Best Gins We've Reviewed — The Liquor Connoisseur's Ranked List
- connoisseurofliquo
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Gin is the most botanically diverse spirits category — and Crystal and Roger have reviewed expressions ranging from classic London Dry to barrel-aged Oklahoma craft. Here's the definitive ranked list.
🥇 #1 — Woodworks Barrel Aged Gin | The Oklahoma City Gin That Converts Whiskey Drinkers
Oklahoma City's grain-to-glass distillery makes a gin that challenges everything bourbon drinkers think they know about the category. Aged in oak barrels, it bridges gin and whiskey in a way that makes it genuinely useful for introducing skeptics to botanical spirits. Crystal and Roger called it the gin that converts whiskey drinkers.
🥈 #2 — Castle & Key Roots of Ruin Gin | The Kentucky Botanical Statement
From the restored Old Taylor Distillery in Kentucky, Castle & Key makes a New Western-style gin with botanicals sourced from their on-site gardens. Crystal and Roger paired it with Bissinger's craft chocolate — an unconventional pairing that worked.
🥉 #3 — Blackland Barrel Rested Gin vs Rabbit Hole | The Versus That Defined the Category
Crystal and Roger tasted these two barrel-rested gins head-to-head — Blackland from Fort Worth and Rabbit Hole from Louisville. Both make the case for barrel aging as the future of American craft gin. The full comparison is one of TLC's most educational gin episodes.
What Crystal and Roger Look for in Gin
Juniper presence (required by law but often buried under other botanicals in New Western expressions), botanical balance (no single note should overwhelm the blend), texture and mouthfeel, and finish length. They evaluate gin neat first, then with a small amount of room-temperature water to open the botanicals.
→ Full Gin 101 — Complete Guide
→ Gin FAQ — Most-Asked Questions
🌿 Explore Gin With Crystal and Roger at a Private Tasting
Crystal and Roger lead private spirits tasting experiences. Corporate tastings from $1,500. In-home tastings from $500. Virtual tastings nationwide.
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