The 8 Best Gins We Tasted In October 2023

As October comes to a close, we here at Gin Raiders would like to look back and acknowledge the many great gins we tasted this month, whether freshly released or just crossing our desks for the first time.

For those new to Gin Raiders, we have ranked these gins by factoring in our Chief Spirits Critic Jay West‘s house reviews, aggregated reviews and our managing editor’s tasting notes. If the gin has been officially reviewed by enough experts, the number on the top left corner of its spirit image will display an average score. Read more about our process here.

Out of all the juniper spirits we sampled in October 2023, these eight were our favorites!

8. Championz Gin

Hailing from New Zealand, Golden Bay Distillery‘s Championz Gin boasts a modern approach to juniper, which sees the potent, piney botanical tamed down to a soft, but present, whisper. Citrus and florals dominate the palate, complimented by a zap of black pepper, earthy almonds, angelica and sweet licorice. This gin makes for a killer Greyhound and also shines when paired with soda water and an herb garnish.

Championz Gin retails for around $40 and rests at an approachable 40% ABV. Read more about this award-winning gin and its brand, which is dedicated to giving back to its local community, here.

7. Dyfi Pollination Gin

Find Aggregated Reviews Here

Dyfi (pronounced “dovey”) Pollination Gin is produced by Dyfi Distillery in Wales. A spirit producer committed to environment-friendly practices, Dyfi Distillery whips up this “precision-distilled,” small-batch gin using botanicals foraged from the valley surrounding its building. The botanical mix comprises wildflowers, fragrant leaves, fruits and conifer tips.

Aromatic and funky in all the right ways, Dyfi Gin offers a tasting experience rich with perfumed florals, foresty herbs and earthy coriander. We loved serving this one up in savory cocktails like a pickle-brined martini or a Red Snapper.

Resting at 45% ABV, Dyfi Pollination Gin can be found for an average of $70 in the United States and an equivalent of about $45 in the United Kingdom. If you cross paths with this gin, get it!

6. Green Ditch

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Minty and bright with a gorgeous juniper kick, Green Ditch Gin comes to us from Eight Settlers Distillery in Utah. The spirit serves as an ode to the hardworking families of the Butler area in the mid-1800s, who dug ditches crucial for delivering water to sustain crops, livestock and homes.

Green Ditch Gin is made using seven curated botanicals, with juniper, star anise and citrus peel standing out. A classic dry expression, this juniper spirit is versatile and approachable. Try it in a Gin Mint Julep, South Side or a tall, icy Tom Collins.

Resting at 42.5% ABV, Green Ditch can be ordered from Eight Settlers Distillery’s online shop for $42.

5. Harmony Gin

Harmony Gin is quite an unusual (in a good way!) concoction. First, it catches the eye with a rose gold hue unique to the juniper spirits category. Second, it offers a fascinating blend of artichoke leaves, elderberries, green tea, muscadine grapes, juniper berries, coriander seed, hyssop, lemon peel, lime peel, angelica root and orris root. Finally, and perhaps the most interesting feature of all, Harmony Gin is a product from actor Woody Harrelson’s new booze brand, Holistic Spirits Company, which was co-founded by wellness entrepreneur Amy Holmwood.

Presenting complex notes of smoked cruciferous vegetables, cocoa nibs and herbal tea, this is a juniper-light gin we think appeals to botanical rum fans. We suggest trying this one simply poured over a large ice cube, topped with a dash of bitters.

Freshly released just last month, Harmony Gin can be found for $40 per 45%-ABV bottle.

4. Kur Gin

Find Aggregated Reviews Here

Wildwood Spirits Co.‘s Kur (pronounced “cure”) Gin offered us a crisp sipping experience, supported by notes of pine, fennel, subtly sweet apple and tingly juniper. Classic to the core, Kur Gin dazzles in a G&T, garnished with thick lime slices. A Gimlet also serves this London dry well.

We also can’t help but marvel at this gin’s neatly shaped bottle and bright label — the botanical illustration of a Common juniper branch is a delightful touch.

Kur Gin, resting at 40% ABV, is priced at an incredibly affordable $36. While tricky to find in the wild, a bottle can be ordered directly from the distiller here.

3. 13th Colony Southern Gin

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13th Colony Distilleries’ Southern Gin is a modern gin hailing from Georgia. Beyond fresh citrus and a light juniper presence, look forward to tasting notes of grain, cream, crushed stone, apple and pepper. Six times distilled and bottled at 41.2% ABV, we love this gin’s hard-to-beat price ($12.99!) and interesting palate.

“Pleasant and interesting,” West wrote in his review. “Thirteenth Colony’s gin is a fun blend of citrus, fruit and minerality. Works great in a G&T.”

13th Colony Distilleries’ mission is to provide award-winning spirits in the bottle at a friendly price on the shelf, and they have certainly achieved that with Southern Gin.

2. The Sassenach Wild Scottish Gin

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This sleekly bottled gin is produced by Sassenach Spirits, a booze brand owned by Scottish actor Sam Heughan. Formulated using ingredients carefully hand-selected by the “Outlander” star, The Sassenach Wild Scottish Gin incorporates crabapple, rhubarb, toasted oats, heather, pine resin, bramble leaf, bilberry and juniper. Prior to its June 2023 launch, Heughan revealed that each botanical used in his gin has ties to his hometown, Galloway.

Tasting notes to look forward to in The Sassenach Wild Scottish Gin include juniper, honey, a light minerality, berries, char, citrus and lime, paired with a creamy and sweet long finish. Prices for a bottle of this 42%-ABV gin average about $40.

“A really killer gin,” West shared. “This goes far beyond some pretty bottle or a celeb endorsement. It’s great gin first, with a pretty bottle and celebrity figure second. Great stuff.”

1. Mr. Pickles Pacific Northwest Gin

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Housed in an eye-catching teal bottle bearing the image of a regal canine, Mr. Pickles Pacific Northwest Gin tells the tale of an Oregon distillery’s beloved rescue pitbull. This impressive spirit is made using a triple-distilled 100% white winter wheat base and 11 botanicals, including juniper, sencha green tea, pink peppercorns and marshmallow root.

With a bright nose, this 43%-ABV gin exudes juniper, coriander, lime and lemon, offering a citrusy and peppery sensation. The palate is perfume-forward, combining a touch of sweetness with notes of cream, pepper and more citrus. A light, peppery finish reiterates the gin’s fruity and juniper character. In his review of Mr. Pickles Pacific Northwest Gin, West described it as “totally lovely” and “a surprise hit.”

Find this quirky gin for an incredibly reasonable $34.99. Read more about Mr. Pickles and Wolf Spirit here.

Read next:

Monthly Roundup: The 12 Top Gins Released in September 2023

Celebrate International Gin and Tonic Day With These 5 Tasty Twists on the Iconic Cocktail

What Is Gin? A Beginner’s Guide to Juniper Spirits