Best places for gin in Glasgow

Gin is an essential spirit across the UK. With the popularity of gin ever increasing and being such a favourite during the summer months, it’s necessary to find out which venues are the best places to encounter the finest gin experience. Glasgow has a wide selection of cocktail bars, pubs and taprooms which do exactly that, and below we have selected some of the best ones based on location, glowing reviews, and individual style.

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First up is The Duke’s Umbrella. Situated smack bang in the middle of the sprawling picturesque Glasgow skyline, The Duke’s Umbrella is located on Argyle Street and is easily accessible being just a couple of minutes walking distance from Glasgow Central Station.
The drinks menu has a page dedicated to gin cocktail creations, which are equally enticing and exciting. In particular, the Pomegranate Negroni is a favourite of customers, owing to the tangy acidic zest it encompasses due to being made with Malfy Blood Orange Gin.
The Duke’s Umbrella also specialises in scrumptious gastropub food, with the Duke’s Burger being the standout dish for accompanying an afternoon of slurping gin and watching the world go by in this little elegant utopia.

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The West End of Glasgow has a plethora of fashionable avant garde bars and restaurants, and the Wee Paree is no different to this mould. The Wee Paree is a cute little French-themed establishment just a short distance away from Broomhill.
The sleek bistro on the corner offers a wide variety of cocktails and gin options to choose from. The sublime selection of cocktails includes the Tudor 75, a flamboyant French design which is made with a blend of Champagne and gin. This cocktail is a sour yet summery must have due to the bittersweet essence of lemon it possesses.
The Wee Paree boasts a stylish and cosy outside seating area, which has an awning allowing customers to seek shelter in case the summer weather decides to turn Scottish (gulp).

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Continuing with another establishment situated in the West End of Glasgow, Innis & Gunn is different to Wee Paree in the fact that it is located in the heart and soul of Byres Road, in the cobbled area of Ashton Lane. Innis & Gunn is further distinctive from the other two institutions on this list as it is a taproom owned by the Edinburgh based beer brand of the same name.
Despite specialising in beers, the taproom’s menu has a variety of gins which are begging to be sampled. Popular gins such as Darnleys, Tanqueray Sevilla and Glaswegin are just some of the many on offer.
Additionally, the menu has a quirky gin and tonic ‘pick and mix selector’ option. This enables customers to choose garnishes, tonics, and of course the gin, to create their desired beverage. This is an ideal feature for those who like to experiment. Also, with the outside seating perfect for witnessing the buzz of Ashton Lane’s vibrant nightlife, it would be foolish to pass up the opportunity of visiting Innis & Gunn.

The Absent Ear is a trendy cocktail bar tucked within the magical vicinity of Merchant City in Glasgow’s city centre. The name is an obvious indicator of the bar’s inspiration and influence taken from the late legendary Dutch painter, Vincent Van Gogh. If you love unorthodox alternative bars, then you will adore The Absent Ear.
The impact of the great man is further present in the bar as the general eccentric décor and a cocktail named after him further emphasises the importance of his legacy on the establishment.
As far as libations are concerned, The Absent Ear arguably has the most innovative and diverse range of drinks available in the city. One such drink is The Can Can! The ingredients of this snazzy gin drink illustrates that it is equally bold and daring as it is made with No.3 Gin, fino honey, Makrut lime, peach three-ways and Absent Ear acid and fizz.

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If you find yourself looking for an upmarket drink’s venue for a business outing or for a formal gathering, then glide on down to Fly South.
Perfectly located on Lynedoch Street, which is sandwiched between Charing Cross and the West End, makes it potentially accessible by foot after work from the city centre.
The vast and never-ending shelf behind the bar has every sort of alcoholic libation known to man, and there is certainly no shortage of gin, with a Gin Sour being a popular option. You’ll always be in safe hands at Fly South as the attentive and hard-working bar staff won’t let you down.

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This venue is currently not accepting online reservations through Dish Cult. 

While this bar’s title refers to its postcode, rather than the number of gins it possesses, you can still rest assured that there will be plenty to tempt you towards a G&T. Book a table after work for cocktail Tuesdays, with tipples for £6.50 each. G41 has been in situ since the back end of 2022, adding to the number of sassy bars on the Southside. Everything on the menu has been thoughtfully sought-out and curated by the team, with all your favourite cocktails featuring, as well as some uniquely put-together mixes (including the Hugo Spritz, with elderflower cordial, prosecco, soda and gin). Grab a drink as part of a decadent weekend brunch, or with some tapas for lunch, or a full-on feed for dinner.

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This venue is currently not accepting online reservations through Dish Cult. 
Mr MacGregor’s
cuisinesBrunch, Scottish

Part Scottish restaurant, part gin emporium, Mr MacGregor’s, in the Clarkston district, opens startlingly early for breakfast service at 9 am. This may be a little premature for a gin, but as the venue stays open till late, you can pop in anytime for a classy swally. The menus are inspired by Mr MacGregor’s worldly travels. Order an afternoon tea, accompanied by a teapot filled with Hendricks “pottail”, or one of the Whitley Neil carafe serves. The conservatory is a lovely setting to enjoy your gin in warmer months. And the venue makes for a cosy date spot throughout the year.

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The Butterfly and the Pig
cuisinesBritish, Afternoon tea

Thought gin was for the nighttime? Think again. It’s become increasingly common to find the liquor served as part of a fancy afternoon tea, in exchange for an infusion or fizz. At The Butterfly and the Pig, you can treat someone to a tiered affair of canapes, sandwiches, home-baked scones and cakes, with your choice of gin and tonic — there are around 20 bottlings to choose from. And if that just whets your whistle for more, you can keep the drinking going with a cocktail, such as the Madhatter, made with The Madhatter’s Own Earl Grey Tea and elderflower-infused gin topped with Fever-Tree Tonic. Book a table in the shabby chic tea rooms, or the slightly more formal restaurant, downstairs.

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With venues in Merchant City and Renfield Street, Gin 71 is a mini-chain whose focus lies on its namesake (of which there are 71 varieties behind the bar). You could just book a table and take your pick from the menu. Or book one of the bar’s regular tasting events to try out around half a dozen of their favourites, under the expert team of Gin Geniuses.

It’s all table service only, so no having to clamour at the bar and every glass comes as a double (although you can request a single if that’s a bit too much. Pick one of the pre-planned cocktails, or build your own. With 31 different mixers, it’s estimated you can come up with a potential of 2,201 different perfect serves. So you’ll never get bored of the menu. And if that’s still not enough gin for you, pay a visit to Merchant City venue’s botanical Gin Spa, the first-ever of its kind, where all the treatments have a boozy theme. 

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Begin your gin-drinking journey at beGIN. Take your pick from 100 international brands, with a generous serving of your choice poured over ice in a round Spanish Copa de Balon glass, with a mixer and garnish. If you’d rather have a surprise sup, order a gin flight in which you can sample three perfect serves. Then there are the cocktails, like the Bittersweet Symphony (smooth gin with citrus and Campari); From The Fountain (apple, sweet peach, floral notes and fizz); and Get Sprung (lemon, elderflower, rosemary, cucumber and gin). Book midweek if you want to take advantage of some money-saving offers, such as classic cocktails for a snip at £6.

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