9 best citrus gins taste tested - lemon, orange, grapefruit and more

Some went to town on sugar and took inspiration from cakes and nostalgic pick ‘n’ mix (lemon drizzle and lemon sherbet were among the varieties we tried). Others went for a sour and sharp tang. Some were so sweet they were almost a liqueur, while others had just a hint of citrus and remained heavy on the juniper.

Each gin we tried had a story behind it, an inspiration that had created something unusual. Some of the flavours that made the list were created sustainably from grain to bottle. All are unique and innovative, plus the range itself was incredibly varied.

We tested almost 30 citrus gins to decide which were the best for your money, ranging from £18-£40 for a bottle. Discover our top picks below. Once you've selected a bottle, check out our best gin cocktails recipe collection with over 60 recipes to experiment with.

For more, visit our reviews section to find over 400 practical buyer's guides including taste tests of gin, vodka, rum, brandy, plus round-ups of the best rhubarb gins and pink gins to keep exploring the world of gin.

Best citrus gin at a glance 2023

• Best overall orange gin: Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla, £29.95
• Best for chocolate lovers: Sipsmith Orange & Cacao gin, £25.99
• Best premium orange gin: Brockmans Orange Kiss, £33.95
• Best unusual citrus gin: Tanqueray Rangpur, £31.25
• Best Australian citrus gin: Manly Spirits Coastal Citrus gin, £39.50
• Best lemon gin: Bombay Citron pressè gin, £20
• Best aromatic pink grapefruit gin: Chase pink grapefruit & pomelo gin, £22
• Best overall pink grapefruit gin: Malfy Rosa pink grapefruit gin, £30.55
• Best orange gin for beginners: City of London Distillery Murcian Orange Gin, £24

Best citrus gin to buy 2023

Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla

Best overall orange gin
ABV: 41.3%
Rating: 5/5

Flor de Sevilla, Tanqueray’s Spanish-inspired gin, was the resounding winner in our tasting session. The orange gin was awarded near-perfect scores across the board in every single category. While some gin brands go in for the ‘more is more ethos’, Tanqueray isn’t one of them. There are just four botanicals in this one. That means all the good stuff – the vibrant orange aroma, the intense citrus flavour, the strong piney juniper – have got room to shine.

Read our full review of Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla

Sipsmith Orange & Cacao Gin

• Available from Waitrose Cellar (£26), Amazon (£25.99), Master of Malt (£32.24)

Best for chocolate lovers
ABV: 40%
Rating: 4/5

Most of the citrus gins you try will have you longing for lazy summer evenings in a shady garden or dreaming of the Mediterranean, thanks to their Spanish and Italian influences, but Sipsmith’s Orange & Cacao is reminiscent of an entirely different sort of holiday. It makes us think of Christmas and smells very much like a chocolate orange – the most festive kind of chocolate there is.

Read our full review of Sipsmith Orange & Cacao Gin

Available from:
Waitrose Cellar (£26)
Amazon (£25.99)
Master of Malt (£32.24)

Brockmans Orange Kiss Gin

• Available from Master of Malt (£33.95), Amazon (£33.99)

Best premium orange gin
ABV: 40%
Rating: 5/5

Orange Kiss is the new release from award-winning Brockmans Gin. It combines flavours of Brockmans own triple sec and Valencia orange with cassia bark, angelica root and almond oil, to achieve a warming and fresh citrus flavour with a smooth finish. It’s great with tonic but also works in cocktails – think a twist on a spritz, or combine with sparkling wine.

Available from:
Master of Malt (£33.95)
Amazon (£33.99)

Tanqueray Rangpur

Best unusual citrus gin
ABV: 41.3%
Rating: 5/5

Rangpur limes are, in fact, not limes at all. They’re a hybrid fruit, somewhere between a mandarin and a citron. The juice is very sour, but it smells very sweet. These dimensions are what makes this a really interesting drink. If you’re after a hit of orange flavour with lots of complexity, this is an excellent choice.

Read our full review of Tanqueray Rangpur

Manly Spirits Coastal Citrus Gin

• Available from Amazon (£38.94), Spirits Kiosk (£41.95), Master of Malt (£39.50)

Best Australian citrus gin
ABV: 43%
Rating: 5/5

When you buy a citrus gin, you probably don’t expect it to taste of the sea, but this gin certainly does. It’s a taste that’s not quite salty (that would be too obvious), more of a light mineral tang to the finish. It’s like no other gin we’ve tried before. A citrus gin that will make you think of breezy walks on the beach.

Read our full review of Manly Spirits Coastal Citrus Gin

Available from:
Amazon (£38.94)
Spirits Kisok (£41.95)
Master of Malt (£39.50)

Bombay Citron pressé

For a less sweet citrus option than some we tried, Bombay's latest launch of this citron gin is a great option. It has no added sugar and uses hand-picked Mediterranean lemons for a fresh, zesty finish with just a subtle touch of sweetness. It makes a great introduction to flavoured gins as it isn't too radical We also loved the packaging for gifting.

Best lemon gin
ABV: 37.5%
Rating: 4/5

Chase Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo Gin

Best aromatic pink grapefruit gin
ABV: 40%
Rating: 5/5

It’s odd to call a gin confident, but that’s exactly what Chase’s pink gin creation – Pink Grapefruit and Pomelo – is. Everything about it is sure of itself. It's bright, it's bold, it's pink. It's a really lively vibrant gin. There's something about pink grapefruit gins that carry an aroma like no other citrus spirit, and this has the headiest scent of the bunch. It introduces itself to you before you've even poured it into the glass. We are very, very pleased to make its acquaintance.

Read our full review of Chase Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo Gin

Malfy Rosa Pink Grapefruit Gin

Best overall pink grapefruit gin
ABV: 41%
Rating: 5/5

Pink grapefruit is the focus here, but there’s a lot more going on in the background of this rosy-hued gin. It treads a very fine line between sharpness and lightness. The result? A wholly drinkable, refreshing gin that you’ll be reaching for throughout summer.

Read our full review of Malfy Rosa Pink Grapefruit Gin

City of London Distillery Murcian Orange Gin

• Available from Amazon (£24)

Best orange gin for beginners
ABV: 41%
Rating: 4/5

The City of London Gin Distillery made quite a name for itself when it launched in 2012. Made with Italian oranges from Murcia, the aroma is lively, so it was a surprise to find that the flavour wasn’t overly strong. If you’re looking for an orange gin that will appeal to everyone, and that will look handsome on your drinks cabinet, this is it.

Read our full review of City of London Distillery Murcian Orange Gin

Available from:
Amazon (£24)

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This review was last updated in November 2023. If you have any questions or suggestions for future reviews, or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. For information on alcohol guidelines, read our guide to drinking responsibly.

Have you tried a citrus gin that you could recommend? Leave a comment below.