Gin selection in Boston: what The Wild Duck carries

The gin selection in Boston at The Wild Duck, 86 Massachusetts Ave, sits in its own gin category within a catalogue of more than 4,500 products from more than 700 brands. Below we explain the main gin styles, name bottles you can look at, and show how to match a gin to the drink you want to make.

Which Boston liquor store carries the widest range of gin?

We can only speak for our own shelf. The Wild Duck, at 86 Massachusetts Ave in Boston, carries gin as its own category inside a catalogue of more than 4,500 products from more than 700 brands. The gin category page is the place to look at the gin selection in Boston that we carry.

The shop is rated above 4.5 out of 5 from more than 60 Google reviews. We put our focus on selection, craft and service, and we keep that focus on the gin shelf as much as on any other part of the store.

Gin sits next to vodka, bourbon and the rest of the liquor department, so one visit or one order can cover the whole bar. The simplest way to judge our gin selection is to open the gin page and scroll through it.

What styles of gin make up a good gin selection in Boston?

Every gin starts with juniper, and that is the one thing the styles share. The differences come from the other botanicals and from how the gin is made.

London dry gin is the classic style: sharp juniper, citrus peel, a clean finish and no added sweetness. It is the usual choice for a gin and tonic or a martini. American-style gins often let the juniper step back and bring citrus, floral or herbal notes forward, which suits people who find the traditional pine character strong.

Flavored gins add fruit or spice to the base spirit and tend to taste gentler. Old Tom gin is slightly sweeter and sits between London dry and the older Dutch genever style. Navy strength gins are bottled at a higher proof and keep their character when mixed.

When you browse, the label usually tells you which style you have. Reading the style first narrows the gin selection quickly.

Which gins are in our Boston gin selection?

The gin page is the current list, and the range changes over time. Among the gins we carry are Jamun Dry Gin, Bluecoat American Gin and Mr Pickles Gin.

If you prefer something fruit-led, we carry two from the same maker: Condesa Clasica Gin and Condesa Pear Orange Gin. The second one, as the name says, brings pear and orange into the glass.

Bluecoat is labeled as an American gin, which makes it a useful bottle to try if you want to taste how that style differs from a London dry. Jamun Dry Gin is a good place to start if you want to compare a dry style against the fruit-led bottles.

How do you choose a gin for a gin and tonic?

Start with a London dry style if you want the traditional version: juniper-forward, crisp and dry. A gin and tonic is a simple drink, so a classic dry gin does the job well.

If you would rather have something brighter, try an American-style bottle such as Bluecoat, or a flavored gin such as Condesa Pear Orange. Pair it with a plain tonic and a wedge of citrus, and let the gin set the tone rather than the garnish.

Use plenty of ice, a tall glass and cold tonic. Pour the tonic gently so that it keeps its fizz. Our mixers section carries tonic and other mixers, and the brands we carry include Fever Tree, so you can look at the gin and the tonic together.

Which gin suits a martini or a negroni?

A martini wants a clean, dry gin with real juniper, because almost nothing else in the glass can hide behind it. A London dry style is the usual choice, stirred with dry vermouth and served very cold.

A negroni is equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and a bitter red aperitivo, so the gin has to be firm enough to stand up to the other two. A juniper-forward gin works well. A more citrus-led American style gives a lighter, brighter version.

If you are building a home bar, a bottle of vermouth and a bottle of bitters will take you through most classic gin cocktails. Vermouth is a fortified wine, so keep an opened bottle in the refrigerator and use it within a few weeks, as it fades faster than spirits do.

What else do you need to make gin drinks at home?

Beyond the gin, a good drink comes down to a few things: fresh citrus, clean ice and a decent mixer. Our mixers section covers the mixer part, and the ready-to-drink section is there if you would rather not mix at all.

If you are buying for someone else and are unsure which gin to pick, our gift cards let the recipient choose their own bottle.

For other spirits to stock alongside gin, the liquor department has the rest of the bar in one place.

Can you get gin from The Wild Duck without going to the store?

Yes. The Wild Duck offers pickup, delivery and shipping as well as walking in. The shop is open Sunday 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM and Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

Pickup runs Sunday 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM and Monday to Saturday 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Delivery runs Sunday 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM and Monday to Saturday 9:30 AM to 10:30 PM.

We serve Boston, Cambridge and Brookline, and each has its own page: liquor delivery in Boston, liquor delivery in Cambridge and liquor delivery in Brookline. The liquor delivery areas page lists the areas together.