It makes sense that a festive spirit will help get you into the, ahem, festive spirit, so of course we're getting excited about Christmas gins. These seasonal offerings infuse a gin base with all manner of festive flavours, from candy canes, mulled wine, Christmas pudding, and cranberries to clementines, frankincense, myrrh, and even Brussels sprouts — yes, really. That takes the trend for unusual gins [1] to next-level greatness.
The packaging also does the trick at evoking that most wonderful time of year, with baubles, red-and-white striped bottles, and even snow globes with edible glitter flecks all ready for you to crack open. Browse our pick of 16 festive gins and start planning your Christmas drinks trolley. It's never too early to start getting in the Christmas mood [2], after all.
Eden Mill Candy Cane Christmas Gin
Those red-and-white striped sweets at this time of year have made it into gin form with Eden Mill Candy Cane Christmas Gin [3] (£26), which has a peppermint twist. Bilberry and hibiscus give the drink its red hue.
Top with tonic and a candy cane garnish, or add a shot to your festive hot chocolate.
Edinburgh Gin Christmas
Frankincense and myrrh flavour Edinburgh Gin Christmas [4] (£35), with notes of sweet orange, cinnamon, and nutmeg for all those yuletide feels.
Make it into a festive G&T, or use it in a Negroni to pair its light sweetness with the bitterness of Campari.
Todley's Christmas Pudding Gin
You'll get the festive look as well as the festive flavour with Todley's Christmas Pudding Gin [5] (£19, originally £35), as this sparkly glitter gin has real shimmer.
Firebox This Gin Tastes Like Christmas
Mix mulled wine spices with gin and you get Firebox This Gin Tastes Like Christmas [6] (£26). Cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, clementines, and juniper combine to make this festive combo.
Use in a G&T, or add a splash to an actual mulled wine for yuletide spices squared.
Old Curiosity Distillery Christmas Gin
The Old Curiosity Distillery Christmas Gin [8] (£36) is back this year with the 2019 update of a partnership with Great British Bake Off finalist Ruby Bhogal, which involves a bespoke Gin-Spiced Shortbread recipe.
Distilled with ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom, you get all the festive spicy flavours in the gin, with the red colour provided by a mallow petal infusion. Mix with tonic to get a vibrant pink tone, and garnish with dried orange peel and a cinnamon stick.
Pickering's Festively Flavoured Gin Baubles
Hang your colourful gin on your tree (if you can wait that long to open it), with Pickering's Festively Flavoured Gin Baubles [9] (£25). The six new Christmassy creations include: Christmas Clementine, best served with orange zest and star anise garnish; Festive Cranberry with tart red berry notes; Spiced Pear & Cinnamon; Figgy Pudding, tasting of dried fruits with a toffee and biscuity finish; pink-hued, sweet Plum & Ginger; and Brussels Sprout, which finishes with a fresh green pepper twang.
Poetic License Fireside Spiced Gin
Mulled winter fruit and juniper combine to make Poetic License Fireside Spiced Gin [10] (£35), along with zingy clementine, spicy cinnamon, clove, and star anise.
Serve over ice with tonic and a fresh cranberry garnish.
Gin Tales Christmas Pudding Gin
Boozy raisins, cherries, nutmeg, and lemon make up the festive flavours in the Gin Tales Christmas Pudding Gin [11] (£39).
Sibling Winter Edition Gin
Sibling Winter Edition Gin [12] (£22 for 35cl, £40 for 70cl [13]) is infused with cranberries and clementine peel to create a fruity taste with a bitter sweet finish.
Mix it with tonic, ginger ale, cloudy lemonade, or Prosecco.
Aldi The Illusionist Candy Cane Gin Liqueur
Opening your drinks cupboard will feel like stepping into a sweet shop, with Aldi The Illusionist Candy Cane Gin Liqueur [14] (£10) on the shelf. It has that bright colour and striped label, with a confectionery aroma thanks to notes of peppermint and vanilla.
Asda Gingerbread and More
Asda has released three new festive gins for 2019. There's the Extra Special Winter Spiced Gin with Cranberry and Clementine [15] (£18), which you can pair with a tonic or lemonade. The Mince Pie Gin Liqueur [16] (£10) can be paired with the Extra Special Clementine and Cinnamon Tonic [17] (£1). And the Toasted Marshmallow Gin Liqueur [18] (£12) can be paired with Prosecco.
The popular Extra Special Gingerbread Gin Liqueur [19] (£10) is also back again this year after its previous success.
Todley's Snow Globe Pink Raspberry Infused Gin Liqueur
Todley's Snow Globe Pink Raspberry Infused Gin Liqueur [20] (£20) is a limited-edition offering with real 22 karat gold flakes to shake up and enjoy, snow-globe style.
That Boutique-y Gin Company Yuletide Gin
That Boutique-y Gin Company Yuletide Gin [21] (£35) has all the flavours of Christmas thrown in. Think frankincense, myrrh, Christmas puddings, Christmas cake, mince pies, panettone, and a gingerbread house, along with nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, clementines, chestnuts, and Christmas tree needles.
As the bottle is packed with edible gold flecks, tip it up to get that snow globe effect.
Sacred Christmas Pudding Gin
Sacred Christmas Pudding Gin [22] (£34), with notes of candied peel and raisins, is made with real Christmas puddings, which have been steamed for eight hours to Ian's Great Aunt Nellie's Victorian recipe.
Drink as a shot from the freezer, mix with tonic, or add to a festive cocktail.
Four Pillars Australian Christmas Gin
The 2018 edition of Four Pillars Australian Christmas Gin [23] (£49) was lovingly created by Cam, who distilled Christmas puddings (made to his mother Wilma's 1968 recipe) along with juniper, cinnamon, star anise, coriander seed, angelica, and muscat. You can drink it neat, or mix it with ginger ale or beer.
The label features Stephen Baker's Basking in the Sun to give you that Christmas in Australia vibe. The 2019 edition is due out in November.