Gin · Switzerland
Gin Distilleries in Switzerland
Tour 6 gin distilleries in Switzerland. Each offers visits, tastings or experiences you can book directly — including Liquid Spirit Distillery (nginious!), Brennerei Schwab, Z'Graggen Distillerie.
6distilleries
About gin distilleries in Switzerland
Switzerland's gin scene is small but inventive, and it has grown fast since the mid-2010s. Where Swiss whisky was shaped by old distilling law, Swiss gin has been shaped by a willingness to experiment with native Alpine botanicals and modern production ideas. The breakthrough came with nginious! from the Liquid Spirit Distillery, founded in 2014, which built a reputation for innovation by distilling and blending separate botanical groups and drawing on herbs native to Switzerland. In Zurich, Turicum Gin is made in small batches in the heart of the city, famously using lime-tree blossoms gathered near the historic Lindenhof, and produced in a London Dry style with no additives beyond botanicals and water. Around them sit characterful regional producers, Brennerei Schwab, Z'Graggen Distillerie, Säntisblick Destillerie and Macardo Swiss Distillery, whose gins reflect a farm-distilling tradition that values rich, hearty, locally rooted flavours. The picture overall is of a country that approaches gin the way it approaches much else: precisely, locally and with quiet creativity. For visitors, Swiss gin offers some of the most approachable distillery experiences in the country, from urban tasting rooms to rural farm distilleries.
Gin: styles & how it's made
Swiss gin spans classic and experimental. The London Dry style is well represented, Turicum Gin made in Zurich follows it closely, guaranteeing no additives beyond botanicals and water, while other producers take a more playful route. nginious! from the Liquid Spirit Distillery is known for an unusual method that distils its botanicals in separate groups before blending them, and for leaning on herbs native to Switzerland such as clover blossom, blackcurrant leaves and bee balm. Alpine and local sourcing is a recurring theme: distillers draw on mountain and farm botanicals to give their gins a regional accent, and several, including Z'Graggen Distillerie, Macardo Swiss Distillery and Säntisblick Destillerie, come from a farm-distilling background that favours rich, hearty character. Whether the result is a precise London Dry or a more flavour-led contemporary gin, the through-line is small-batch production and a strong sense of place.
Where to taste gin in Switzerland
Swiss gin is spread across the country, which makes it easy to fold a visit into wider travels. Zurich is the obvious starting point: Turicum Gin is produced in the heart of the city, and the Liquid Spirit Distillery behind nginious! is also associated with the Zurich area, making the canton a natural gin hub. From there, the map opens out to rural and Alpine producers, Z'Graggen Distillerie in central Switzerland, Brennerei Schwab, Säntisblick Destillerie and Macardo Swiss Distillery, each offering a different regional take. Because many of these are also fruit and whisky distillers, a gin visit often comes with the chance to taste a broader range of Swiss spirits. As with most small Swiss producers, it pays to check opening days and book ahead, particularly for the farm-based distilleries away from the cities.
What to expect on a tour
Gin tours in Switzerland tend to be welcoming and informative. At urban producers such as Turicum in Zurich, you can expect a small-batch operation where the focus is on botanicals, recipe and process, often with a tasting that shows how the gin works neat and in a serve. Rural and farm distilleries, including Z'Graggen, Macardo and Säntisblick, frequently make gin alongside fruit spirits and whisky, so a tour may take in a wider range of production and finish with a flight that spans several categories. The innovative side of Swiss gin is part of the appeal: producers like nginious! enjoy explaining their distinctive blending and botanical methods. Expect modest group sizes, multilingual hosting depending on the canton, and set days or appointment-only visits at the smaller sites. Confirm tour times, language and whether tastings are ticketed before you go.
Frequently asked
- What is Swiss gin known for?
- Innovation and Alpine botanicals. nginious! from the Liquid Spirit Distillery, founded in 2014, is known for distilling botanical groups separately and using native Swiss herbs, while Turicum Gin in Zurich is a small-batch London Dry made with local lime-tree blossoms. The scene blends classic styles with creative, locally rooted flavours.
- Which Swiss gin distilleries can I visit?
- Turicum Gin is produced in the heart of Zurich, and farm and Alpine distillers such as Z'Graggen Distillerie, Brennerei Schwab, Säntisblick Destillerie and Macardo Swiss Distillery also welcome visitors. Many make gin alongside other spirits, so book ahead to confirm tour days.
- What botanicals are used in Swiss gin?
- Many Swiss gins use native and Alpine botanicals. nginious! draws on herbs such as clover blossom, blackcurrant leaves and bee balm, while Turicum is known for lime-tree blossoms gathered near Zurich's Lindenhof. Juniper remains central, with regional botanicals adding local character.
- Is Swiss gin London Dry style?
- Some is, some isn't. Turicum is made in the London Dry style, using nothing but botanicals and water. Others, including nginious!, take a more experimental, contemporary approach. The Swiss scene comfortably mixes classic and modern gin styles.
- Where is the best place to taste Swiss gin?
- Zurich is the natural hub, home to Turicum Gin and associated with nginious! For a more rural experience, central and eastern Switzerland offer farm distilleries such as Z'Graggen, Macardo and Säntisblick, where gin sits alongside fruit spirits and whisky.
- Do I need to book a Swiss gin distillery tour?
- Usually, yes, especially at smaller and rural producers. Many Swiss gin distilleries operate on set days or by appointment and keep group sizes modest, so booking in advance and checking language options is recommended.