Gin’s run as the darling of the drinks world shows no sign of slowing down, and we couldn’t be happier. Small batch distilleries continue to delight drinkers with unique botanical-infused blends and we’re seeing more craft gins appearing on supermarket shelves, such is the nation’s insatiable thirst for a spirit once known as ‘Mother’s Ruin’.
Online, you can get your hands on every conceivable gin, from shimmering liquids to ones that change colour, as if by magic.
But as well as the spirits themselves, the glass bottles that house them are becoming ever more carefully crafted. Some are so pretty it seems a shame to discard the bottles once the last drops have been imbibed. But there are ways you can give your empties new life:
- Liquid soap and lotion dispensers: Wash your bottles thoroughly (these brushes from Amazon are great for all sizes) before decanting your favourite washing up liquid / hand soap / body lotion or moisturiser into it. Add a pump dispenser, and you’re good to go!
- Tapered candle holder: Simply wedge a tapered candle into the top of a clean bottle, et voila! Ambient lighting for next to nothing.
- Candelabra: Never again be embarrassed by the clink-clank of your bottles when taking out the bins. Simply wash them thoroughly, remove labels, top with candles or single stems of your favourite flowers and group together the next time you throw a party. Instant centrepiece.
- Garden lights: Thread through a strand of battery operated fairy lights and secure the battery pack on the back with duct tape for a chic garden or camping lamp.
- Flower vases: Invest in a glass bottle cutter kit to slice off the neck of the bottle (remember safety first folks), opening up space for your blooms. Aside from unique Pinterest-worthy vases, you can make them for friends, family and even work colleagues, depending of course, on how much you like them.
- Food storage: Tip rice, spaghetti or pasta into clean glass bottles with wider spouts, ready to use for your next meal.
But, as you should never judge a book by its cover, it’s also unwise to pick a gin based solely on aesthetics alone.
So, we’ve rounded up some of the best looking bottles which encase some of the most drinkable gins around to ensure you’re getting the best of both.
See our favourites below
Isle of Wight Distillery Mermaid Gin
Mermaids may be mythical but the fact the oceans they swim in threatened by plastic pollution is incredibly real.
That’s why the Isle of Wight Distillery uses sustainable, recyclable and biodegradable materials to package their small batch spirits (aside from gin, they also make vodka, whiskey and rum). And boy, do they do it with style.
This beautiful blue green glass bottle, covered in fish (or mermaid tail?) scales and topped with a wooden stop is truly a thing of beauty and one to keep pride of place on your drinks trolley. Also available as a pink gin, with a rosy-hued bottle to match.
£49 | Harvey Nichols | Buy it now
Limited Edition Plymouth Gin Mr King’s 1842 Recipe
The newly launched special edition craft gin has been made based a 170 year-old recipe found in Plymouth Gin’s archives. As well as juniper, you can expect notes of orris root, all collected from a single day’s harvest from an Italian mountainside, making the flavour impossible to replicate.
The gin comes in a handsome green glass bottle embossed with the name of the distillery and the year the company was established. The nautical vibe we’re feeling makes it perfect for displaying in the bathroom.
£45.50 | Plymouth Distillery | Buy it now
Manchester Raspberry Infused Gin 50cl
Infused with notes of juicy raspberry, this gin is as delightful as the vessel it comes in. If you're adept with a glass cutter, slice off the top to make cool glasses or hurricane lanterns to show off on social media.
£37.17 | Amazon | Buy it now
Bombay Sapphire
Any self-respecting gin aficionado has sipped a G&T mixed with the iconic Bombay Sapphire. Named after an actual ‘Star of Bombay’ gemstone mined in Sri Lanka, it's instantly distinguishable in any bar thanks to the striking blue glass bottle which, when the light hits it just right, makes it look as though the gin within is glowing.
Carefully cut and sanded, it would make an elegant home for your next bouquet.
£22 | Tesco | Buy it now
Duck and Crutch Kensington Dry Gin
A shed in one of the wealthiest postcodes in the country may be the last place you'd expect to find a craft gin, but that’s the beauty of London - its ability to continually surprise you.
Made in Kensington by a team of just two, Duck and Crutch makes tiny batches at a time (we're talking 42 bottles, max) and in a year, only make enough gin to fill 2,000 of their unusual bell-shaped bottles.
It’s one reason for the above-average price tag, and also gives you another to reuse the bottle once you've enjoyed the walnut-infused elixir inside.
£56 | Harvey Nichols | Buy it now
Roku Gin
If there's one shape that's underused in décor, it's a hexagon. However, the chic shape has been recruited by Japanese brand Suntory to house its Roku Gin.
Once you remove the label and lid, you'll see the clear glass is patterned with the six Japanese botanicals that go into making the liquid, such as sakura and yuzu.
Apart from being a wonderful gin (it made our Best Gins list, after all) the artwork on the bottle makes it a keeper.
£25 | Waitrose | Buy it now
BLOOM Jasmine and Rose Pink Gin
This delicate pink gin sits pretty in an equally lovely bottle that’s been decorated with the same botanical and floral extracts that you'll taste in the spirit.
It’s quite a tall bottle, so will work well supporting tapered candles as well as a few delicate flower stems.
£22 | Asda | Buy it now
Oro V
This glass bottle could give luxury fragrances a run for their money. The square shape has more than a touch of Art Deco glamour to it, making it the perfect pour for special occasions.
The gin is light with the faintest whisper of lavender, and mixed elderflower or light tonic, makes for the easiest of summer sippin'.
£30.99 | Amazon | Buy it now
Silent Pool Gin 70cl
A gin that looks as good as it tastes, Silent Pool’s pale blue bottle is beautifully etched with floral and botanical motifs that make up some of the ingredients.
£36.45 | The Whisky Exchange | Buy it now
Red Door Gin 70cl
This gorgeous small-batch gin from the Benromach distillery was inspired by the mountains of Scotland, with notes of bright orange orange, juniper, sea buckthorn, heather and rowanberries.
The distinctive red bottle, complete with a botanical motif, will make a lovely bottle to keep in the bedroom in its afterlife.
£26.95 | Master of Malt | Buy it now
Verdict
Maybe it’s our millennial leanings, but we can’t help but be drawn to the Isle of Wight Distillery’s stunning Mermaid Gin.
Everything from the bottle design to the company’s ethics makes it a top choice, bound to delight the recipient if you’re gifting, or just brightening your day if you're keeping it for yourself.
