Did anyone else notice the increase in niche or ‘craft’ gins in the supermarkets? Apparantly this is becoming quite a thing in Germany, even to the extent that the Times wrote an article on the 11% increase in German gin imports to the UK last year. The last decade, and especially during and since the pandemic, has soon a boom in local producers – Quarantini being a notable famous corona related start up right here in Frankfurt.

I came across the idea for buying gin as a unique souvenir in a previous article after I found out about another local gin made out of apples – Bembel Gin. Turns out that apple wine style gin is actually pretty good, and comes in a bembel style jug that makes for a really decent present.

But back to the gin surge. Turns out that gin is now the second most popular cocktail base after (of course) Weinschörle. Thanks to new fruity flavours and the invention of cocktails like the Basil Gin Smash which is another local German invention. As the gin market is expanding at about 7% a year in Germany, there is plenty of room for local variants, and it turns out that consumers are more likely to by a local, organic, handmade gin than a global brand. Germany has even produced some very decent international brands in the last few years like Elephant Gin and Monkey 47, which are really quite good, and yet when I went to a local alcohol specialist yesterday, neither were on the shelf. Instead a nice selection of regional gins were available instead!

Since its a little harder to test gins than beer or wine, I still have some way to go through the options, but here is what I have found (and tried) so far:

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation to any of these gins, just enjoyed their products! 🙂

Quarantini – as mentioned above, a really nice gin at a decent price with a commitment to sustainability. Born in Frankfurt during the pandemic with a desire to support local business survive the lockdown, now they contribute towards providing clean drinking water around the world. There are a mixture of fruity mixtures so plenty to test out!

Ursel Gin – produced just outside Frankfurt in the Taunus – Oberursel in case you hadn’t guessed! Very reasonably priced at under €40. I found it in Rewe so really easy to get your hands on one of the flavours and makes for a really specific gift if you have any connection to the Taunus area.

Bembel Gin – this might not win any gin awards, and may even offend true gin officionados, however its a very decent drink and is the ultimate Frankfurt gin souvenir. People love getting a bottle of this as a present, and it even comes with an Eintracht Frankfurt branded version for fun.

Kornmayer’s Frankfurt Dry Gin – probably the cheapest of the gins I found at €33, and a good solid basis for a cocktail. Nothing extravagant to get excited about in the design or flavours.

R(h)ein Gin – great packaging and loved the design and name. Ironically not actually made in Frankfurt, they just have local city packaging, but the gin produced in Dusseldorf. If you took the Kornmayer drink and this packaging you’d have a real winner!

Ziegler Gin – this was a very nice gin, although technically not from Frankfurt either, but at least it is on the Main in Freudenberg (direction Wurzburg). More upmarket than some of the other gins at €50 a bottle.

Wagner Honey Gin – I only found this one by accident at the Christmas market, but its a nce variation. I can’t say I would be able to drink it as a regular, but for a present, it is really unique. Made in the Odenwald forest south of Frankfurt it has really a very pleasant flavour!

There are more options for sure, so let me know if you have a recommendation and I’ll add it to the list. And enjoy the cocktail season now that the sun is finally out!