So, Valentine’s Day. It’s all a bit rubbish really, isn’t it? As much as we all like to be swept off our feet occasionally, special occasions dictated by guilt and commercialisation aren’t actually all that special, are they? But happily (especially for those of us who suffer from FOMO), that’s where the gin industry comes riding gallantly to the rescue. Everything looks much rosier from the bottom of a decent G&T (even, in some cases, the gin itself), so pick up a cracking bottle for the gin-lover in your life (and if that happens to be you, well, make it a good one), holler “Bottoms Up!” and ring that bell! It’s Valentines’ Gins; Gin A Ding Ding!

Pinkster

Fans of this popular, and unashamedly pink, gin will be relieved to hear that inside this limited-edition bottle the contents remain exactly the same. G&J Distillers, one of the world’s oldest gin distilleries, produce the core spirit with five botanicals to Pinkster’s original recipe. This is then macerated with a further three botanicals, including fresh raspberries grown close to Pinkster’s Cambridge base which give the gin its gentle pink hue.

Serve with tonic, raspberries and a spank of mint, or try one of their Valentine’s cocktails such as High on Love: combine 40ml Pinkster, 10ml Chambord, 15ml lemon juice and 5ml Maraschino liqueur, strain into a martini glass and garnish with lemon zest.

‘Let the love beGin’ limited-edition bottle is available direct from Pinkster at £35 for 70cl.

Eden Mill Love Gin

This one isn’t a limited edition but if there’s ever a time to crack open Eden Mill’s exceptional Love Gin, it’s on Valentine’s Day. The stunning ceramic bottle contains another pale pink gin which brings together a blend of local botanicals and exotic fruits, most notable of which are rose petals and hibiscus. Give this to your significant other this Valentine’s and they won’t doubt how you feel about them.

Serve with elderflower tonic water and pink grapefruit or red berries.

Love Gin is available to purchase direct from Eden Mill in a special Valentine’s Day gift box with two tulip gin glasses and a distillery experience pass for £40, or alone at £30 for 50cl.

X-Gin

Give this to your other half this Valentine’s though and, well, they might hazard a guess at what is really going through your mind! Yes, X-Gin is (or claims to be) an aphrodisiac gin with a rather racy Karma Sutra-inspired bottle design so when better to crack it open?! Seriously though, this is an exceptional Aztec-inspired gin which features cocoa beans, hazelnuts, almonds and vanilla pods and really does taste of chocolate in the best possible way.

Serve neat or with premium tonic, cocoa nibs and fresh raspberries.

X-Gin is available to purchase from Master of Malt at £38.96 for 50cl.

Shed Loads of Love!

If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a real limited edition for your limited edition (!) why not try Shed Loads of Love! from Cumbria’s Shed 1 Distillery? This run of just 100 bottles features rose petals, lavender and strawberries alongside a delicate hint of chilli.

Serve neat, with tonic, or in a glass of champagne!

Shed Loads of Love! can be purchased from Shed 1 Distillery at £35 for 50cl.

Burleighs PINK

Meanwhile,  Burleighs have decided to distil a fresh batch of their PINK edition gin for the big day. Just 60 bottles of this Japanese-inspired gin, featuring preserved cherry blossom, hibiscus, rose and pink grapefruit, are available to purchase so you’ll have to be quick if you want to grab one! Or if you really want to push the boat out, there are also a limited number of hampers available featuring one bottle of Burleighs PINK, two Special Edition PINK Copa de Balon, two bottles of Fever-Tree Aromatic Tonic Water and one box of six Burleighs Gin heart-shaped chocolates produced by Chocolate Alchemy.

Serve Burleighs PINK with aromatic tonic water and grapes.

Burleighs PINK is available to purchase direct from Burleighs at £42.50 for 70 cl. The hamper can also be purchased online for £99.

Edinburgh Valentine’s Gin

Another limited edition small-batch gin featuring the popular combination of rose petals and hibiscus flowers, Edinburgh Gin have also added chamomile, lemon balm, lemongrass and Kaffir lime leaves to achieve sweet, floral notes which contrast with crisp, fresh hints of citrus. A beautiful, romantic bottle design with a pale pink gin within this is unlikely to disappoint.

Serve with tonic, soda or rose lemonade.

Valentine’s Gin can be purchased from Edinburgh Gin at £35 for 70cl.