Sam Wylie-Harris goes on a juniper journey ahead of World Gin Day

Thanks to the current gin craze, there's a vast array of infusions to coax you into having a gin and tonic or Martini to celebrate World Gin Day (June 11).

A distilled spirit flavoured with juniper berries, botanicals and herbs, the recipe can be as free-spirited as the gin maker, produced anywhere in the world - London dry is a generic term for unsweetened dry gin - and, most importantly, reward us with an instant lift and leave you pining for more.

To open the gateway, here are some hand-picked gins worth foraging for...

HOLD YOUR HORSES

Highwayman Gin (£39, 40% abv, 70cl, store.claptoncraft.co.uk)

Launched last year by Vestal Vodka, Highwayman is a small batch gin made from Vestal vodka's cream base and infused with juniper, coriander and angelica root. Made with local ingredients where possible, only 12 bottles are made a day at the distillery in Kentish Town to create the distinctive creamy palate with a refreshing citrus top note and floral sweetness.

FRENCH FANCY

Waitrose cites gin as its bestselling spirit with "shoppers always looking for new gin flavours and distilleries to explore". Try Audemus Pink Pepper Gin (£40, 44% abv, 70cl, Waitrose) from Cognac in southwest France, which is "proving really popular at the moment". The juniper, Spanish pink peppercorns and lesser spices are distilled separately to create the concentrated aromatics and the peppercorns are dominant on the nose and palate with classic juniper and spice in the background.

BLONDE AMBITION

A Scottish gin that can be enjoyed neat over ice, Daffy's Gin (£28.79 from £35.99 until June 8, 43.4% abv, 70cl, Waitrose) scooped a Gold at the IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition) last year and it has a creamy, complex character with no shortage of citrus, spice and juniper. Botanicals include Lebanese mint and it's smooth and well rounded.

OUT OF AFRICA

A London Dry Gin from Birmingham, Whitley Neill Gin (£24, 44% abv, 70cl, Sainsbury's) gets its flavour from a balance of nine traditional and African botanicals such as cape gooseberry and baobab. Known as The Tree of Life thanks to its ability to store water in its wide trunk, the fruit from the baobob tree is rich in vitamin C, and this smooth spirit is aromatic with a classic juniper punch. Their signature G&T serve is with orange slices to complement the botanicals.

BALANCING ACT

Bright and citrusy with a herbal finish, the team behind Pickering's Gin (£27.95, 42% abv, 70cl, www.31dover.com) created this spirit from an old Bombay recipe and foraged for some new ingredients to create the perfect balance. Using nine botanicals, there's a zesty, lemon, juniper character with hints of coriander, cardamom and cloves, anise and fennel.

NORTHERN ACCENT

Most famous for its bitter, the Yorkshire moors provide the bilberries, sweet hawthorne berries and spicy bog myrtle for Whittaker's Gin (£31.95, 42% abv, 70cl, www.31dover.com). Aromatic and fresh, delicate floral notes run throughout this Yorkshire gin with coriander, juniper and traces of cream and rose petals on the finish.

FAMILY FAVOURITE

Foxdenton The Original 48 London Dry Gin (£29.50, 48% abv, 70cl, mainland UK only, www.foxdentonestate.co.uk) has a higher bottle strength than most and masks the alcohol well. Excellent in a martini, it's rich and full of flavour with a creamy smoothness. Beyond the juniper there are herbs, coriander and spice, and lemon and lime contribute to the bright, fresh finish.

BEST BUY

Crystal clear... Austrian glassware manufacturer Spiegelau have launched the Perfect Serve Collection to create an exceptional sensory experience for cocktail lovers, with a shape and silhouette for all our favourite serves.

The range includes a Nosing Glass, Tasting Glass, Mixing Glass, Perfect Cocktail Glass, Perfect Coupette Glass, Longdrink Glass, and Old, with prices from £24.95 for a box of four glasses, www.riedel.co.uk

LIQUID NEWS

House hunting... If you haven't found the home of your dreams and long to lose yourself in the finest cellars in the world, Grand Bordeaux Chateaux: Inside The Fine Wine Estates Of France, published by Flammarion, currently £39 from £60, www.amazon.co.uk, is just the ticket.

Leafing through its gilt-edged pages, illustrious estates such as Lafite Rothschild, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild, Petrus and Cheval Blanc are brought to life through striking photography by Guillaume de Laubier, tasting notes by wine critic James Suckling and fascinating text by Philippe Chaix, a wine enthusiast and author of several works on architecture and urbanism.