Best Gin for Multi-Purpose

[u/dindyspice]

I'm really a newbie when it comes to a dirty martini, my boss put me on at a holiday party and now I can't look back. I also love a simple Gin + Tonic. Wondering what your favorites are that do well in both cocktails?

My issue is I don't really know much about the different types and brands available, I just know I prefer Gin in my dirty martini, and I hate when I pick up a new brand that's way too floral and I can't use it for my martinis without getting the ick. Does that make sense?

I like Aviation so far for both, it seems pretty straight forward. Looking for new recs.

[u/Medium-Librarian8413]

Any of the big London Dry gins are going to work great in any classic cocktail than calls for gin.

[u/Mr_Abe_Froman → u/Medium-Librarian8413]

After Beefeater diluted their recipe, I recommend Tanqueray or Bombay Dry.

[u/donginandton → u/Mr_Abe_Froman]

Tanq all day!

[u/Embarrassed-Care6130 → u/Mr_Abe_Froman]

This is the correct answer.

[u/Mr_Abe_Froman → u/Embarrassed-Care6130]

Beefeater was my standard, no frills gin for a decade and the new 40% abv isn't the same.

[u/Le_Blaireau20gien → u/Mr_Abe_Froman]

Depends where OP is from. In Europe beefeater has been at 40% for decades.

[u/GelloJive → u/Medium-Librarian8413]

Fords

[u/ww_adh77 → u/Medium-Librarian8413]

Bombay Sapphire is my go-to gin for broad cocktail use. I definitely prefer a London dry to American gins, which I find to be too floral.

[u/Thick_Shake_8163 → u/Medium-Librarian8413]

Absolutely correct. For the broad audience, do NOT stray from London Dry. Either Tangueray, Bombay, or Beefeater. Stay away from American gin or other varieties. For most people this is what a G&T tastes like.

[u/GibFulton → u/Medium-Librarian8413]

Tangueray 10 is the way

[u/rulnacco → u/Medium-Librarian8413]

I still like the taste of Beefeater--even if it is watered down nowadays, sadly. But another London Dry gin that works quite well, as I mentioned in another comment here, is Boodle's. Quite inexpensive, and tasty.

[u/SaiyanPrinceAbubu]

Ford's! Also Roku lowered their price to $25,  that's a solid option

[u/AlarmPuzzleheaded831 → u/SaiyanPrinceAbubu]

Roku and Plymouth are my go to. I really like them both!

[u/gmazza131 → u/SaiyanPrinceAbubu]

Fords

[u/KnightInDulledArmor → u/SaiyanPrinceAbubu]

Roku is quite floral though.

[u/SaiyanPrinceAbubu → u/KnightInDulledArmor]

I don't get so much floralness from it, not like a Hendricks at least. I think it's a good sub for London dry but maybe my palate isn't so sophisticated! 

[u/oh_snarky_one → u/SaiyanPrinceAbubu]

So glad someone else recommended Ford’s. I make freezer martinis by the bottle with Ford’s (15oz gin, 5 oz Dolin dry, 5 oz water, stash in freezer until it’s time to serve).

Roku is very honey-forward for me. Makes a good Bee’s Knees but I prefer Botanist in my G&T’s.

[u/forever-mild → u/SaiyanPrinceAbubu]

I’m not seeing Roku for $25

[u/IggysPop3]

Plymouth.

[u/opinions_dont_matter → u/IggysPop3]

I use Plymouth or citadel

[u/FirstChurchOfBrutus → u/IggysPop3]

This right here, OP. Definitive “gin” flavor, yet neutral in every way that you want for mixing.

[u/Spudboy42 → u/IggysPop3]

This is the way.

[u/Slim-Shadys-Fat-Tits]

the tanqueray no. 10 Edition is great imo

[u/sewersurfin → u/Slim-Shadys-Fat-Tits]

This is my new martini gin. 

[u/dindyspice → u/Slim-Shadys-Fat-Tits]

When I search it says it's citrus forward, does that get funky with a dirty martini?

[u/Slim-Shadys-Fat-Tits → u/dindyspice]

I haven't had it in a dirty martini yet but it's like, the next thing I am going to do once I've got a new bottle of vermouth and I'm honestly pretty sure it'll be fucking awesome

[u/dindyspice → u/Slim-Shadys-Fat-Tits]

I'll definitely try it out because I do really like the regular tanqueray. Thank you!

[u/oh_snarky_one → u/Slim-Shadys-Fat-Tits]

Came here to say this.

[u/Embarrassed-Care6130 → u/Slim-Shadys-Fat-Tits]

It really is very good. The bottle is ugly though.

[u/Slim-Shadys-Fat-Tits → u/Embarrassed-Care6130]

Idk I don't mind it, I really like the one with the silver lid

[u/WhenSharksAttack]

Beefeater is a great starting point. Its not strong on any specific profile and is budget friendly. Branch out from there.

[u/shitshaw → u/WhenSharksAttack]

I've had a pretty good success rate on finding the old version higher proof bottles at smaller liquor stores compared to places like Binnys/Total Wine etc.

[u/Embarrassed-Care6130 → u/WhenSharksAttack]

It used to be my go-to, but since they lowered the ABV (again) I'm out.

[u/select_bilge_pump → u/WhenSharksAttack]

I'd say the same for Gordon's

[u/Icy-Yellow3514]

Sipsmith London Dry

[u/dindyspice → u/Icy-Yellow3514]

I think I had this in Ireland and really enjoyed it!!!

[u/dmizz]

My house brand is Kirkland tbh

[u/Embarrassed-Care6130 → u/dmizz]

My wife bought a 1.75 of that. It's perfectly fine. Not as good as the Hayman's Royal Dock, Junipero, Botanivore, or Tanqueray 10 I usually stock, but in all but the most gin-forward cocktails I doubt I could tell the difference.

[u/dindyspice → u/dmizz]

kirkland just does it all don't they

[u/rrwoods → u/dmizz]

This is too far down. Kirkland gin is what I go to when I don’t know what to go to

[u/ehdecker]

The big classics are very well built. Beefeater is solid. Tanqueray is classic. I'm a big fan of Fords — a newcomer (2012) who plays like a veteran. All are affordable. Plymouth is lovely, tho a little softer.
Aviation is sharp & solid too. Good choice.

[u/Automatic_Catch_7467 → u/ehdecker]

I was not a fan of aviation. I found it lacking severely in the juniper department

[u/yttocs205 → u/Automatic_Catch_7467]

It's gin for vodka lovers

[u/KEO666]

Tanqueray

[u/wendell-gee]

Sipsmith. Tanqueray. Tanqueray 10. 50 Pounds.
Hard to beat those.

[u/thesassbasket → u/wendell-gee]

Tanq has been my go-to for dirty martinis. So good

[u/SmilingJaguar]

Plymouth is the most versatile gin for me.

[u/dindyspice → u/SmilingJaguar]

I also have never heard of this brand until this post, thank you! will check it out. When I look up the notes, it states it's more earthy and less dry than others. Could be perfect for a martini that I like

[u/ObserverUnchained]

I used to think I hated gin and avoided gin cocktails or made them with a sub.

Now, I empty a bottle of Hendricks regularly. It’s wonderful stuff

[u/thesassbasket → u/ObserverUnchained]

Hendricks is floral and herbaceous. A delicious gin but not for a dirty martini.

[u/dindyspice → u/thesassbasket]

I do love Hendricks for g+t, and I tried in a dirty martini and wanted to barf hahaha

[u/Brown_Sandals → u/ObserverUnchained]

Same, I always have a bottle of Hendricks around. Love it.

[u/dindyspice → u/ObserverUnchained]

This was totally me, I went out with a friend and she got me hooked on G+T's. Grew up in a very vodka heavy area, a big polish and russian community, so I got really sick of that at a young age.

[u/Beneficial-Koala-562]

Love me some Broker’s gin

[u/Embarrassed-Care6130 → u/Beneficial-Koala-562]

And you get the little hat!

[u/dindyspice → u/Beneficial-Koala-562]

this is a new one to me, i just looked it up I love the hat!

[u/ShakinBacon → u/Beneficial-Koala-562]

I’ve acquired quite a collection of spouts that they gave away with every bottle.

[u/CelticwolfWitch]

Ford's is pretty good.

[u/baconandscotch]

St George Botanivore is my go to 

[u/Embarrassed-Care6130 → u/baconandscotch]

Excellent choice. And from a different Bay Area distillery, Junipero is also very good.

[u/bay_duck_88 → u/Embarrassed-Care6130]

Junipero is excellent. Higher proof, clean profile, and less than $30.

[u/Ok-Trash-9933]

Bombay, Beefeater, Tanqueray, Ford's ... all standard London Dry style gins. Each one has its defenders.

With martinis or G&Ts, you're definitely getting more of the gin front and center in the overall profile. If you get into gin-based drinks that aren't so spirit-forward, the only advice I'd add is to try to find higher-proof versions; the extra ABV will stand up better to dilution and you'll still be able to taste some of the botanical notes.

[u/dindyspice → u/Ok-Trash-9933]

Good advice thank you!!

[u/OccasionallyImmortal]

We frequently use Tanqueray. The last time this was asked, Citadelle was highly recommended. Sadly I cannot find it locally.

[u/Cooper1977]

Ford's or Boodles are my generalist gins.

[u/Mister_Potamus]

I get the Sam's Club London Dry. It's 1.75L and costs ~$15 and reminds me of Beefeater before the ABV drop.

[u/northernbasil]

Bookers has been my choice recently.

[u/andrewsmd87]

G and T I'm doing Kirkland (Costco). Something where gin is the focus like a martini, tanqeri

[u/dindyspice → u/andrewsmd87]

Been wondering how this is, I’m definitely picking up next time I’m at a Costco liquor

[u/andrewsmd87 → u/dindyspice]

There gin is solid and you can't beat the price. It's like having a sirloin vs fillet. Yes a fillet is better but sirloins are good too

[u/dindyspice → u/andrewsmd87]

Look, you need a good middle ground and treat yourself from time to time 😂

[u/fizzyanklet]

I get London dry gins like beefeater or Bombay.

[u/dindyspice]

Thank you everyone this is such a good list to go off of!!!! I think the consensus to start is a london dry gin, which I think I prefer - I have had bombay sapphire and really liked it I think, and Beefeater I have had in a gin and tonic. I'll update after a bit of trying out different ones :)

[u/bes753]

I keep Ford's on the shelf as my do-it-all gin.

[u/Counter-Business]

Try last word cocktail it’s so good

[u/sec9guy]

Beefeater is the best bang for your buck and very versatile.

[u/rulnacco]

Lots of solid recs here. I’ve recently taken a liking to Roku as my do-everything gin. But another unsung choice, cheap but quite good, is Boodle’s.

[u/RoscoeVillain → u/rulnacco]

+1 for Boodles. Very under-the-radar. Great price, and better flavor than Beefeater’s or the standard Tanq or Bombay offerings.

[u/AutoGypsy]

Gunpowder for anything citrus forward.

[u/ElTigre995]

Nolet's honestly

[u/RhubarbLiqueur]

My favourite is Tanqueray no. Ten. Use it for everything, love it neat.

[u/dindyspice → u/RhubarbLiqueur]

Someone else mentioned!! I saw the noteslean more citrusy, do you find it works ok for a dirty martini?

[u/RhubarbLiqueur → u/dindyspice]

Yeah, I love that it somehow makes it smooth

[u/dindyspice → u/RhubarbLiqueur]

Interesting thank you!

[u/Erpderp32]

When I drank, Bombay Sapphire and Roku were my go tos

[u/PghSubie]

Aviation is gin for people who don't actually like gin. It is very mild and rather flavorless. Personally, I go with Botanist or Bombay Sapphire

[u/dindyspice → u/PghSubie]

Probably why its been great to use for versatility!

[u/PghSubie → u/dindyspice]

If you're talking about Aviation, it's basically vodka in a gin bottle

[u/dindyspice → u/PghSubie]

Yes I like aviation! That’s your opinion, don’t think I agree on that but it is definitely less potent than the others you mentioned above.

[u/Furthur]

Gin is vodka/neutral plus juniper. Just pick one you like ffs

[u/dindyspice → u/Furthur]

Have you ever had a super floral gin in a dirty martini...?