin cocktail recipes 10 gin & tonics with a twist 10 gin cocktails you can make in minutes How to make your own sloe gin The best gin to buy as a gift The best classic gin The best sustainable spirits to buy If you have any questions or suggestions for future reviews, or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. Have we missed your favourite flavoured gin off our list? We'd love your suggestions...
Looking for a change from the usual supermarket Scotch? Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley from World’s Best Spirits share their pick of the top craft whiskies.
All products were chosen independently by our editorial team. This review contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made. Please read our affiliates FAQ page to find out more and read about how we write BBC Good Food reviews. Balcones Texas Single Malt Best American craft whisky Made halfway between Dallas and Austin in a town called Waco, Balcones Distillery has gone from a craft distillery housed in a small unit on the edge of town to an uber-cool central location, and is now the flag for distilling in the oil-rich state. Its Texas Single Malt has flavours as big as Texas itself: rich oak, vanilla and malty goodness. Latest Deals Method And Madness Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Best Irish whiskey Irish whiskey is going through a real renaissance at the moment. From only four distilleries originally producing whiskey to over 20 in under a decade, there’s a huge amount of personality to choose from. Method And Madness is produced by the Midleton distillery in Cork (famed for producing Jameson) which has recently opened a small craft distillery on the same site to produce future M&M expressions. This is an unusual single pot still whiskey, in that it's part-matured in French chestnut casks (as opposed to oak). Expect rich spices, hints of tropical fruit and dark chocolate. Starward New World Malt Whisky Best alternative craft whisky Australian single malt whisky. Yes, you read that correctly: Australian single malt whisky. It's simply out of this world. Starward started making single malt a decade ago and today, from their base in Melbourne, they produce a product that draws fruity flavours from maturation in Australian fortified wine casks. This beautiful whisky comes in a stunning bottle – and at a price which makes trying it a no-brainer. Eden Mill Single Malt Whisky Hipflask Series No 7 Best Scottish craft whisky Based in St Andrews, Eden Mill is one of a new wave of craft distilleries that are popping up all over Scotland. With a portfolio that boasts award-winning gin, beer and now single malt Scotch whisky, their very first releases are just out of the starting blocks and showcase a fantastic three-year-old spirit, matured in a variety of casks. Try the flavoursome ex-sherry cask and join their whisky journey at the very beginning. Buy from Eden Mill (£25) Paul John Brilliance Indian Single Malt Whisky Best with food This single malt, made in Goa, is packed with flavour due to the use of six-row Himalayan barley. Matured in ex-American whiskey casks, it gives plenty of malty, vanilla notes and hints of spice. As such, it pairs wonderfully alongside robust foods – including sweet treats (particularly dark chocolate) as well as savoury spiced meat dishes. Whisky-Me subscription service Best whisky by post Can’t decide on just one bottle of whisky for yourself or for a gift? Try signing up to Whisky-Me. Each month, the team behind this surprisingly fun and really well-researched club select a top-notch whisky, a sample of which is sent in pouches direct to your door. The pouches are so slim that they fit through the letterbox – meaning you won’t even have to share them with your neighbour! Available from Whisky-Me (prices starting from £7 a month) Compass Box Hedonism Blended Grain Scotch Whisky Best creative Scotch whisky The creative minds at Compass Box Whisky draw on stocks of Scotch to develop some of the most interesting bottlings on the market today. Hedonism brings together grain whisky, naturally lighter than malt, from Scotland and the result is a tropical fruit bomb of a whisky. As always with Compass Box, the label is as stunning as the whisky inside. Gordon & MacPhail: Discovery Series Miltonduff 10 Year Old Best whisky for after dinner If there’s one thing that independent Scotch whisky company Gordon & MacPhail knows, it’s how to introduce whisky drinkers to new distilleries. In fact, they’ve been doing this for nearly 125 years now from their base in Elgin. The company’s Discovery Series has recently been relaunched, with each one pursuing a particular flavour style from different cask types: sherry, bourbon, or smoky-style in profile. This 10-year-old Miltonduff is a deliciously sweet, rich masterpiece, perfect for after-dinner sipping: dark chocolate, tangy marmalade, stewed raisins and baked apple notes all develop, thanks to the high-quality sherry casks which G&M use to mature it. More on whisky… The best whisky - taste tested The best bourbon - taste tested Whisky or whiskey, what's the difference? 10 ways to cook with whisky Best whisky subscriptions and clubs This review was last updated in January 2020. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. Do you have a favourite bottle of whisky? Let us know if you think we’ve missed something off our list…
Best national spirits from around the world
Take a trip around the globe with our top national liqueurs. From local firewater to speciality spirits, we’ve picked the best bottles for you to buy on your travels.
Find out more about our BBC Good Food reviews. The wonderful world of spirits transcends the traditional bottles of whisky, bourbon, gin, tequila and cognac that we might already know of, and whose flavours we're familiar with. Alongside these headliners, there's a plethora of fascinating, highly tasty national spirits. Far from being simply a holiday fling, here we look at 10 local distilled beauties with which you should have a full-blown romance. Where possible, we've included links to where imported bottles can be bought in the UK. Aquavit (Norway) An acquired taste, but think of aquavit like a gin, flavoured with herbs and spices from the local area, wherever in Scandinavia that may be. As with gin, each recipe is a closely guarded secret held by the distiller, with some subtle national variation between other Scandinavian producers. It always includes caraway as the main flavour (as juniper is in gin) and a mix of other herbs and spices, including cardamom, cumin, star anise, coriander, fennel and dill. The perfect serve is as a shot from the freezer alongside a beer, with a hearty, meat-based Viking meal. What to buy: Linie Aquavit This spirit has strong flavours of caraway and is then filled into ex-oloroso sherry casks, which adds hints of vanilla sweetness. These casks are then stored on the deck of a ship, and shipped twice across the equator. Quite the well-travelled spirit, perfect for pairing with cured meats. Latest Deals Pisco (Peru/Chile) Pisco is the national grape-based brandy of South America. The battle for ‘ownership’ of pisco is a tug of war between Peru and Chile, despite the former actually having a town of the same name. A clear spirit, it varies in flavour with the choice of grapes used having a huge effect on the overall style. It is best enjoyed in one of the greatest refreshing cocktails, the pisco sour, which itself is seeing a resurgence of popularity. What to buy: Pisco 1615 Italia The lighter, fruity, floral notes on offer here are down to the Italian grape variety, which gives fresh green apple, elderflower and citrus flavours. Read more on the Pisco 1615 website. Available from Amathus (£38.30) Baijiu (China) Distilled spirits are big business in China, a country with a particular thirst for Scotch and cognac. However, China does have its own home-grown spirit, called baijiu. Made from grains such as wheat, barley, sorghum and sometimes rice and beans, it is naturally fermented either in chambers under the ground, in clay pots or in a mix of the two. Taste-wise, it really has to be experienced to be understood. The flavours are herbal, slightly fruity and at times medicinal, coupled with a heavily fermented fruit and hay note. One key tasting note is soy sauce. Yes, indeed! What to buy: Shui Jing Fang Wellbay From the world’s oldest distillery (really, it’s in the Guinness Book of Records!) this is a baijiu that really packs in the flavour. Soju (South Korea) Probably the biggest selling spirit you’ve never heard of! The Korean brand Jinro (see below) is actually one of the world’s largest spirit brands, consumption of which is almost exclusively limited to South East Asia. Distilled from rice, grain and potatoes, soju is often a low ABV spirit and has a similar flavour profile to a weak vodka with perhaps a lightly fermented white wine note, coating the palate as it dries. Soju can be used to spice up fresh juice, or for that matter, any soft drink, which has made its appeal almost irresistible to its huge audience. What to buy: Jinro Soju Despite there being other brands, the sheer scale of Jinro makes it difficult to ignore, especially now it is being more widely exported. The eight flavours in Jinro make it perfect for mixing into long drinks over ice. Feni (Goa, India) In Goa, around 6,000 distilleries are known to exist, each producing different variations and quantities of this unusual spirit. Feni is derived by fermenting and distilling the juice from the cashew apple (not to be confused with the smaller, significantly harder cashew nut) and due to its unique flavours, the Goan distillers have successfully sought to have the spirit protected by Regional Indication. Feni is quite tart on the palate and despite having a slightly thin, spirity undertone, has a powerful, crisp, almost freshly cut green apple note, alongside a distinct nuttiness, which will take some getting used to if you’re trying the spirit for the first time. What to buy: Cazulo Cashew Feni Cazulo also produce feni made from coconut and both spirits deliver a distinctive, fruity, zesty taste, alongside a spirity, perfumed aroma. They work best as the base for a long refreshing drink over ice. Read more on the Cazulo website. Shōchū (Japan) The national spirit of Japan, this white spirit is hugely popular in its native country but, unlike the international praise being heaped on whisky distilled in the country, has not really managed to extend its footprint beyond any of the four main islands of Japan. Often distilled from barley, rice, buckwheat or potatoes, it comes in two main forms: multiple distilled and single distilled. As much as the producers of shōchū will be keen to tell you that their product is NOT sake (it now outsells this better-known Japanese drink in Japan), it does have a similar flavour profile, giving off a sweet palate of dried flowers, with some seaweed, coastal notes and a fermented orchard fruit note to follow. What to buy: Toyonaga Honkaku rice shōchū This is made from organic rice and has a wonderfully balanced note of light citrus zest and fresh melon slices, which lead into a drier, spicy note, with slight heat prickles of fresh ginger. Grappa (Italy) Grappa is a true Italian delight. It is a spirit that wonderfully typifies the craft, care and attention to some of the nation’s favourite grape varieties and has started to develop an almost cult-like following amongst spirits connoisseurs worldwide. Grappa is Italy’s oldest spirit, with roots in the 14th century and the technique of distilling pomace (essentially the leftover skins and pips from wine production) has been practiced, refined and mastered by generations of family-run distilleries. Aromatic grapes such as Muscat and Gewürztraminer are popular with distillers for their wonderful fragrant fruity/floral balance but heavier varieties like Merlot, Amarone and Barolo give the spirit an enhanced dark fruitiness, rich in jammy sweetness, spice and tannic dryness. What to buy: Capovilla Grappa di Barolo The undisputed master of the grappa stills, Vittorio Capovilla is a man who truly understands the subtle nuances that occur when producing a top quality, artisanal spirit. This expression, made using the Barolo grape variety is very plummy and rich, with a subtle cherry note, coupled with some tannic dryness and notes of cinnamon on the finish. Arak (Lebanon) This clear, aniseed flavoured liqueur, which is usually bottled with a high ABV, is hugely popular across the eastern Mediterranean. This liqourice-tinged spirit is usually derived from using grapes as its base. Lebanese Arak – or Lion’s Milk as it is known locally, is made from the grapes of the last harvests from late September, which are left to ferment in barrels for several weeks. The resulting mixture is then distilled several times and mixed with a small quantity of aniseed flavouring. Mixed with water, it obtains its uniquely cloudy or ‘louche’ appearance because of the essential oils found naturally in its heady flavouring. Expect a flavour profile similar to Turkish raki or Greek ouzo. What to buy: Kefraya Arak Produced by Kefraya, one of the oldest Lebanese wineries in the West Bekaa Valley, whose vines date back to 1951, this arak is an elegant spirit, distilled for four times from a base of Lebanese grapes. Despite retaining all the punch of a great arak, it has wonderfully balanced aromatic, spicy notes. Best drunk over ice, diluted with chilled water. Read more on the Kefraya site. Rye whisky (Denmark) If there’s one spirit that's guaranteed to give a hip, on-trend bartender a hot flush, it’s rye whisky. This once niche spirit, with its peppery, spicy flavour, is now becoming a seriously cool cocktail ingredient and is also fantastic sipped over ice. Traditionally, rye whiskies have been the plaything of the US distillers, but in recent years, European craft producers have explored growing and distilling rye, with some excellent results, so much so that an undeniable style has emerged. Expect European rye whisky to become one of the next big trends on your favourite cocktail bar menu. What to buy: Stauning Young Rye Over in Denmark, the Stauning distillery has explored the complex spicy flavours of rye, maturing it in a variety of cask types, including brand new oak barrels – to stunning effect. Such is the popularity that the distillery has recently embarked on a huge expansion project, which will allow them to produce a greater volume of this highly complex, peppery whisky. Latest Deals Absinthe (Switzerland/France/US) Once labelled the ‘enfant terrible’ of the spirits world, absinthe gets a really hard time and is banned from sale in several countries. This is mostly thanks to its ludicrously high strength and mythology surrounding one of its primary ingredients – grand wormwood, which, when consumed in generous quantities, is said to contain hallucinogenic properties. In fact, to obtain this supposed higher state of mind, one would have to drink enough to result in an alcoholic coma before ‘la fée vert’ (the green fairy, often used to illustrate the effect) ever appeared. Although its origins lie in Switzerland during the 18th century, many places have now started distilling their own absinthe, especially the US, resulting in a deliciously diverse spirit, which isn't scary at all. What to buy: St George Absinthe Verte St George is largely responsible for the growth in craft distilling in the US, having established itself back in 1982. This absinthe was the first ‘legal’ US absinthe to be distilled in the US since the ban on producing the spirit was lifted in 2007. It's hugely herbaceous, with a touch of delicate floral notes when water is added. Latest Deals For all of the products mentioned in this review, various retailers have been suggested by our affiliate partner Monetizer 101 and are not suggested or chosen by BBC Good Food. For more information on how these retailers are selected and the nature of our partnership, please read the Monetizer101 FAQ page. This review was last updated in March 2018. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@bbc.com. Which spirits do you like to buy on your travels? We’d love to hear your tips for exotic snifters in the comments below...