If you were sent to prison, Gilbey’s gin would be your pine tree cell mate that won’t stop bugging you for smokes, telling what he’s going to do when he gets out, and talking about how he has a girl waiting for him on the “outside.” You just want to forget about him. And he just wants to keep reminding you of why you ever hated him so much in the first place.
I have no idea of this gin’s fine history or what kind of devil’s magic is used to make it, but I’m just going to go ahead and throw this out there: this gin is barely drinkable. I have to give it credit though … this is the only liquor I have ever had in my life where the taste actually got worse after I swallowed it. It was really horrible to take. And somehow the taste seemed to actually become stronger; burning dirt and pine tree flavor filled my throat. Don’t think mixing it will help. It won’t. If Gilbey’s is dirt, mixing it with any liquid would just transform it to mud. And mud is just dirt that’s easier to swallow. The only thing I recommend mixing this gin with is whatever is at the bottom of the kitchen drain. And that is sad, really sad. I guess nothing can hide ugly.
Trying to get drunk off this gin is hard. Not because it is weak or anything like that; it is just really hard to drink. The best I could manage was a light buzz. Needless to say, I received no hangover, but each taste came with that same amount of pain as a hangover. If I did get a hangover, this would be the most rude and unfair liquor ever. But carrying a $13 price tag, what can you really expect?
This gin really hurt me because I love all liquors. With that said, I’m ready to make Gilbey’s the red headed step child of my sweet liquor dream family. If you only have a few dollars and want to get drunk off some gin, just save your money. Go buy some Sunny D© instead. It’s packed with vitamin C and good for you. Do not buy Gilbey’s gin! Maybe someday they will raise the price a couple of dollars and make something people can actually drink.
Sipability – 2.5
Mixability – 3.0
Drunkability – 4.0
Hangover-ability – 6.0
Bang for the Buck – 7.5
Chick-appeal -1.0
Overall – 4.0 
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Nice little site you’ve got here. I like the design and the content.
Personally, I like gin, but I have no opinion on Gilbey’s. I’ve never tried it. Broker’s Gin is my personal favorite. It’s not too expensive, it’s flavorful, the alcohol is not overpowering (even at 90 Proof), and it makes a great foundation for a dirty martini (with a jalapeño-stuffed olive). Plus, each bottle comes wearing a bowler hat. What’s not to like?
My drink of choice is whiskey–straight, no ice. Bushmills is my usual, but I often have a rye on hand for variety. Of the ryes, Sazerac is the best I’ve tried, but Rittenhouse is a very good less-expensive alternative.
I linked to your site on my Booze Movies blog, so I’ll visit from time to time to see what you’re drinkin’.
Cheers,
garv
You sound like a pro… why dont you share some of that knowlege on the forums here! Not many members yet, but it will get rolling soon
Forget what anyone says, this is the worst stuff ever.
I bought this today on a whim. It was cheap and I was curious about it. Got it home, didn’t really cool it but decided to have it neat as that is how I mainly like to drink my liquor. it certainly wasn’t great but I did not feel it was anywhere near as bad as this review indicated. It didn’t burn at all, I conceed it did have a distinct pine flavour but perhaps I like pine better than you because this did not bother me very much.
Maybe I’m just a sucker for punishment.
Not bad condidering its made in KY, USA, drank 1/2 bottle not a headache in sight, not bad at all, taste is a bit harsh but $16 a bottle 500ml+ not bad at all , want fancy and spend $30+ a bottle go ahead, want cheap this is for you
I am drunk on this gin right now, and WOW! it works! I thought it tasted terrible at first, but then right as it started to hit me, I got a clear taste of the pine that everyone is talking about…..With that said, I am also a whiskey drinker at heart, so my affinity for gin is low to begin with, but it really isn’t as bad as the nay-sayers claim, although the review above is hilarious and I want to believe it, it just aint true–Gilbeys rocks your brain!
Only people who like gin should critque it. If not then you have someone without a refined taste analyzing a product they are not equiped to handle. Gilbey’s has been my underdog liquor since I was 19. For some unknown reason i answered “gin” to the question ” what do you want to drink”. At the point i had only tasted beer and tequila and I knew I wanted none of those. I had the idea in my head I was a gin girl so I threw it out. Since then I’ve been an unofficial spokes person. I’ve created my own drinks using Gilbey’s and I love the baffled looks I get from men who cant fathom I order gin.so my boyfriend says I should be a rep for gilbey’s since I love it so corporate if you are there, email me back.
This shit is good and cheap.
Try it with ginger ale (Canada Dry works well)
Not mixed drinks, just shots. Straight out da bottle.
Gilbey’s produced in the UK is excellent, with a distinct citrus aroma and taste. On a par with Bombay Sapphire I’d say.
Gilbey’s quality is wholly dependent on the age and character of the brown paper bag covering it and the number of layers of army surplus clothing the drinker is wearing.
I’m sitting here drinking some Gilbey’s Gin right now. I’ve tried Bombay and some other more expensive brands, but taste for taste and for the dollar, Gilbey’s always beats them all. I can’t see spending more money on something that may only be just as good or only slightly better. I think this reviewer may be a bit of a Gin snob, but that’s ok. It will just leave Gilbey’s at the inexpensive price we all love.
I like my Gin & Tonic and i normally drink Bombay Saphire. I was looking at the Gilbey’s at just 10US$ and the Bombay at 30US$ and thought I would give the Gilbey’s a go just to see how it was.
I was quite suprised that it was actually pretty good. The Bombay had the edge but I’m not sure that it was a 3 times the price edge. The Gilbey’s I am drinking was distilled in the UK and purchased here in Thailand. i’m not sure why you are slating this Gin. It really ain’t that bad. I would like to try Junípero Gin to see if there is a great difference there.
Gilbey’s Gin is my favorite gin so far, I’ve tried a few of the more well known higher priced gins and can tell you the flavor is just not there in the higher priced stuff. Gin derives it flavor from Juniper Berries, the “pine” taste that you mention, it’s an acquired taste. The 1.75 liter runs around $15 . The burn? That my friend is alcohol.
If you are a puss, Gibley’s and anything else not paraded with hype is crap.
Truth: this stuff is the best gin you can get for the price. And price means nothing with gin quality, I’ve found. Gibley is packaged in plastic, and that’s a shame, but I refill an old Gibley glass bottle in my bar with this fine gin made for perfect martinis.
Well I believe I have found the first review on this site that I disagree with. This is the fist gin I have tried and didn’t expect much from the 10 dollar price tag at my local liquer store, but I’m happy to say that its atleast good enough for me to enjoy. If this truely is the bottom of the barrel for gin I can only imagine how much I will enjoy the mid to high range makers, and how much of an alcoholic I will become when that day comes.
Gilbey’s trying to be a Gordons. I am uncertain of the comment on the bottle that states “compounded spirit”. The aftertaste takes a little time to swallow but, as a rum drinker, could almost be forgiven. I side bet this stuff has a sugarcane addition(living in Mauritius), as a cheap additive to what should be a berry spirit. The London address is a vague attempt to register a sub-standard product that aims to mislead. Cheap. Crap. Truth.
I thought you were right on the money with your comments about Gilbey’s. It’s the worst swill imaginable. I think the guy who said you should try it with ginger ale is on the right track, except that Drano might be a better mix to kill its taste, even though it would probably take you with it . . . If you’re looking for a good inexpensive gin, try New Amsterdam.
Gilbey’s is the best cheap gin I’ve run across in my lifetime. Gordons is pure headache material. Sure — you can purchase a better gin. But you can’t drink that stuff all night long and not expect to be returning it by praying to the porcelin goddess next morning. But Gilbeys allows you to drink and keep on drinking. It puts hair on your chest and 50 lbs. on your gut. Great gin. It will always have a home in my house.
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