I tested all top selling gins from Aldi to M&S and supermarket winner was better and cheaper than brand leader Gordon’s
WHAT could be more British than a freshly brewed cup of tea? Ice and a slice, apparently.
According to new findings, 44 per cent of us would choose a gin and tonic when meeting friends, while only 41 per cent would opt for a cuppa.
The UK remains the world’s biggest market for gin, but when it comes to G&Ts, which spirits and mixers are class in your glass?
Drinks guru Helena Nicklin tastes ten of each, and gives scores out of five . . .
GORDON’S
37.5%, 1L, £19, Sainsbury’s
THE key difference with London dry is sweetness, as it does not add sugar after distillation like most “regular” gins do.
This is the most costly of the bunch, but is still an affordable classic botanical.
RATING: 3/5
GREYSON’S
37.5%, 700cl, £11.99 Aldi
A GORDON’S dupe, it does well to copy its characteristic lemon twang.
Very drinkable, but it could have more botanicals.
Try sipping with some grapefruit or orange.
Excellently priced.
RATING: 4/5
HAYSMITH’S
40%, 700ml, £15.99, Aldi
A STEP up in ABV and sophistication, this bears a remarkable resemblance to pricey Sipsmith.
More expensive than Aldi’s other dry gins, it has subtle and complex botanical flavours.
RATING: 3/5
HORTUS ARTISAN
40%, 700ml, £15.99, Lidl
FAB bang for buck given the 40% ABV – and the bottle is beautiful.
It offers all the juniper and botanicals you’d want.
The alcohol burn is a little harsh but a good glug of tonic helps.
RATING: 4/5
FINTON’S SPECIAL
37.5%, 700ml, £11.99, Lidl
LIDL’S more accessible version saves you a few quid.
It is much softer and rounder than the Hortus.
The price comes at the expense of some finesse on flavour.
Fine with tons of tonic, though.
RATING: 3/5
SAINSBURY’S
37.5%, 700ml, £11.99
A GOOD own brand, very similar to Gordon’s.
Decent with tonic water and a slice of lemon.
Not as punchy on the botanicals as some, but who cares when it’s this cheap?
Great to have on standby.
RATING: 4/5
TESCO
37.5%, 700ml, £13
THIS unsweetened tipple goes head to head with a few other own-brand bottles on price, but it doesn’t quite deliver on flavour.
Botanicals include juniper, coriander and citrus peel, but it is a little synthetic.
RATING: 2/5
Asda
37.5%, 1L, £17
YOU get a litre here, so it works out the cheapest.
Extremely drinkable, this triple-distilled London dry is fresh and balanced with just enough citrus to be flavoursome.
Excellent value.
RATING: 5/5
MORRISONS
37.5%, 700ml, £13
THE alcohol in this is a little harsh and the flavours are pretty acidic and taste of chemicals.
Not really what you want in a G&T.
It is expensive for the amount you get, too.
RATING: 2/5
M&S
37.5%, 1L, £18.75
YOU’D expect stalwart M&S to do a proper London dry and this does not disappoint.
A lovely botanical with essences of liquorice, citrus, coriander and Angelica.
Costly, though.
RATING: 4/5
SCHWEPPES
£1.75 1L, everywhere
THIS big-name mixer is made to a classic style that has endured for a reason – it is excellent with your gin!
Schweppes gets just the right balance of quinine, frothiness and sweetness in its bottle.
RATING: 5/5
FEVER-TREE
£2.10, 500ml, Sainsbury’s
FEVER-Tree’s style offers something leaner and crisper, which has become a new favourite.
With quinine and sugar, but no sweeteners, it is a great tonic but you pay for the name.
RATING: 4/5
LONDON ESSENCE
£2, 500ml, Waitrose
WITH juniper essence and citrus, but the flavours are very strong and it feels like it is trying a bit too hard.
Big on the quinine and the lemon rind, it is rather bitter at the same time as being sweet.
RATING: 2/5
RIDGE VALLEY
Premium, £1.79, 8x150ml, Aldi
FABULOUS! Aldi has nailed this Schweppes dupe, and at around 22p a can it is ridiculously good value.
Just sweet enough to top up your glass, it is also highly drinkable by itself.
RATING: 5/5
RIDGE VALLEY
Light Med, £1.79, 8x150ml, Aldi
A LESS successful dupe from Aldi, this one doesn’t quite hit the Fever-Tree mark it is aiming for.
But it does a decent job for the price.
If you like your tonic a bit weaker, you will enjoy this.
RATING: 2/5
ASDA
Indian Tonic, 1L, 55p
ONCE you get the cap off, this is a fantastic, softer type of tonic in the style of Schweppes.
Top value, too.
Perfect at parties for guests to mix their own G&T.
Pity it doesn’t come in cans to keep it fizzy.
RATING: 4/5
EDEN BAY
£1.79, 8x150ml, Lidl
SUPER cheap, but sadly this one really does taste it, which is a pity when the mixer is so important to a G&T.
A little weedy and bitter – and unfortunately this goes flat rather quickly.
RATING: 2/5
TESCO
Indian Tonic, 1L, 85p
THIS bottle is . . . well, OK, I suppose.
To be fair, it is well-priced, which isn’t a surprise given it is from Tesco, and it does the job.
It is just a bit dull and “meh” compared to some others.
RATING: 3/5
SAINSBURY’S
Indian Tonic, 1L, 85p
THIS one tastes spookily similar to the Tesco version, with an equally tricky cap.
It is cheap and cheerful but there are better mixers out there.
Fine as a basic option for a decent price.
RATING: 3/5
M&S
£4.75, 8x150ml
WITH its golden cans and higher price, you expect a premium experience with this tonic.
And you definitely get it.
It is crisper than Schweppes but has a similar richness of flavour.
Lovely at “gin o’clock”.
RATING: 4/5