Gin has come a long way from being the spirit you reach for when you cannot decide what else to order. The category now spans everything from intensely botanical small-batch expressions to polished classics and high-strength gins designed to make themselves known. For 2026, we looked beyond the usual suspects to 5 gin bottles that bring something different to the glass, whether that is local botanicals, a distinctive distilling approach, or simply a very good reason to revisit a familiar name. Here we feature the 5 best gin bottles to try in 2026 including Clarity Navy Gin, Earl Giles London Dry Gin, Tanqueray No. TEN, Great Glen Inverness Gin and Seven Crofts Fisherman's Strength Gin.
From New Zealand's Clarity Navy Gin and America's Earl Giles London Dry to Tanqueray No. TEN, Great Glen Inverness Gin and Seven Crofts Fisherman's Strength, these 5 gin bottles cover a surprisingly broad stretch of the modern gin landscape. Some are built for cocktails, others reward a slower pour, but all have enough character to stand apart from the crowd.
Clarity Navy Gin is not particularly interested in being subtle. The Navy Strength expression combines traditional gin botanicals with ingredients including manuka and charcoal-smoked coriander seed, giving the spirit a distinctly local character alongside its juniper-led backbone.
At 57.5% ABV, it has the concentration and intensity expected from a Navy Strength gin, making it particularly interesting for drinkers who like a Martini with some serious presence.
Clarity Navy Gin Price Starts at NZ$85.99 for 700ml.
Earl Giles takes the familiar London Dry template and gives it an American accent. Made in Minneapolis, Earl Giles London Dry Gin uses a combination of vapour and macerated distillation, with juniper at its core and citrus and spice adding freshness to the profile.
It is the kind of gin bottle that makes sense behind a cocktail bar, but does not disappear when served with a simple tonic. At 44% ABV, it is also the most approachable expression on this list.
Earl Giles London Dry Gin Price starts at US$24 for 750ml.
Then there is Tanqueray No. TEN gin, proof that a classic does not need reinvention to remain interesting. The gin is distilled with fresh citrus fruits alongside botanicals such as juniper and chamomile, creating the bright, citrus-forward character that has made it a natural choice for Martinis.
At 47.3% ABV, it has enough structure to work beautifully in cocktails while remaining distinctive on its own.
Tanqueray No. TEN Price starts at £49.95 for 1L.
Great Glen Inverness Gin takes its inspiration from the Scottish Highlands, with water sourced from Loch Ness and a botanical selection that includes elderflower, fennel, sugar kelp and chanterelle mushroom.
That combination gives the gin a more savoury, distinctly Scottish personality. It is a bottle for anyone who likes discovering what happens when a familiar spirit is shaped by its surroundings.
Great Glen Inverness Gin Price starts at £40 for 700ml.
If Great Glen leans into its Highland setting, Seven Crofts Fisherman's Strength Gin turns up the intensity. This Scottish Navy Strength gin is bottled at 57% ABV, with juniper supported by blueberry, black pepper, pink pepper and coriander.
It has the strength to stand up to a serious cocktail, but the botanical character gives it enough depth to avoid becoming merely a high-proof novelty.
Seven Crofts Fisherman's Strength Gin Price starts at £48 for 700ml.
What makes these gin bottles interesting is the range. Clarity brings New Zealand botanicals and Navy Strength intensity, Earl Giles offers an American interpretation of London Dry, and Tanqueray No. TEN remains the polished classic.
Note: Gin prices mentioned are based on current listed retail prices at the time of writing and may vary by retailer, market, taxes and availability.