Gin · Explainer
Which gin do you use for a gin and tonic?
For a gin and tonic, use a gin of at least 37.5 per cent alcohol; that is the minimum from Regulation (EU) 2019/787, and juniper must be the dominant flavour. Which gin fits within that depends on the tonic: a classic London gin calls for a neutral tonic, a floral or herbal gin calls for one that goes along with it. Sloe gin is not gin but liqueur.
In brief
The key figures
| Legal minimum | 37.5 per cent alcohol (Regulation (EU) 2019/787) |
|---|---|
| Defining flavour | Juniper must dominate |
| London gin, distillate | Minimum 70 per cent alcohol |
| London gin, sugar | At most 0.1 gram per litre, as invert sugar |
| London gin, colouring | Not permitted |
| London gin, methanol | At most 5 grams per hectolitre of pure alcohol |
| Sloe gin | Liqueur, falls outside the gin category |
| Age limit | NIX18: geen alcohol onder de 18 jaar |
Which gin goes with which tonic?
The tonic determines the taste of the glass just as much as the gin, so choose the two together and not separately.
A classic gin with juniper clearly to the fore needs only a neutral tonic: that lets the gin do the work. A gin with a distinct direction of its own, floral or herbal for example, shows best with a tonic that goes the same way, or with a neutral tonic if you want the gin to speak on its own.
Setting two pronounced flavours against each other rarely makes a better glass; they end up fighting for the same space.
What does London dry gin on the label mean?
London gin is a production method and not a place: the term sets requirements for how the gin is made, not for where that happens.
Regulation (EU) 2019/787 stipulates that London gin is distilled gin whose flavour comes entirely from distillation, that the distillate contains at least seventy per cent alcohol, that no colouring may be added, and that it contains at most 0.1 gram of sweetener per litre. The minimum is 37.5 per cent alcohol. The word dry may be added to London gin.
A London gin from the Netherlands or Spain is therefore just as much a London gin as one from England.
Why is sloe gin not gin?
Sloe gin is a liqueur: it is below the legal minimum of 37.5 per cent and is sweetened, and so falls outside the gin category.
Our own gin shelf has eleven bottles with an alcohol percentage below 37.5 per cent. Without exception they are sloe gins and gin liqueurs, with percentages between twenty and thirty per cent. They do say gin on the label, because the name of the flavour may be used, but they are something else.
In a gin and tonic they do not work as you would expect: they bring sugar and lack the backbone the tonic can lean against.
Does the alcohol percentage matter in a gin and tonic?
Yes: a higher percentage lets the botanicals come through more strongly, because alcohol carries the aroma and flavour compounds.
The legal minimum is 37.5 per cent, but many gins are bottled higher. With equal amounts of gin and tonic you will notice that a 45 per cent gin holds up better against ice and tonic than a 37.5 per cent one. If you want the gin to stay in the background, the lower strength is actually more pleasant.
If you use a stronger gin and find the glass too powerful, increase the amount of tonic rather than diluting the gin with extra ice.
Which gin should you buy if you are getting one to keep at home?
A classic gin with juniper to the fore, between 37.5 and 45 per cent, is the most versatile bottle, because it suits every tonic and every cocktail.
A distinctly floral or fruity gin is nice as a second bottle, but limited: it calls for a particular tonic and fits less well in a negroni or a martini. If you are buying one to keep at home, the classic style will serve you best.
Not sure which direction you want to go? Drop by and tell us what you drink now; we will go through the shelf with you.
From the shop in Bathmen
Which gins from 37.5 to 45 per cent are in stock in Bathmen?
The shop in Bathmen has 201 gins from 81 different brands from 15 countries. Prices range from € 9.99 to € 130.00. The alcohol percentage ranges from 37.5% to 45%.
- Aviation American Gin Batch Distilled 42% · 70 cl · United States
- Battumse Gin 38% · 50 cl · Netherlands
- Beefeater 24 Gin 45% · 70 cl · England
- Beefeater Blood Orange 37.5% · 70 cl · England
- Beefeater Gin 40% · 70 cl · England
- Beefeater Gin 70cl + Glas EOY 40% · 70 cl · England
- Beefeater London Pink Gin 37.5% · 70 cl · England
- Ben Lomond Scottish Gin 43% · 70 cl · Scotland
- Berghorst Spiced Ginever 38% · 70 cl · Netherlands
- Black Tomato Gin 42.3% · 50 cl · Netherlands
Related questions
Which gin can you drink neat?Which tonic goes with which gin?How long does gin keep after opening?
Short answer
Short answers to related questions
- How much gin goes in a gin and tonic?
- That is on our page how much gin goes into a gin and tonic.
- Why do you put so much ice in a gin and tonic?
- Plenty of ice melts more slowly than a little ice, so the glass gets less watery. You can read about that on the page about ice.
- May London gin be made outside London?
- Yes. London gin is a production method and not an indication of origin; the place of distillation is free.
- Is more expensive gin better in a gin and tonic?
- Not necessarily. Above a certain price you mainly pay for unusual botanicals and small batches, and those partly disappear behind the tonic.
The reasoning
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787, Annex I, category 22: London gin, The National Archives, legislation.gov.uk (accessed 2026-09-15)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks, EUR-Lex, Publications Office of the European Union (accessed 2026-09-15)
- Alcoholwet (Dutch Alcohol Act), article 20 (age limit 18), Overheid.nl, wetten.overheid.nl (accessed 2026-09-15)
This page was written and checked by ’t Bockje Bathmen, wine and spirits shop at Brink 2 in Bathmen. Last updated on 4 October 2026.
Verkoop van alcohol onder de 18 jaar is verboden. NIX18.