Is an A-list G&T worth the splurge?

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The clink of ice, the fizz of tonic and a shot of your favourite gin — nothing beats a G&T in the garden on a sunny evening.

But forget Bombay Sapphire and good old Gordon’s: this summer, it’s all about gins with a dash of Hollywood glamour.

Owned, backed and in some cases made by your favourite A-listers (with a few British household names thrown in for good measure), these are no ordinary tipples, boasting designer bottles, premium ingredients and price tags to match.

Here, SARAH RAINEY puts them to the test.

Passion project: Ryan Reynolds (pictured) owns a stake in Aviation Gin

Margot Robbie Papa Salt

£42.50 (harveynichols.com)

It took six years and 59 recipes to get the formula right for this gin, made by Margot, her husband Tom Ackerley and friends at a distillery in Byron Bay.

Designed to be served with soda, the spirit contains a host of obscure Australian plants, from wax flower to wattleseed.

VERDICT: I’m anticipating a zesty, peppery spirit but the flavour is too subtle. The citrus feels artificial and all I’m getting is a briny taste in my mouth. I don’t see what the fuss is about. 3/10

Ryan Reynolds Aviation American Gin

£25 (down from £29.50, morrisons.com)

Ryan bought a stake in this gin in 2018 and claims it’s the best in the world, going so far as to compare its flavour to a sunrise.

VERDICT: Heavy on the spice with a woody undertone, I can taste liquorice, coriander and mint but it fades quickly. I’m left with a clean, almost mouthwash-like coating on my tongue. It is nothing special. 6/10

Graham Norton Pink Gin

£29 (winedelivered.co.uk)

Building on his wine-making empire (the presenter now sells 3 million bottles of sauvignon blanc, shiraz, rosé and prosecco a year) Norton’s London-style gin is made in Cork, Ireland, not far from his home.

VERDICT: Floral without tasting like perfume, this is delicate, refreshing and fruity. The pink hue, derived from rose and fuchsia petals, won’t be for everyone, but it’s more sophisticated than your average supermarket gin, with a crisp, zesty finish. 7/10

Emma Watson Renais Gin First Edition

Renais Gin First Edition, £48 (thespiritco.com)

£48 (thespiritco.com)

Actress Emma Watson and her brother Alex launched their gin, made at the family’s vineyard in the French wine region of Chablis, last year. The base is made from unwanted grape skins which have been pressed for wine, giving it a unique golden colour.

VERDICT: Unlike any drink I’ve ever tasted, it’s a halfway house between a flinty, dry wine and a sweet, nectar-like gin. It’s really delicious. I can taste orange, honey and spicy berries, making it light, moreish and very summery. 10/10

Brad Pitt The Gardener Gin

The Gardener Gin, £55 (amathusdrinks.com)

£55 (amathusdrinks.com)

In partnership with a former Tanqueray distiller, Brad launched this gin in 2023. Inspired by the French Riviera, all of its ingredients are grown in posh Antibes.

VERDICT: Zesty with a hint of fresh herbs, it smells delicious — like a posh diffuser — and tastes even better. Creamy and sweeter than most gins, it’s very drinkable, with a smooth, warming aftertaste that lingers. 9/10

Jeremy Clarkson Diddly Squat Farm Gin

£34.17 (thespiritco.com)

Fans of Clarkson’s Farm have been clamouring to get their hands on this gin, inspired by produce from the presenter’s Oxfordshire land. It comes in a tin, meaning you’re paying a premium for 50cl (rather than the traditional 70cl).

VERDICT: There’s no sweetness whatsoever; it’s grassy, pungent and herbal (dill and beetroot are unlikely ingredients). It is so sharp it makes me pucker my lips. Far too earthy for me. 2/10

Katherine Jenkins: Cygnet Welsh Dry Gin

£36 (waitrosecellar.com)

From a distillery in the Welsh Valleys, founded by mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins in 2022, this won several prizes at the World Gin Awards earlier this year.

VERDICT: It smells fragrant and spicy, with top notes of refreshing citrus that tickle my nose.

The flavour is a delicious blend of sweet orange, smooth chamomile and zesty lime that complements, but doesn’t overpower, the tonic. Katherine’s right – I could drink it neat. 9/10

James May: Asian Parsnip Gin

£36.95 (jamesgin.com)

Top Gear presenter James May teamed up with a distillery in Wiltshire to make a limited-edition gin, combining the flavours of parsnip (‘because it reminds me of England and its dampness’) with Asian spices (‘because they add excitement’) in 2021 – and sold over 1,400 bottles.

Three years later, he’s added two more flavours – London Drizzle and American Mustard – and now sells his craft spirits in 41 countries.

VERDICT: Not for the faint-hearted, there’s nothing subtle about this gin – it’s punchy, peppery and as heavily-spiced as a good curry.

The parsnip adds a sweet nuttiness, while the Asian spices, especially the ginger, make it warming and tingly on my tongue. 9/10 

Paul Feig: Artingstall’s Brilliant London Dry Gin

£44 (amazon.co.uk)

Feig, 61, the film director behind the comedy blockbuster Bridesmaids, started producing his gin in 2021, in collaboration with a 180-year-old distillery in Wisconsin.

It comes in a classy, Art Deco-style bottle and is said to be ideal for gin-based cocktails.

VERDICT: Juniper, the bitter, pine-like flavour you’d associate with a High Street gin, is the strongest flavour, making the gin taste tart and lemony.

It’s very acidic, lingering long after I swallow it, and the coriander tastes distinctly of soap. A dash more tonic helps, but it’s still on the strong side for me. 4/10