Pink gin under $30 tops taste tests: classic London distillery behind surprise hit

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• From Chelsea distillery to a modern pink gin
• What it tastes like
• How to serve it

If you’re shopping for an affordable, crowd-pleasing gin this summer, one familiar London name is getting fresh attention. Beefeater’s pink strawberry expression — typically under $30 — offers a fruity, easy-drinking option that’s won praise from judges and home bartenders alike.

Beefeater London Pink retails around $22 for a 750 ml bottle and is built on the brand’s classic London Dry base, but finished with added natural fruit flavor. The result is a spirit that reads more like a light, aromatic gin than a syrupy liqueur, and that makes it useful both on the rocks and in simple summer cocktails.

From Chelsea distillery to a modern pink gin

The Beefeater story begins in the 19th century, when James Burrough purchased a small Chelsea distillery and developed botanical-led recipes that would evolve into the brand’s hallmark London Dry style. In 2018, distillers revisited those archives to create a strawberry-forward variant that layers fruit flavor on top of the established botanical profile.

The pink bottling is finished after distillation with natural strawberry aroma, leaving the base gin’s juniper and citrus notes perceptible beneath the fruit. It is bottled at 37.5% ABV, placing it on the gentler side of mainstream gins.

What it tastes like

Expect a clear strawberry presence up front, supported by warm spice and bright citrus rather than cloying sweetness. Juniper is not absent, but it plays a quieter role, allowing the berry character to lead without the spirit feeling like a dessert liqueur. The finish is short and tidy—more refreshing than syrupy.

How to serve it

• Simple serve: ice, tonic, and a couple of fresh strawberry slices—let the mixer guide the drink’s final direction.
• To tone down the fruit: use an elderflower or grapefruit tonic for balance.
• To amplify the sweetness: a splash of lemonade or pink lemonade will turn it into an easy, fruity refresher.
• For a little spice: ginger ale adds warmth against the berry notes.
• Cocktail uses: try it in a Clover Club variation, a strawberry bramble, or as a light spritz with prosecco.

Typical price	$22 (750 ml)
ABV	37.5% ABV
Style	London Dry base finished with natural strawberry flavor
Notable recognition	High scores and medals at international spirits competitions

Online drinkers have embraced the bottle for its versatility: some enjoy it neat, others mix it into spritzes or martini-style cocktails. Judges have also rewarded the spirit’s execution, noting that it behaves like a thoughtfully flavored gin rather than a sugary novelty.

If you favor bold juniper and classic dryness, stick with the standard Beefeater London Dry. But for gatherings, patio sipping, or an introduction to gin for someone who usually avoids it, Beefeater London Pink offers an accessible, inexpensive way to bring fruit-forward gin into regular rotation.