Did you know that Oregon is a plentiful producer of gin? Locally made gins flow freely from nearby distilleries, a number of which are women- or LGBTQ-owned. We went on a sloshy adventure to find the most versatile gins for your cabinet.

Though we’re big fans of our martinis (usually gin + vermouth), negronis (gin + vermouth + Campari), and gin and tonics (gin +…you got this one), here we tasted each gin on its own, which can be surprisingly enjoyable with the right one.

“I’m meeting more people all the time who drink gin neat or just gin on ice,” says Ben Purvis, bar manager at trio of local bars Pink Rabbit, Fools and Horses, and Dirty Pretty. “But for a while, it was just my uncle who’s in his 60s.”

Our methodology: we tracked down the flagship gin of nine local brands and squared them off against each other to find the best brands for either sipping alone, or both sipping and mixing. Here are the gins to keep on your shelf.

Gins So Good You Can Drink Them Alone

Aria Classic Dry Gin

While a little harsh on the nose, our testers were unanimously pleased with this smooth gin upon first sip. Our testers found it less sweet than others, and nearly savory. “It almost has a smokiness to it,” said one tester. Our testers had fun guessing which botanicals they could pick out without looking at the bottle. Some are expected—juniper and coriander—while others surprise, like bearded iris, cubeb, and grains of paradise.

Jaz Spirits Dry Gin

This gin had the most unique flavor profile we tried, thanks to the addition of cottonwood buds and Douglas fir needles that proliferate in Oregon forests, giving the gin a hint of honey-like sweetness and citrus. A couple of our testers sensed pleasant notes of cinnamon. This spirit is more full-bodied than your typical summer gin, but would still work well in a gin and tonic.

Wild Roots Spirits Orange & Bergamot Gin

This gin has a strong orange fragrance, but on the palate, the orange tastes natural and not overpowering, and the gin has a buttery smoothness.  “It has a real creamsicle vibe,” said a tester.

Gins You Can Sip or Mix

Many gins are crafted with cocktails in mind, with more of a hot, alcoholic burn in the mouth or a strong whiff of botanicals that can stand up to being diluted.

Shine Spirits Pink Hibiscus Gin

Thanks to its pink color and tall, skinny bottle, it would be easy to mistake this gin for a bottle of rosé from far away. While most of our testers couldn’t detect a hibiscus flavor, it had a smooth, lightly sweet, juicy, and floral flavor. But results were divided: while one tester described it as tasting overly earthy, two testers said they wouldn’t mind drinking it straight, or with sparkling water and citrus. Because of its bright, fruity notes, we’d lean toward this as a warm weather gin. Try adding it, like Shine does, to a French 75 (gin, brut, lemon, simple syrup) for a “Pink 75.”

Freeland Spirits Gin

Freeland wins the best bottle award (it’s gorgeous, asymmetrical sky-blue glass), despite how difficult it is to pour a small shot without a spout—though perhaps that’s the point. You’ve likely seen this distinctive blue bottle on bar shelves around Portland. Upon first sniff, it’s gentle on the nose, with a noticeable woody, cinnamon scent. Others picked up on peppercorn-like notes. “I would like this in an autumnal drink, but it definitely isn’t a patio gin and tonic gin,” said one tester. Pumpkin spice negroni, anyone? (In all seriousness, Purvis recommends using gins that are heavier on the botanicals in a fruity cocktail like a gimlet, since you’ll still be able to pick up on the gin's fragrant notes.)