What Makes Gin Popular in Switzerland?

Switzerland is famous for chocolate, watches and cheese, not gin. Yet walk into a good bar in Zurich, Basel or Geneva and the gin list is often longer than the cocktail menu. So what has made gin so popular in Switzerland? And how do you find the best gin in Switzerland for your own glass? Here is what is behind the boom, and where to buy gin that is worth your attention.

A country that already knew how to distil

Gin did not arrive in a vacuum. Switzerland has a long relationship with distillation, and distilled fruit spirits can be found in almost every small farm shop. Kirsch, plum and pear brandies meant the stills, the skills and the orchards were already there. Gin needs no years of barrel ageing, so it was a natural next step for distillers.

The Swiss gin boom

The modern Swiss gin story is recent. The first modern Swiss gins appeared around 2010–2012, made by small family distilleries that wanted to express their regional identity through gin. Many were built around local botanicals, and Swiss rye, glacial water, edelweiss, elderflower and woodruff all feature in Swiss gins.

The numbers show how quickly it grew. Swiss gin production, measured in pure alcohol, grew roughly 3.6-fold from 2018 levels, according to the trade magazine BarNews. It is no longer a trend. It is a category.

Cocktail culture did the rest

Gin is the most flexible base in the bar. It carries a simple gin and tonic, a bitter Negroni and a dry Martini equally well. As Swiss bars and restaurants focused on craft cocktails, gin became the spirit they could build a menu around. Gin imports have been moving closer to vodka, which comes second only to whisky among imported spirits.

Why craft gin is winning

Mass-produced gin is consistent, but it rarely gives you much to talk about. Craft gin does. Small batches, named botanicals and a visible process give drinkers something they can taste and explain to a friend.

Swiss drinkers tend to value quality, provenance and traceability. Many would rather buy one excellent bottle than three average ones. That attitude suits craft gin well, and it is why small-batch, story-led gins have done so well here.

Craft gin with a story

Craft distillers around the world now build gins from their own landscapes, from Alpine herbs to Himalayan berries. Some go further. One gin is diluted with rainwater collected in one of the wettest places on Earth, and bottled in reusable steel instead of glass. Details like these are why drinkers are looking beyond their own region for a bottle with a real origin.

How to choose the best gin in Switzerland

There is no single best gin in Switzerland. The best gin is the one that suits how you drink it. But a few questions separate memorable gins from merely well-marketed ones:

1. Where do the botanicals come from? A specific place beats a vague “premium botanicals”.
2. How is it made? Look for a producer that explains its distillation openly.
3. What goes into the water and the spirit? Good gin is more than juniper. Water and base spirit matter.
4. Does the packaging make sense? Thoughtful, sustainable packaging often signals a thoughtful producer.
5. Does it match your serve? A crisp, juniper-forward gin suits a G&T. A rounder, more aromatic gin suits sipping or a Martini.
6. Is it independently recognised? Awards are not everything, but medals back up the taste.

Where to buy gin in Switzerland

You can buy gin from specialist bottle shops, Swiss distillery shops and online importers. If you want something distinctive, an importer that selects its range carefully is a good place to start. At ZARF Spirits we bring in a small, curated selection, each bottle chosen for its story, taste and origin. Our Cherrapunji Gin is one example.

Ready to buy gin online? Browse the full range on zarfspirits.ch.

FAQ

Is gin popular in Switzerland?

Yes. Local production has grown strongly since 2018, and craft gin is now a fixture in Swiss bars and bottle shops.

What is the best gin in Switzerland?

It depends on your taste. Compare botanicals, origin, process and how you plan to serve it. Both Swiss and international craft gins deserve a place on the shortlist.

Where can I buy gin in Switzerland?

Specialist bottle shops, Swiss distilleries and online importers such as zarfspirits.ch all sell craft gin.

Enjoy responsibly. For persons aged 18 and over only.