The 15 best gins to try out on World Gin Day, according to industry experts

Roku is the Japanese word for number six. In this case, it's a reference to the six Japanese botanicals in Roku Gin.Sakura flower, sakura leaf, Yuzu peel, sencha tea, Gyokuro (green) tea, and Sansho pepper, said Muehle. This is a delicate and smooth gin with subtle, sweet citrus, and delicate floral notes.He recommends it with a light tonic or as a sipping gin with a splash of sparkling water. What makes Williams Elegant 48 Gin so unique is that it's distilled from 48 varieties of rare apples, which grow in 200-year-old orchards on a farm just north of London, England. Muehle adds that other botanicals include juniper, citrus, and floral notes, giving it a clean and aromatic taste.While this gin makes particularly good martini, I personally like this served with elderflower tonic, garnished with a slice of green apple, he said.If you're looking for small batch gin, look no further than Martin Millers. Distilled in a small batch pot still in England, it is shipped to Iceland where it is reduced to bottling strength with fresh spring water. While this gin is a touch spicier than most, its clean taste and superb balance make it hugely enjoyable, said Muehle. With refreshing notes of citrus followed by notes of cardamom and black pepper, it has a clean taste and a slightly spicy, warming finish.He recommends drinking it with tonic and garnishing with fresh strawberry and a crack of black pepper.King of Soho gin is made by Howard Raymond, who is the son of Paul Raymond, a property tycoon known for his work that shaped the face of London's Soho neighborhood.Muehle loves this gin for its juniper and herbal notes, along with grapefruit flavors. He describes it as smooth and elegant with a delicate licorice sweetness. He says it is the perfect choice for a classic Negroni.Hailing from Germany, Ferdinand's Saar Dry Gin gives its drinkers a true sense of place. It's crafted with more than 30 different botanicals, including a small amount of semi-sweet Riesling, a wine native to Germany. Floral notes with lavender and lemongrass are followed by subtle citrus and rose him, said Muehle. It has an incredibly soft and dry finish with a long aftertaste. He recommends it in a dry martini or with Mediterranean tonic.With botanicals like basil, rosemary, and Arbequina olives, Gin Mare is all about capturing the essence of the Mediterranean Sea. It's fitting, seeing as it's distilled in Spain. Muehle loves this memorable gin served with Mediterranean tonic and garnished with fresh thyme or in a dry martini.When you say gin, the first thing that inevitably comes to mind is the good old fashioned gin and tonic. The G&T is a classic, whether it's World Gin Day or not. If you're mixing up a few this weekend, Kara Newman, the spirits editor for Wine Enthusiast magazine and author of several cocktail books, most recently Cocktails with a Twist, recommends reaching for the Tanqueray Ten.Clean, crisp, classic, Newman said. It's more citrusy than the standard Tanqueray Dry, but still has a harmonious mix of grapefruit, citrus, and juniper.Distilled in Plymouth, England, Plymouth Gin is one of the world's most recognized brands — and for good reason. Newman recommends it because it is a full-bodied gin that goes light on the juniper.This makes it versatile enough for a wide range of cocktails, she told Business Insider. Her favorite cocktail to use Plymouth with is a Negroni.Fords, distilled in London, is the brainchild of eighth generation master distillers Charles Maxwell and Simon Ford. The gin is steeped for 15 hours with a botanical blend prior to distillation. Newman likes Fords for its notes of citrus, spice, and a distinct note of cilantro. She calls it a great workhorse gin, and prefers to sip it in martinis and gimlets. Cocktails with a conscience. That's what this gin is all about, seeing as they donate a portion of their profits to the California wilderness. This distinct boutique-style gin comes from a craft distiller in Alameda, California. You'll notice strong notes of pine, probably because one of the botanicals used is Douglas fir. Others include fennel and sage.The foresty flavor plays well with lime, Newman said. I'd mix it into a Southside Fizz.Japan definitely has a share of the market cornered when it comes to whiskey, but did you know that they've also got a strong grasp on gins, as well? This one is from a small producer in Kyoto. It's rice-based with floral notes that are evocative of shiso and bamboo leaf.What I love about the new-isa wave of Japan-made gins is their incredibly light, silky texture, said Newman. I'd gladly have this in a martini-style drink with a shiso garnish, or highball-style in a 'sonic' — gin, soda water, and tonic.What's neat about Hayman's Old Tom Gin is that it's distilled in a style that dates back to the 19th century, which leaves it tasting slightly sweet.The result, said Newman, is that the citrus reads a bit like candied lemon peel, but it's not too heavy-handed. She recommends this to mix a Martinez cocktail.What stands out with Silent Pool Gin is its versatility. It can be enjoyed in a simple gin and tonic, or mixed in a variety of different cocktails. What's noticeable about this gin is the toned down juniper flavor, which allows for the 23 other botanicals to shine through. We tried [this gin] and loved it, said Piero Procida, director of food and beverage at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills. The distillation process is very well thought-out and specific to this gin and what is left is a very high quality gin, with a sweet floral-like nose and a savory flavor. Procida features this cocktail in the hotel's signature drink, the London Calling, made with hibiscus liqueur, grapefruit, lemon, and agave.This particular gin hails from Scotland from Islay, an island typically known for its scotches. Made from 31 different botanicals, it is ranked as one of the highest quality gins in the world.You are going to find a big nose of citrus in this gin, with slight menthol and lots of floral qualities... with a nice, long, spicy finish, said Procida. You are still going to find that typical juniper characteristic in this gin, but it certainly does not overpower the other flavors.Procida says The Botanist is a favorite because it is a boutique-style gin that is all about quality and versatility. With so many different botanicals, it is easy to pair it with other ingredients to make several styles of cocktails.What draws most people into Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin is the name itself. When I saw 'gunpowder,' all I could think of was the smell of firecrackers, but it intrigued me enough to taste it, said Procida. The name itself is actually in reference to the gunpowder green tea from China, which is used as one of its botanicals and one of its predominant flavors.Other ingredients include juniper from Macedonia, orris root from Morocco, cardamom from India, and others. Procida favors this gin, calling it art in a bottle. For a boutique hotel that enjoys exploring the world of craft ingredients, this gin is the closest thing to craft you will get, he said.

The 15 best gins to try out on World Gin Day, according to industry experts

1. Roku Gin

2. Williams Elegant 48

3. Martin Millers

4. King of Soho

5. Ferdinand's Saar Dry Gin

6. Gin Mare

7. Tanqueray Ten

8. Plymouth Gin

9. Fords Gin

10. St. George Terroir Mount Tam Gin

11. Ki No Bi Kyoto Dry Gin

12. Hayman's Old Tom

13. Silent Pool Gin

14. The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

15. Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin