There’s clear daylight between the top two and the rest of the pack. Bombay is the best of the rest, like a Tanqueray-light, it is most likely to be a bar’s bestseller (9%) but has its uses as a backup too (6%). 

Boatyard, in fourth, is a sign that the bartender-led end of the market is making meaningful sales progress. Alongside Hendrick’s the brands are the first of several that display the reverse pattern to Beefeater. Both are rarely the bestselling brands, both are on the pricier end and Hendrick’s in particular is a bit too distinct, in both its flavour and bottle shape, to have a permanent home in most speed rails. That strong Hendrick’s identity makes it one of the category’s most popular name calls – it was the second bestselling gin in 13% of bars, second only to Tanqueray’s 14%. 

In sixth, Roku is the only gin in our top 10 that doesn’t fly the flag for the UK, but its citrus and floral character has made it a favourite in some of gin’s brighter classics.  

Sipsmith, Fords, East London Liquor Co and No.3 complete the ranking and make it seven out of ten for London Dry brands. It’s confirmation, if we still needed it, that the gin category has largely finished trying to extend its borders to include anything that could be considered a botanical and has relaxed into a more classic, juniper-forward outfit. 

The Bartenders’ Favourites list underlines a pattern to the bestsellers while adding a little texture. Tanqueray also tops that poll, giving it critical and commercial darling status.  

Elsewhere it seems that bartenders tend to prefer popular Martini gins, with Boatyard and Plymouth, which doesn’t appear in the bestsellers list, rounding out the podium.