Trader Joe’s Gin – Best Inexpensive Gin?

June 24, 2021December 29, 2023 Off Brand Guy

Trader Joe’s alcohol options are awesome! You can find quality at a reasonable price. I have two issues when it comes to alcohol, especially hard liquor. I do not want to overpay for a mediocre spirit just because the company run advertisements with some lady in a bikini on a yacht. Also, I don’t want to purchase the bottom of the barrel stuff that will give me a headache in about five seconds. The good news is Trader Joe’s offers a nice middle ground. Today, we provide a Trader Joe’s Gin review.

Click here to check out our article on Trader Joe’s beer prices.

What Kind Of Gin Does Trader Joe’s Have?

I have been able to identify four different Trader Joe’s house gins:

TJ’s Jailhouse Gin – Around $17.99 per bottle
TJ’s Art Of The Still Organic Gin – Around $13- $16 per bottle
TJ’s Preeminence Gin – Around $11.99 per bottle

TJ’s Rear Admiral Joseph’s Gin – Around $8-10 a bottle

Why Is Trader Joe’s Alcohol So Cheap?

Trader Joe’s is sort of known for cheap alcohol. The Charles Shaw brand of wine (know as Two Buck Chuck) is legendary. They keep costs low by machine harvesting grapes, fermenting with oak chips, using cheap forms of cork, and lightweight bottles. It was the cheap wine leader until hip brands like Yellow Tail started aggressively competing in this space.

Because Trader Joe’s cuts out the BS. You are not paying for over the top marketing and branding. You are not paying for fancy bottles or elaborate displays. You are not paying for Paris Hilton or some rapper to tell you it taste goods. You are getting a decent quality product at a good price.

Trader Joe’s Jail House Gin Review

This stuff is produced in San Francisco. I tend to agree with “A Bar Above” on Youtube. This is a Hendricks style gin with bold cucumber and orange focus. A little juniper as well. The first few sips are enjoyable but the as the taste lingers the cucumber flavor is too prominent. Also, it is somewhat thick, viscous, and oily compared to high end gin.

Trader Joe’s Preeminence Gin Review

I do have to acknowledge that I am not a gin expert. I am more of a casual gin and tonic type of guy. If the spirit can be blended nicely in a mixed drink, and it doesn’t burn too much, I am usually good to go.

You may find other people online who are most sophisticated with their critique. They will make comments such as the TJ gin finishes dry, or that the flavors of the botanicals are not complex enough. But once this goes in some tonic water with a lime does it really matter? Trader Joe’s Preeminence Gin is what some experts would call a good mixing gin.

So is Preeminence the best inexpensive gin? I am not sure on this one. If you look online you will see that Trader Joe’s whiskey gets more fanfare than the gin. Some reviewers find the gin to be less flavorful than the name brand stuff. One online commentator went as far to say that the TJ’s gin taste like chemicals. Another said the price is great, but it doesn’t taste good. It got the job done for me.

Trader Joe’s Art of the Still Organic Gin Review

According to Reddit this is a private label version of Prairie Gin. It you like Prairie Gin this is an easy way to save a few bucks.

It is good and light on the juniper
It is not considered a soft gin
It offers notes of juniper and sage

It is made with pesticide-free Minnesotan corn

What Are Some Other Cheap Gin Brands?

Are you trying to find the best gin brands for the money? I would say anything under $20 a bottle is considered cheap. In my case, I prefer to stay under $15 a bottle. Here are some of the most popular cheap gin brands on the market:

Gordon’s Gin
New Amsterdam Gin
Seagram’s Distiller’s Reserve Gin

What Is The Best Cheap Gin Drink?

Are you looking for a nice refreshing gin drink to enjoy this summer? Head over to the Trader Joe’s website to try a Lemon Gin Refresher. This recipe is directly from Trader Joe’s and features the Trader Joe’s Preeminence Gin. At only $11.99 a bottle you really can’t find a better deal.

Another pro tip. Pick up the Watermelon Cucumber Cooler at TJ’s and mix this with gin.

What Is The Best Gin At Trader Joe’s? How About the Best Trader Joe’s Alcohol?

Click to 1 minute and 18 seconds. Well, at least it doesn’t burn…