The resurgent popularity of gin is surely a sign that we are evolving as a society. Legions of parched Americans, disenchanted with vodka’s austerity and carnival-like parade of flavors, are finding sanctuary in gin’s affordable elegance and unrivaled complexity. Crafted according to a secret blend of aromatics, every brand is endowed with an engaging personality as individually distinctive as DNA, which explains why no two premium gins taste the same.

The most telling distinction between brands is the irresistible nature of their bouquets. An exceptional gin makes its presence immediately known with an outpouring of fresh, celery-crisp aromas elicited from botanicals such as juniper berries, citrus peels, herbs, roots and spice. The effect is mesmerizing and lingers on the mind like an unforgettable perfume.

The Chanel No. 5 of the category is Plymouth English Gin. Made for two centuries at Black Friars Distillery, the ultra-sophisticated spirit is distilled in a copper alembic still using pure grain spirits, soft Dartmoor water, and an infusion of seven, highly aromatic botanicals. A quick sniff explains Plymouth’s enduring popularity. The gin has an exuberant citrus, spice, and juniper bouquet, and a light, seamlessly smooth body. Its vibrant, skillfully balanced palate fills the mouth with the flavors of strawberry, coriander, orange, and lemon zest, which gradually tapers into a graceful, distinguished finish.

One of the pillars of the British Empire, Beefeater London Dry Gin is made in the same manner and according to the family-held recipe first devised in 1820. The renowned brand is exquisitely dry with a lavish floral, juniper, and spicy bouquet, and a layered, long-lasting palate of citrus, lavender, and pepper. Bottled at a lip tingling 94-proof, Beefeater and the Dry Martini have been an item since Prohibition.

Bestselling Tanqueray Special Dry English Gin is distilled in Finsbury, England, which at one time was world famous for its spa, and health-rejuvenating waters. The gin has a creamy, medium-weight body, and a captivating bouquet redolent with the piney aroma of juniper and delicate lemon and orange notes. Its palate is deeply saturated with tart, slightly bitter citrus flavors that have made Tanqueray the preferred choice to mix with the bittersweets flavor of quinine and lime.

The successful franchise now also includes Tanqueray No. Ten, an exceptionally fresh and unforgettable gin quite unlike any preceding it. Instead of relying on dried botanicals to derive its flavor, the spirit is distilled using tree-ripened grapefruits, oranges, and limes, ripe juniper berries from Tuscany, and herbs such as coriander and chamomile. Tanqueray No. Ten has an immense citrus and spice bouquet, and a broad array of succulent fruit flavors. A guaranteed crowd pleaser.

Self-described as the “world’s most peculiar gin,” Hendrick’s is imported from Scotland and crafted from a blend of small batch spirits produced in two types of stills, each of which produce distinctively different styles of spirits. Particularly unusual is the gin’s botanical mix that includes juniper, coriander, citrus, rose petals, and cucumber. Hendrick’s is refreshing and delightfully eccentric.