The Most Famous Gin and Tonic Brands from Germany

Germany has long been associated with beer, schnapps, and herbal liqueurs, but in the last two decades it has become one of Europe’s most vibrant gin producers. Thanks to a booming craft distilling movement, Germany now offers a wide variety of premium gins, often infused with local botanicals such as spruce tips, lavender, chamomile, rose petals, and exotic spices brought through centuries of trade. Alongside gin, German tonic water brands have also become internationally respected, making the country a key player in the modern gin & tonic scene.

A Brief History of Gin in Germany

While the Dutch invented jenever and the British perfected London Dry Gin, Germans developed their own juniper-based spirit known as Wacholder. Distilled for centuries, Wacholder was consumed mainly in rural areas and can still be found today in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony.

The modern gin wave in Germany, however, truly began in the early 2000s. The rise of Monkey 47, with its Black Forest identity, changed everything and inspired dozens of distillers to create gins that combined German precision with regional botanicals.

Famous German Gin Brands

1. Monkey 47 – The Black Forest Legend

Founded: 2010, Black Forest (Schwarzwald)

Monkey 47 is the gin that put Germany on the global gin map.

Botanicals: 47 different ingredients, including lingonberries, spruce, hibiscus, elderflower, and Black Forest herbs.
Flavor Profile: Complex, aromatic, and multilayered—pine, citrus, floral, and spicy notes all in balance.
Reputation: Widely considered one of the finest gins in the world; highly collectible with seasonal editions.
Cultural Impact: Sparked Germany’s gin boom and remains its most famous export.

2. The Duke Munich Dry Gin – Bavarian Purity

Founded: 2008, Munich

The Duke was one of the pioneers of the German gin revival.

Botanicals: 13 ingredients, including hops and malt (a nod to Bavaria’s beer culture).
Style: Juniper-forward but with a malty, earthy backbone.
Variants: The Duke Rough Gin (stronger, spicier) and Wanderlust Gin (infused with elderflower and pine tips).
Reputation: A favorite in Munich and southern Germany, strongly tied to Bavarian identity.

3. Siegfried Rheinland Dry Gin – The German Gentleman

Founded: 2014, Bonn

Named after the hero Siegfried from the Nibelungen saga, this gin reflects German heritage and elegance.

Botanicals: 18 botanicals, with linden blossom as the signature ingredient.
Flavor Profile: Floral and smooth, with balanced juniper and citrus.
Recognition: Internationally awarded, considered one of Germany’s most stylish gins.

4. Windspiel Premium Dry Gin – Potatoes and Elegance

Founded: 2014, Eifel region

Windspiel produces one of Germany’s most premium gins, distilled from hand-picked potatoes.

Botanicals: Lavender, coriander, cinnamon, and ginger.
Profile: Soft, creamy texture thanks to the potato base, with a refined herbal finish.
Luxury Positioning: Marketed as an exclusive brand, often paired with its own Windspiel Tonic.

5. Gretchen Gin – Berlin’s Feminine Spirit

Founded: Berlin, mid-2010s

Gretchen Gin is inspired by Berlin’s creativity and cosmopolitan identity.

Botanicals: Citrus zest, chamomile, juniper, rose petals.
Style: Fresh and floral, ideal for modern gin & tonic culture.
Reputation: Popular in Berlin’s cocktail bars and among younger audiences.

6. Münsterländer Gin – Traditional Wacholder Meets Craft

Produced in North Rhine-Westphalia, this gin honors Germany’s Wacholder tradition while adapting to modern craft distilling.

Flavor: Straightforward, juniper-heavy, with subtle herbaceous tones.
Cultural Role: Keeps alive Germany’s regional juniper spirit heritage.

7. Gin Sul – A Portuguese Dream in Hamburg

Founded: 2013, Hamburg

Although inspired by Portugal, Gin Sul is proudly distilled in Hamburg.

Botanicals: Fresh Algarve lemons, rosemary, lavender, cistus ladanifer (rockrose).
Style: Bright, Mediterranean, and aromatic.
Reputation: Extremely popular in both Germany and Portugal, bridging cultures.

Famous German Tonic Water Brands

1. Thomas Henry Tonic Water – The Berlin Pioneer

Founded: 2010, Berlin

One of the first premium tonic water brands in Germany, created specifically to elevate gin & tonic culture.

Variants: Classic Tonic, Slim Tonic, Elderflower, Cherry Blossom, and Botanical Tonic.
Reputation: A staple in German cocktail bars, pairs perfectly with Monkey 47 and Siegfried Gin.

2. Fever-Tree (German Market Leader)

While British in origin, Fever-Tree is extremely popular in Germany. Its Mediterranean and Indian tonics are widely used in gin festivals and cocktail bars.

3. Windspiel Tonic Water – Premium Pairing

Created by the Windspiel brand, this tonic is designed to complement potato-based Windspiel Gin.

Profile: Softer bitterness, refined bubbles.
Positioning: High-end, luxury tonic.

4. Aqua Monaco Tonic Water – Munich Creativity

Founded: 2011, Munich

A boutique tonic brand produced with mineral water from Munich.

Variants: Organic Herbal Tonic, Dry Tonic, Extra Dry.
Cultural Role: Popular among mixologists who want tonics with a local, natural profile.

Germany’s Gin & Tonic Culture Today

Innovation: Germany now has over 700 gin brands, from traditional juniper-heavy styles to experimental gins with sea buckthorn, apple blossoms, or even beer hops.
Serving Ritual: Balloon glasses (Copa de Balón), imported from Spanish gin culture, are widely used in Germany’s gin bars.
Festivals: Gin festivals in Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich draw thousands of enthusiasts, with Monkey 47 often as the headline act.
Regional Identity: The Black Forest, Rhineland, and Bavaria all emphasize local botanicals, making German gins highly diverse.
Export Strength: Brands like Monkey 47, Siegfried, and Windspiel are now recognized globally.

Conclusion

Germany has rapidly become one of the most important players in the global gin & tonic movement. From the complexity of Monkey 47, the Bavarian tradition of The Duke, the elegance of Siegfried, and the luxury of Windspiel, to creative tonics like Thomas Henry and Aqua Monaco, German gin culture is defined by innovation, precision, and regional pride.

What makes German gin & tonics unique is their blend of heritage (Wacholder) with modern experimentation. For gin lovers, exploring German gins is like walking through forests, meadows, and cities in a single sip—fresh, complex, and distinctly German.

Gin Tonic Gin

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

H A Brief History of Gin in Germany