Perfect for picnics and long train journeys, these packaged G&Ts are a quick and easy alternative to the cheap lager, warm white wine and other horrors that are normally available in the circumstances. But are they any good?
6.4% alc./vol.
Producer: Tanqueray Gordon & Co, London, UK
Gordon's London Dry Gin 'perfectly mixed' with Schweppes Tonic ('with quinine') in this elegant 250ml aluminium can, with the instructions 'serve chilled'. Bizarrely either made in Italy or The Netherlands.
Appearance: Clear, small lazy bubbles which quickly dissipate (noticeably fizzier if you swig out of the can)
Aroma: Subdued but just about recognizable gin and tonic nose with the merest hint of juniper, light tonic/pub lemonade notes and orange zest.
Taste: Dilute mouth feel, hint of generic gin, lime and orange zests.
Aftertaste: Quinine bitterness builds on the finish.
diffordsguide rating: 3/5
10% alc./vol.
Producer: James Burroughs, London
Boom, this is a big G&T hit at 10% alc./vol. and just 200ml. Made with Beefeater London Dry Gin and presented in a stylish glass bottle with an embossed star in the punt, though that labeling could do with a refresh.
Appearance: Clear, with lively bubbles.
Aroma: Fresh and forward juniper nose with light gun tonic notes.
Taste: Gin to the fore but a balanced mouthfeel with just the right quinine bitterness.
Aftertaste: Fades with lingering quinine bitterness and more juniper emerging.
diffordsguide rating: 4.5/5
6.5% alc./vol.
Producer: Fentimans, Northumberland, UK.
Sporting a Fortnum & Mason colour scheme on the label, this heritage-style bottle contains a mix of Bloom London Dry Gin (which contains unusual botanicals including chamomile, pomelo and honeysuckle - and Fentimans Tonic Water which is brewed with lemongrass.
Appearance: Clear, dull flat bubbles
Aroma: Lemonade nose, with dry notes akin to a fizzy vitamin drink.
Taste: Astringent, dry citric acid-led palate, with little discernible juniper/gin flavour and little alcohol bite.
Aftertaste: Fades with dry vitamin drink-like effect, with light gin flavour finally emerging on the finish. We'd struggle to identify this as a G&T in a blind tasting.
diffordsguide rating: 1/5
10% alc./vol.
Producer: Marks & Spencer
Stylish 250ml can, part of a range of pre-mixed cocktails, from one of the UK's most upscale supermarkets. Boasts '2½ measures of extra dry gin', though the brand is not named. Label also helpfully suggests a serving suggestion: 'invert with care'.
Appearance: Clear, small lively bubbles but quickly loses all effervescence.
Aroma: Sherbet nose with citric acid and little discernible G&T character.
Taste: Aggressive, astringent citric palate, more like sour Haribo sweets meets soluble aspirin, with little sign of juniper or gin.
Aftertaste: Musty, lingering saccharine and quinine dryness emerging.
diffordsguide rating: 1.5/5
6% alc./vol.
Producer: G&J Greenalls for Sainsbury's Supermarkets, London, UK
This 250ml can contains a mix of gin from respected gin producers G&J Greenalls, though the actual brand used is not specified. Contains sugar and sweetener.
Appearance: Clear, with lively and lasting small bubbles.
Aroma: Fresh citrus zest, candy notes and a little dry juniper.
Taste: Saccharine-like almost syrupy mouth-feel, with obvious quinine but little authentic gin flavour.
Aftertaste: Lingering bitter quinine leaves a mouth-coating dryness.
diffordsguide rating: 2/5
