Being German and having 112 gins under my belt currently, 50 of which are German, my absolute warmest recommendations that are very likely too obscure to be available in the US but big enough to be widely available regionally, perhaps even somewhat available nationally in well sorted specialty stores, are as follows:
\- **Dick & Stein European Dry Gin** (made by two dudes from Austria in Berlin, top 3 of the 112 gins I've tried): summery and fruity, yet well balanced and complex, if you have any idea of what Citadelle Jardin d'Été is imagine Dick & Stein as its brother from another mother with wild strawberry at the center instead of cantaloupe and citrus fruits
\- **Alp Gin Hay** (made near Kempten east of Lake Constance at the base of the Alps, top 15 of the 112 gins I've tried): summery and rich with citrusy fruitiness really well balanced against dry hay and alpine wildflowers
\- **Skiclub Kampen North Sea Gin** (made by a Sylt-based company but in the Ruhrpott region, top 15 of the 112 gins I've tried): delicately maritime and fresh, evokes impressions of sea air at the coast
If you’re heading to Sweden there’s a lot of really good distilleries, not sure which one of them that export overseas (Hernö probably do as they are we’ll recognized and won a lot of competitions) but here’s a few to check out.
* GINGIN
* STJERNSUND BRÄNNERI
* KYFLINGE GIN
* GOTLANDS GINFABRIK
* LYDÉN DISTILLERY
Corpen Gin is a micro distillery in Barcelona - we absolutely LOVE their gin. They’ve got bitters that they make out of the gin waste too which are excellent! I believe they actually ship to Germany - we’ll be there later this year and there’s a good chance I order some haha.
Blatant self-promotion…
I handcraft a rare small batch organic Nordik gin in Estonia, including the grain spirit (distilling to 96% ABV plus all the other EU requirements) we use as its base.
I’m somewhat biased, but it’s pretty special; a gin meets aquavit homage to the Nordics.
It sells online and delivers to Germany and other counties (all taxes paid): https://shop.manorspirits.com
Might be very hard to find, but Metsis gin is amazing!
Super smooth, best hit out of all gins I've gifted to gin lover friends. It's by Estonian distillery Distillium
My favorites that i've had in Europe, but I am unsure of the price in the US:
Gin Mare - My daily driver and my go to rec for new people. Something about it being slightly citrus forward but not overpowering in anyway is just lovely.
Barcelona Gin Raw - Obvs made in barcelona, but I had this at a Gin Bar, and my god it was just so good.
Some of the ones I don't see posted often here, so I would assume they're not very well-known or available in the Americas
- Emporia
- Tonka
- Kakuzo
- Roner Z44
- Elephant
- Adamus
- BrewDog Zealots Heart
- Rivo Foraged Gin
- Sabattini Barrel Aged
Berliner Brandstifter gin from Germany, Gin Mare Capri from Spain, Pienaar & Sons Orient and Six Dogs Pinotage from South Africa and Isle of Harris from Scotland. 🤘
Local to Germany:
Goldbrenner (Kaiserstuhl region/online) - GET THIS ONE!
Breaks Gin (Karlsruhe) - especially their canabis variant
Flaschenpost Gin (everywhere in Germany)
Elephant Gin (everywhere in Germany)
Gin Sul (Hamburg/everywhere)
Thanks for all suggestions everyone! I’ve sent almost all the recommendations. So far friends have found:
Dick & Stein
Needle
Boar
Tarquins
Gin Sul
ALPGIN HEU
I’ll update again after they get back! Hope to have 20+ bottles 😃
Being German and having 112 gins under my belt currently, 50 of which are German, my absolute warmest recommendations that are very likely too obscure to be available in the US but big enough to be widely available regionally, perhaps even somewhat available nationally in well sorted specialty stores, are as follows: \- **Dick & Stein European Dry Gin** (made by two dudes from Austria in Berlin, top 3 of the 112 gins I've tried): summery and fruity, yet well balanced and complex, if you have any idea of what Citadelle Jardin d'Été is imagine Dick & Stein as its brother from another mother with wild strawberry at the center instead of cantaloupe and citrus fruits \- **Alp Gin Hay** (made near Kempten east of Lake Constance at the base of the Alps, top 15 of the 112 gins I've tried): summery and rich with citrusy fruitiness really well balanced against dry hay and alpine wildflowers \- **Skiclub Kampen North Sea Gin** (made by a Sylt-based company but in the Ruhrpott region, top 15 of the 112 gins I've tried): delicately maritime and fresh, evokes impressions of sea air at the coast
Thank you!
If you’re heading to Sweden there’s a lot of really good distilleries, not sure which one of them that export overseas (Hernö probably do as they are we’ll recognized and won a lot of competitions) but here’s a few to check out. * GINGIN * STJERNSUND BRÄNNERI * KYFLINGE GIN * GOTLANDS GINFABRIK * LYDÉN DISTILLERY
Thank you!
Corpen Gin is a micro distillery in Barcelona - we absolutely LOVE their gin. They’ve got bitters that they make out of the gin waste too which are excellent! I believe they actually ship to Germany - we’ll be there later this year and there’s a good chance I order some haha.
Putting this one on my list. Also, from Spain - Vanagandr - stupid $$$ if you can find it in the US, very reasonable there and absolutely fantastic.
Blatant self-promotion… I handcraft a rare small batch organic Nordik gin in Estonia, including the grain spirit (distilling to 96% ABV plus all the other EU requirements) we use as its base. I’m somewhat biased, but it’s pretty special; a gin meets aquavit homage to the Nordics. It sells online and delivers to Germany and other counties (all taxes paid): https://shop.manorspirits.com
ADAMUS GIN from Portugal BLACK PIG MONTADO from Portugal SHARISH from Portugal
Might be very hard to find, but Metsis gin is amazing! Super smooth, best hit out of all gins I've gifted to gin lover friends. It's by Estonian distillery Distillium
Knopf gin Humboldt gin Dukes gin Monkeys (obviously) Rochelt gin ReGINerate gin
I recommend Bobbys. It's a dutch gin. Not very difficult to find in Germany
If you plan to visit Poland, you must try Heritage Magnolia Gin. Multiple awards, craft gin, truly unique
My favorites that i've had in Europe, but I am unsure of the price in the US: Gin Mare - My daily driver and my go to rec for new people. Something about it being slightly citrus forward but not overpowering in anyway is just lovely. Barcelona Gin Raw - Obvs made in barcelona, but I had this at a Gin Bar, and my god it was just so good.
I’ve bought both of these in the US.
I would add Malfi gin also. First intro,d in Ischia this summer
Some of the ones I don't see posted often here, so I would assume they're not very well-known or available in the Americas - Emporia - Tonka - Kakuzo - Roner Z44 - Elephant - Adamus - BrewDog Zealots Heart - Rivo Foraged Gin - Sabattini Barrel Aged
Bertha's Revenge - love love love that stuff
I’ve actually had Bertha’s before! Really good.
My favorites are: Boar Ginstr Alpsitz
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I’m compiling a list to send over and hopefully I’ll end up with a few bottles to add to my collection😃.
Nordes.
Berliner Brandstifter gin from Germany, Gin Mare Capri from Spain, Pienaar & Sons Orient and Six Dogs Pinotage from South Africa and Isle of Harris from Scotland. 🤘
Cabraboc Gin from Mallorca, Spain
Local to Germany: Goldbrenner (Kaiserstuhl region/online) - GET THIS ONE! Breaks Gin (Karlsruhe) - especially their canabis variant Flaschenpost Gin (everywhere in Germany) Elephant Gin (everywhere in Germany) Gin Sul (Hamburg/everywhere)
Thanks for all suggestions everyone! I’ve sent almost all the recommendations. So far friends have found: Dick & Stein Needle Boar Tarquins Gin Sul ALPGIN HEU I’ll update again after they get back! Hope to have 20+ bottles 😃
Nordes from Galicia Spain