Gin is the most popular spirits category in the world’s best bars. Its staying power is partly thanks to the Gin & Tonic, but the spirit also has a role in a quarter of the 50 Bestselling Classic Cocktails.
Within the category, Tanqueray (including Tanqueray Ten) takes the top spot for a consecutive year. That’s eight times in the past decade that the London Dry brand has been number one. It was house pour in more than a quarter of the polled bars and a top-three listing in half.
It’s no surprise, the juniper-forward spirit makes a mean Dry Martini and, again, the Diageo-owned brand also tops our Bartenders’ Choice, making it four times in the last six years that it has done so. Be it the original London Dry or No. Ten, one thing’s clear – bartenders love Tanqueray.
The rest of the top four are familiar names but their order has changed. Beefeater returns to first runner-up, a position it last held in 2020. The Pernod Ricard-owned brand was house pour in 17% of bars and a top-three gin in a third. In November 2022 the brand relaunched Crown Jewel, a fragrant and intense expression that became a favourite among bartenders when released as a limited edition in the ’90s. It’ll be worth paying attention to see if this addition to the range will put up a challenge to Tanqueray’s reign.
Hendrick’s and Bombay ensure a UK sweep on the top four, but just outside, Japanese brand Roku posts its highest finish since debuting on the bestsellers list three years ago. Monkey 47, meanwhile, tops our Trending list, proving that craft brands can retain their cred after being bought out by a larger group.
How we did it
The Annual Brands Report results are the culmination of a survey of 100 bars from 33 countries around the world which have been nominated or won international awards. The report offers a picture of the buying habits of the world’s best bars – not only which brands sell best, but also what’s trending to indicate the brands that are hot right now.
To view the page-turner edition of the Brands Report click here.
The Brands Report will be serialised on drinksint.com throughout January.
