Gin, with its juniper-forward profile, is the base for some of the most refreshing and complex cocktails. Here are 17 irresistible gin cocktails, each with a brief history, ingredients, and how-to instructions:
1. Gin and Tonic
The classic G&T, simple yet sublime, with gin’s botanical notes enhanced by tonic’s quinine.
Originating in British colonial India, it was initially consumed for medicinal purposes.
Ingredients:
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2 oz gin
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4 oz tonic water
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Lime wedge for garnish
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Instructions:
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Fill a highball glass with ice.
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Pour in gin, then top with tonic water.
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Squeeze lime over the drink and drop it in.
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2. Martini
A cocktail that epitomizes sophistication, whether you prefer it shaken, stirred, or with a twist.
The Martini’s roots are murky, but it became iconic in the early 20th century.
Ingredients:
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2 1/2 oz gin
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1/2 oz dry vermouth
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Lemon twist or olive for garnish
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Instructions:
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Chill a martini glass.
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In a mixing glass with ice, stir gin and vermouth until very cold.
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Strain into the glass, garnish as preferred.
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3. Negroni
Bold and bitter, this Italian classic combines gin with Campari and vermouth for perfect harmony.
Invented in Florence, Italy, in 1919, it’s a drink that’s stood the test of time.
Ingredients:
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1 oz gin
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1 oz Campari
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1 oz sweet vermouth
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Orange peel for garnish
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Instructions:
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Stir all ingredients with ice in a mixing glass.
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Strain into a rocks glass over ice.
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Garnish with an orange peel.
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4. Gimlet
A sharp, refreshing cocktail that mixes gin with lime cordial for a tart, citrusy delight.
A British Navy staple since the 19th century to combat scurvy.
Ingredients:
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2 oz gin
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1/2 oz lime juice
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1/2 oz simple syrup or lime cordial
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Lime wheel for garnish
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Instructions:
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Shake gin, lime juice, and syrup with ice.
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Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
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Garnish with a lime wheel.
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5. Tom Collins
A tall, refreshing drink perfect for warm days, featuring gin, lemon, sugar, and soda water.
Named after a prank from the 1870s, it’s now a beloved summer cocktail.
Ingredients:
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2 oz gin
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1 oz lemon juice
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1/2 oz simple syrup
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Club soda to top
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Lemon wheel and cherry for garnish
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Instructions:
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Fill a Collins glass with ice.
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Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
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Top with club soda, stir gently.
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Garnish with lemon and cherry.
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6. Aviation
A pre-Prohibition cocktail that’s sky-blue thanks to crème de violette, offering floral notes.
Created in the early 20th century in New York, it’s a nod to the age of flight.
Ingredients:
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2 oz gin
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1/2 oz maraschino liqueur
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1/4 oz crème de violette
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3/4 oz lemon juice
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Cherry for garnish
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Instructions:
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Shake all ingredients with ice.
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Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
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Garnish with a cherry.
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7. French 75
A champagne cocktail with gin, offering a bubbly, elegant drink with a kick.
Named after a French 75mm field gun from WWI, it packs a powerful punch.
Ingredients:
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1 1/2 oz gin
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3/4 oz lemon juice
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1/2 oz simple syrup
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Champagne or sparkling wine to top
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Lemon twist for garnish
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Instructions:
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Shake gin, lemon juice, and syrup with ice.
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Strain into a flute, top with champagne.
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Garnish with a lemon twist.
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8. Last Word
A perfectly balanced cocktail from the Prohibition era, featuring equal parts of four ingredients.
Originated in Detroit at the Detroit Athletic Club in the early 1920s.
Ingredients:
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3/4 oz gin
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3/4 oz green Chartreuse
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3/4 oz maraschino liqueur
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3/4 oz lime juice
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Instructions:
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Shake all ingredients with ice.
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Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
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No garnish needed due to the drink’s visual appeal.
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9. Bee’s Knees
A Prohibition-era cocktail, sweetening gin with honey to make it more palatable during dry times.
Popular during the 1920s when lemon and honey were used to mask the taste of bathtub gin.
Ingredients:
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2 oz gin
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3/4 oz lemon juice
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1/2 oz honey syrup
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Lemon twist for garnish
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Instructions:
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Shake gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup with ice.
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Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
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Garnish with a lemon twist.
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10. Bramble
A British drink from the 1980s, this cocktail layers gin, lemon, sugar, and blackberry liqueur.
Created by Dick Bradsell in London, it’s meant to evoke the British countryside.
Ingredients:
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2 oz gin
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1 oz lemon juice
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1/2 oz simple syrup
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1/2 oz blackberry liqueur
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Blackberries for garnish
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Instructions:
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Fill a rocks glass with crushed ice.
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Shake gin, lemon juice, and syrup, strain into the glass.
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Drizzle blackberry liqueur over the top.
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Garnish with blackberries.
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11. Southside
A minty, refreshing gin cocktail that’s like a mojito but with gin’s complex botanicals.
A favorite in 1920s speakeasies, it’s named after the South Side of Chicago.
Ingredients:
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2 oz gin
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1 oz lemon juice
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3/4 oz simple syrup
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6-8 mint leaves
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Mint sprig for garnish
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Instructions:
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Muddle mint leaves with lemon juice and syrup in a shaker.
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Add gin and ice, shake well.
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Strain into a chilled glass, garnish with a mint sprig.
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12. Singapore Sling
A complex, fruity cocktail from the early 20th century, celebrated for its unique blend.
Created in 1915 at the Raffles Hotel’s Long Bar in Singapore for women to drink in public.
Ingredients:
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1 1/2 oz gin
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1/2 oz Cherry Heering
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1/4 oz Cointreau
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1/4 oz Bénédictine
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2 oz pineapple juice
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1/2 oz lime juice
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1 dash Angostura bitters
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Club soda to top
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Cherry and pineapple for garnish
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Instructions:
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Shake all ingredients except soda with ice.
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Strain into a highball glass with ice, top with soda.
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Garnish with cherry and pineapple.
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13. Clover Club
A classic pink cocktail from the pre-Prohibition era, known for its raspberry and egg white foam.
Popular in Philadelphia’s Clover Club, a turn-of-the-century men’s club.
Ingredients:
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2 oz gin
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1/2 oz lemon juice
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1/2 oz raspberry syrup
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1 egg white
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Raspberry for garnish
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Instructions:
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Dry shake all ingredients without ice, then shake with ice.
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Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
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Garnish with a raspberry.
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14. Ramos Gin Fizz
A labor-intensive but rewarding cocktail known for its frothy, creamy texture.
Created by Henry C. Ramos in New Orleans in the late 19th century.
Ingredients:
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2 oz gin
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1/2 oz lemon juice
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1/2 oz lime juice
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1 oz simple syrup
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1 oz heavy cream
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1 egg white
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3-4 drops orange flower water
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Club soda to top
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Instructions:
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Shake all ingredients except soda without ice, then with ice until very frothy.
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Strain into a highball glass, top with soda, and wait for foam to rise.
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15. Salty Dog
A simple mix of gin and grapefruit juice, served with a salted rim for a savory twist.
A variation of the Greyhound, the Salty Dog adds a salt rim for contrast.
Ingredients:
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1 1/2 oz gin
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3 oz grapefruit juice
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Salt for rimming
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Grapefruit wedge for garnish
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Instructions:
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Rim a glass with salt.
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Fill with ice, add gin and grapefruit juice.
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Stir gently, garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
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16. Gin Rickey
A refreshing, no-sugar drink from the late 19th century, perfect for hot summer days.
Invented at Shoomaker’s bar in Washington, D.C., in the 1880s.
Ingredients:
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2 oz gin
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1/2 oz lime juice
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Club soda to top
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Lime wheel for garnish
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Instructions:
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Fill a highball glass with ice.
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Add gin and lime juice.
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Top with club soda, stir.
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Garnish with a lime wheel.
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17. Gin Daisy
A floral, citrusy cocktail that’s both refreshing and sophisticated.
The Daisy family of cocktails has been around since the 19th century, with gin adding its own twist.
Ingredients:
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2 oz gin
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3/4 oz lemon juice
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1/2 oz grenadine
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1/2 oz orange liqueur
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Club soda to top
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Lemon wheel and cherry for garnish
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Instructions:
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Shake gin, lemon juice, grenadine, and orange liqueur with ice.
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Strain into an ice-filled glass, top with club soda.
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Garnish with lemon and cherry.
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These gin cocktails offer a wide range of flavors and experiences, showcasing why gin remains a favorite among cocktail enthusiasts. Enjoy responsibly!
