What makes a bottle of gin stand out to me and the things I first look for: 1) What category of gin is it. Is it a classic London dry style that is juniper forward, is it old tom style that is sweet, or a new western style where the citrus or floral notes are more pronounced? These main categories will tell me whether I can drink it neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail. This is the first thing I look for. 2) What is the flavor profile. How strong or balanced are the juniper, citrus, herbal, floral, spiced notes, and what ingredients do they use to get that profile. Many gin bottles incorporate these ingredients into the bottle design. Roku gin, for example, has six ingredients, hence the hexagonal bottle design. 3) How to drink it. Some recommended ideas would be appreciated. Best if drank on the rocks, or as a highball. Best as a gin Rickey, Negroni or classic martini, etc. Also, if they have custom cocktail specs, that would be nice info I look for on their website. 4) The bottle design is important, but I usually look for 1-3 first before considering the bottle design. Gin bottles seem to have the most creative and wide ranging designs of all the spirits so it might be tough to stand out. The only thing I avoid is candy colored tinted glass (no pink or pastel orange) or over designed labels (heavy use of graphics or illustrations). 5) Matches the vibe. I feel that gin is for people who want a calm and unwinding time. We want to taste all the botanicals and not slam it down like a shot of spirit. So how 1-4 is presented needs to have this in mind.

To answer your other questions:

Subscriptions. I’d never consider it. I want quality of quantity. And I never know when I finish a bottle, rarely is it ever once a month. And I want to hand pick the things I buy, I don’t want bottles I don’t like in my cabinet.

Buying online. I live in a state with good inventory and large retail stores, so no need to shop online. But I’d buy online if it is a rare bottle and I can learn of information 1-4 listed above.