Whitley Neill Original Dry Gin

Johnny Neill traded finance for the family still in 2004, reviving a spirits lineage that reaches back to 1762. A trip through South Africa rerouted his thinking entirely: he folded baobab fruit and physalis into an otherwise classic London Dry recipe, and the baobab tree now stands embossed on every bottle as a nod to that inspiration. Five percent of the company's profits go to TREE AID, and the gin took gold at San Francisco in 2014.

The nose is fruit-forward and bold, with juniper holding the centre. On the palate it turns lively and elegant, citrus playing against a warm spiced edge before a long, peppery finish settles in. Pour it over plenty of ice with a light tonic and a wedge of pink grapefruit to let the fruit come through.