Aged Gin Guide
Reviews, History & Cocktails
Discover Aged Gin information, cocktail recipes, history, and some of the world's best Aged Gins in our ultimate guide to Aged Gins. Find out the common cask types, what makes each Aged Gin different, the difference between a Cask and a Barrel, and how to choose an Aged Gin. Whether you are a seasoned drinker of Aged Gins or exploring them for the first time, there's something new and interesting to enjoy.
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On this page, discover...
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What is an Aged Gin?
While most gins are rested after distillation in stainless steel tanks to allow the flavours to settle, Aged Gins are stored in wooden casks after distillation in order to take on flavours and character from the wood (typically oak) and often also from the wine or spirit that was previously stored in the cask, such as Whisky, Bourbon, Red Wine, or Fortified Wines such as Port, Sherry and Madeira. Most commonly gins are aged in casks but they can also be rested with 'staves' (wooden sections taken from barrels).
With casks that have previously been used for storing other spirits often being expensive to acquire, and with given their limited capacity, the space required to store them, and the time it can take to age a gin effectively, many Aged Gins on the market command a premium price and are limited edition releases. And while Aged Gins have more recently re-emerged as a popular part of the Gin category, especially since Citadelle Reserve Gin was launched in 2008 and Beefeater Burrough's Reserve Gin was launched in 2013, they do in fact date back to the earliest origins of gin when most gin was stored or transported in casks as standard.
With casks that have previously been used for storing other spirits often being expensive to acquire, and with given their limited capacity, the space required to store them, and the time it can take to age a gin effectively, many Aged Gins on the market command a premium price and are limited edition releases. And while Aged Gins have more recently re-emerged as a popular part of the Gin category, especially since Citadelle Reserve Gin was launched in 2008 and Beefeater Burrough's Reserve Gin was launched in 2013, they do in fact date back to the earliest origins of gin when most gin was stored or transported in casks as standard.
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DID YOU KNOW?: Traditionally in the spirits industry 'Barrels' are a type of 'Cask', specifically those with a 180-200L capacity. So a 'Barrel' is a 'Cask', but not all 'Casks' are 'Barrels'! However, nowadays the phrases 'Cask Aged' and 'Barrel Aged' are largely used interchangeably.
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How to Choose an Aged Gin
Creating an exceptional Aged Gin is complex and requires skill and high quality components, but how do you know which Aged Gins you will enjoy? The flavours and quality of an Aged Gin are primarily determined by 4 key factors:
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So when searching for and buying an Aged Gin, focus on understanding the base gin that has been aged and what is has been aged in. The length of ageing and the colour of an Aged Gin can be indicators of the character, but they are complex elements and can also be misleading. For a comprehensive guide and recommendations, visit our 'How to Choose an Aged Gin' guide.
Aged Gins by Cask Type
Discover 17 of the best Aged Gins available in the UK and internationally, from Henstone Rosé Gin from Shropshire through to Broken Bones Distillery's Cask Finished Old Tom Gin from Slovenia. While not all of the Aged Gins listed below were part of The Gin Guide Awards 2024, the acclaimed Winners in the Aged Gin category this year are highlighted with TGGA 2024 Winner to help you pick them out.
- Click on each distillery name for more information about the distilleries, interviews with the distillers, and more.
- Click on the 'Buy' button to visit the website of the distillery or their preferred retailer.
Bourbon Cask Aged Gins
Bourbon casks typically impart notes of vanilla and honey, with subtle spice and light sweetness.
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Fortified Wine Cask Aged Gins
Fortified wine casks vary by the style of wine. Port casks typically impart jammy red fruit sweetness and notes of red grapes, vanilla and woody spice. Sherry casks (e.g. Pedro Ximénez (PX)) typically impart a rich sweetness, honey, dried fruit and subtle vanilla, nuts and spices.
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New American Oak Cask Aged Gins
New American oak casks typically impart soft, sweet notes of vanilla and caramel. Flavours will vary if the wood has been charred.
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New European Oak Cask Aged Gins
New European oak casks typically impart woody tannins, dry and warm spiced notes, and hints of vanilla.
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Red Wine Cask Aged Gins
Red wine casks typically impart notes of woody tannins, cherry, dried fruits, and hints of spice and soft sweetness.
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Whisky / Whiskey Cask Aged Gins
Whisky casks vary by the style of whisky (e.g. Scotch, Irish Whiskey, Rye Whiskey), ranging from malty and smokey notes to woody vanilla.
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Aged Gin Cocktails & Servings
We are often asked 'how do you serve Aged Gin?' and 'what cocktails are Aged Gins good for?'. As Aged Gin can vary greatly in character depending on the type of cask they have been aged in, different Aged Gins will suit different servings and cocktails. For example, gins aged in Whisky casks can sometimes be used to make a twist on classic Whisky cocktails, such as a Gin Old Fashioned. Producers will often recommend serving an Aged Gin neat or on ice, or with a dash of Soda Water, while fruitier Aged Gins such as those aged in Port Casks can be served with Tonic Water. For some inspiration, we have brought together some of the most popular Aged Gin cocktail recipes for you to try:
Gin Manhattan |
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Gin Old Fashioned |
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Martinez |
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The Bond Girl |
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