The best gin to buy depends on the drink in front of you: a juniper-led dry gin for a martini, a citrus-bright Japanese gin for a highball, or a barrel-rested gin for an Old Fashioned drinker crossing over. At Del Mesa Liquor, our family-owned store in San Diego, California, the gin shelf runs from a $39.99 Islay dry gin built on 31 botanicals to a $599.99 saffron-infused reserve — and every bottle below is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
Six Gins, Six Very Different Glasses
- The Botanist Islay Dry Gin — $39.99. Distilled at Bruichladdich on Islay, Scotland, at 46% ABV (92 proof) from 31 botanicals — 22 hand-foraged on the island, including bog myrtle, heather and gorse, plus 9 classic gin botanicals. Herbal, floral and made for a martini with a twist.
- Suntory Roku Japanese Gin — $39.99. A 750mL craft gin at 43% ABV (86 proof) from Osaka, built on six Japanese botanicals picked at the peak of their season — sakura flower and leaf, yuzu peel, sencha and gyokuro teas, and sansho pepper — over eight traditional botanicals. Named Best Distilled Gin at the International Spirits Challenge 2025.
- Nikka Coffey Japanese Gin — $49.99. Bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof) and distilled at Miyagikyo from corn and malted barley distillates made in Coffey continuous stills. Eleven botanicals are led by four Japanese citruses — yuzu, kabosu, amanatsu and shequasar — for the brightest gin and tonic on this list.
- Empress 1908 Gin — $39.99. A small-batch Canadian gin at 42.5% ABV (85 proof), handcrafted in copper-pot stills by Victoria Distillers with the Fairmont Empress Hotel. Butterfly pea blossom gives it a natural indigo colour — no artificial colours — that shifts toward lavender and pink when tonic or citrus hits the glass.
- Cutwater Spirits Barrel Rested Old Grove Gin — $39.99. San Diego's own: Cutwater's 11-botanical Old Grove Gin rested at least two months in new American oak, bottled at 44% ABV (88 proof). Cinnamon and gentle oak smoke behind the juniper — pour it in a Negroni or an Old Fashioned build.
- Nolet's The Reserve Gin — $599.99. A limited-edition sipping gin at 52.3% ABV (104.6 proof) from Schiedam, Holland, built on saffron and verbena over a classic juniper base and personally created by 10th-generation distiller Carolus Nolet Sr. Every bottle is hand-numbered and boxed — the splurge bottle of the shelf, and a standout in our gift sets browsing too.
How to Choose Your Gin
Start with the serve. Martinis reward structure and proof, which is why The Botanist at 92 proof and Nikka Coffey at 94 proof hold up against vermouth and dilution. Gin and tonics reward aroma: Roku's yuzu and tea, and Empress 1908's colour-changing pour, both turn a two-ingredient drink into a small ceremony. Whiskey drinkers should start with the barrel-rested Cutwater — it drinks like a bridge between the bourbon shelf and the gin shelf. For more shelf context, browse the rest of the Del Mesa blog, and check our FAQs and shipping policy before you order.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best gin for a martini?
A dry, higher-proof gin with a strong juniper and botanical core — The Botanist Islay Dry Gin at 46% ABV is the pick here, with Nikka Coffey Gin at 47% ABV a close second for citrus lovers.
Why does Empress 1908 Gin change colour?
Its indigo colour comes naturally from butterfly pea blossom. Acidic mixers such as tonic water or lemon juice shift the pH and turn the pour lavender, then pink. No artificial colours are used.
What makes Japanese gin different?
Japanese gins build on local botanicals distilled with unusual precision. Roku Gin uses six seasonal Japanese botanicals including sakura and yuzu; Nikka Coffey Gin runs four Japanese citruses through Coffey stills borrowed from whisky making.
Can I order these gins online?
Yes — every gin in this guide is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, our family-owned store in San Diego, California, subject to shipping eligibility in your state.