When it comes to gin, the sky is the limit and just when we’ve think we’ve seen it all, new and unusual infusions continue to pop up to capture our palates and imaginations. There are mad experiments out there such as a marmalade gin, a Peaky Blinders inspired gin and even a hangover-free gin.

Closer to home, we’ve also welcome the launch of numerous and creative gins. Over the last couple of months, a wave of cool renditions of the juniper spirit have graced Irish shelves and bars. Below, a round up of the most exciting new Irish gins you should be trying this season…

Míl Gin

This Irish pot-still gin is made with Mediterranean botanicals (juniper, bergamont orange, almonds, olive, basil, thyme, rosemary, gooseberry and more) and it offers a local twist on the pleasures of the sunniest side of the continent. It was quietly launched last October and it is a great tipple to channel the Spaniard’s style of Gin & Tonic, served in a globe glass with exuberant garnishes (basil and grapefruit are the recommended companions) and why not, tapas along the way!

More information: twitter.com/milgin_

James Joyce Gin

Let Oscar Wilde have its posh bottled waters, Ulysses’ author is honoured by its own gin, named after him and launched last November. This small batch Irish gin features botanicals such as bay leaf, heather, clove, coriander, casia bark, orris root, angelica root, citrus peel and of course, juniper. It’s inspired by the design, typesetting and proportions of Joyce’s masterpiece.

More information: jamesjoycegin.ie

An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin

More information: sliabhliagdistillery.com

Mór Irish Gin Pineapple Edition

This is the gin we never knew we wanted so badly! A tropical kiss of pineapples make it perfect for new wave tiki cocktails (and an ideal twist if you’re not that into rum!). It was launched last October and it’s made by steeping off the fruits in spirit for 24 hours and extracting as much flavour from them as possible. Then the flavours are blended and distilled with the gin based spirit that has Mór’s botanicals.

More information: moririshgin.com

Blackwater Barry’s Tea Irish Gin

Multi award-winning Blackwater Distillery made headlines everywhere last November when it launched the quintessential Irish ginnovation: a gin infused with the finest blend of Barry’s Tea. The tea flavour is subtle and the gin itself is quite balanced. Made in small batches in West Waterford, it will be a brilliant Christmas present for someone that appreciates a good cuppa.

More information: blackwaterdistillery.ie

Dublin City Gin

More a re-launch than a launch, this small batch gin received a complete branding makeover last November and it’s looking better than ever. It’s not all about appearances, and the spirit within the bottle offers a very smooth milk spirit-based gin infused with organic rhubarb (grown along the city’s Grand Canal).

More information: dublincitygin.com

Gabriela’s passion for writing is only matched by her love for food and wine. Journalist, confectioner and sommelier, she fell in love with Ireland years ago and moved from Venezuela to Dublin in 2014.

Since then, she has written about and worked in the local food scene, and she’s determined to discover and share the different traditions, flavours and places that have led Irish food and drink to fascinate her.