The individualized, interesting flavors of gin contribute to the spirit’s popularity as the base in a brilliant range of mixed drinks and cocktails. The gin boom is mirroring the increased focus that other traditional spirits have achieved in recent years, and gin varieties are evolving as gin becomes more accessible, and both independent and large distillers bring new innovations to the fore. The following collection of the top 15 best gin drinks to try in 2021 mix and match a whole host of kick ass variations of popular cocktails. I’ve also matched many of the cocktails and mixers below with our list of 21 gins to try so you can work on augmenting your ingredients and flavors to build the best option for your palate.
See more about - The Top 21 Best Gin Brands to Try in 2021
- Gin and Tonic
You can’t have a best gin drinks article without the simplest and most refreshing mixer. The key to a great gin and tonic recipe is to balance the bitterness of tonic against the gin. Your choice of gin can have a real effect. Choosing a flavored or pink gin usually adds sweetness and color, dry gin is crisp and clean against the tonic, where a botanical gin brings out the juniper and herbal infusion. And don’t skimp on the tonic, let the bubbles fly free! Ingredients
3 ounces gin (we recommend Beefeater pink gin for theater) 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice 4 ounces (1/2 cup) tonic water Ice
Garnish: Lime wedge or slice Instructions Fill a highball glass with ice. Add gin and lime juice then fill with tonic water. Garnish with lime wedge or slice.
- Corpse Reviver No. 2
Sign me up for this. As a parent with two small boys under five, I could probably enjoy this ‘hangover cure’ most mornings for breakfast. I asked my mother-in-law about this cocktail given her love of gin, and she responded with the following text: “I had a Corpse Reviver at a bar in Adelaide one night, and to this day I can’t remember any of it.” The wild card in this classic cocktail is absinthe, which can be hard to get your hands on depending where you are, but it’s well worth getting hold of! Ingredients
1 Ounce gin (Plymouth gin is good fun and has a bit more depth than dry gin) 1 Ounce Cointreau 1 Ounce Lillet Blanc 1 Ounce lemon juice 1 dash absinthe Ice
Garnish: Orange peel
Instructions Add gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, lemon juice, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake to blend. Add a dash of absinth to a glass. Strain drink into glass. Garnish with an orange peel and serve 3. Tom Cat Gin Tom Collins
The Tom Collins was invented by a London bartender named John Collins who used Old Tom Gin to make the cocktail, which is sweeter than botanical gin, but not as sweet as Dutch Genever. A Tom Collins is like the Gin Fizz, except tastes a bit sweeter in the glass. Gin was outlawed in the UK by the Spirits Act of 1750, which caused defiant pub owners to hang a wooden plaque shaped like a black cat to inform the passerby of the spirit’s availability. The gin lover would deposit coins into the cat’s mouth, then a bartender would pour a ration of Old Tom gin through a tube between the cat’s paws. Ingredients
2 ounces gin (I recommend Barr Hill Old Tom Cat Gin) 2/3 ounce lemon juice ½ ounce sugar syrup Soda water Ice
Garnish: Lemon peel, Maraschino cherry Instructions Add gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup to an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake well to blend, then strain into an ice-filled Collins glass. Top with soda water and garnish with a maraschino cherry and lemon wedge.
- Classic Gibson Cocktail
A Gibson is a dry gin martini garnished with a cocktail onion instead of an olive or lemon rind. There are some people out there that would discount it immediately, although the Gibson’s earthiness can taste fantastic in a well crafted drink. Ingredients
2 1/2 ounces gin (Try it with Monkey 47 Schwarzwald gin) 1/2 ounce dry Vermouth Ice
Garnish: 1 – 3 cocktail onions Instructions Add the ingredients to a mixing glass full of ice and stir. If you’re a British MI6 agent with a license to thrill, then stick it all in a shaker and fill your boots. Pour strained into a martini glass then garnish with the cocktail onions and serve.
- Southside Gin Cocktail
Originally hailing from the south of Chicago, the Southside cocktail was allegedly a favorite of gangster Al Capone during Prohibition. There are two popular versions for the modern gin lover: the classic southside cocktail as laid out below, and the Southside Fizz which adds soda water to the mix. Ingredients
2 oz Gin (I recommend the Botanist Islay Dry Gin) 1 oz Fresh lemon juice 5 Mint leaves 1 oz Simple syrup Ice
Garnish: Mint sprig, Lemon slice Instructions First, gently muddle the mint and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, then add remaining ingredients and shake/stir. Strain into a chilled Martini glass then garnish with a mint sprig and lemon twist before serving.
- Negroni
An absolute banger from Italy, the classic Negroni gin cocktail is considered an Aperitif. An aperitif is an alcoholic beverage usually served before a meal to stimulate the appetite and is therefore usually dry rather than sweet. The Negroni is simple, fun to drink, and looks mint served in an old-fashioned whiskey glass. Ingredients
1 ounce gin (use Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin) 1 ounce Campari 1 ounce sweet vermouth Ice
Garnish: Orange peel Instructions Add the gin, Campari and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with large ice cubes. Garnish with an orange peel and serve.
- Classic Gin Fizz
The classic fizz is an easy to make and refreshing gin drink that can take on a different personality by substituting lime juice for lemon. A gin fizz has a very light, sour citrus flavor that allows botanical gin to flourish, supported by the crispness of soda. Ingredients
2 ounces gin (I recommend Hendrick’s gin for flavor) 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice (can be substituted for lime juice) 3/4 ounce simple syrup 2 ounces soda water Ice
Garnish: lemon wedge Optional: Egg white (it makes the cocktail frothier and gives it some more body) Instructions Gather your ingredients together, leaving aside some soda water. Place into a cocktail shaker pre-filled with ice. Shake thoroughly until mixed (go nuts shaking if you use egg white, it needs to be well blended) Strain contents into a highball glass then fill with remaining soda water to taste. Stir lightly, garnish with a fresh lemon wedge then serve.
- Gin Martini
The Martini is a classic cocktail made with gin and vermouth. While it may be a simple cocktail recipe it needs to be executed cleanly to really shine, and getting it wrong could spell disaster for a date or night out Ingredients
3 ounces gin (I recommend Aviation Gin) ½ ounce dry vermouth Ice
Garnish: 1 lemon twist or 3 olives skewered on a cocktail pick Instructions Add the ingredients to a mixing glass full of ice and stir. Pour strained mix into a martini glass then garnish with the lemon or olives and serve.
- Singapore Sling
The Singapore sling is a classic cocktail developed in the early 20th century by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, who was working at the Long Bar in the famous Raffles Hotel. If you ever get the opportunity to put in some drinking time at Raffles, make sure you block out at least an evening, and have plenty of pace on your credit card (drinking in Singapore is very expensive, but lots of fun). Ingredients
5 ounces gin (I recommend Few Barrel Aged Gin) ½ ounce cherry heering 1/3 ounce Cointreau 1/3 ounce Dom Benedictine 4 ounces pineapple juice ½ ounce fresh lime juice Splash of grenadine Splash of Angostura Bitters Ice
Garnish: Maraschino cherries, Pineapple wedge Instructions Add gin, cherry heering, Cointreau, Dom Benedictine, pineapple juice, lime juice, grenadine, and Angostura bitters to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake the drink like your life depends on it, and then strain mixture into a tall glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and pineapple wedge then serve.
- The Vesper
The Vesper classic gin cocktail, or vesper Martini, was created by James Bond author Ian Fleming in the early 1950’s when it appeared in his novel Casino Royale. In the classic spy novel, Bond tells a bartender to shake the cocktail, however I’ll yield to the technical expertise of modern bartenders who recommended stirring the Vesper for maximum effect. Ingredients
3 ounces gin (I recommend Cotswold’s Dry Gin) 1 ounce vodka 1/2 ounce Lillet blanc aperitif Ice
Garnish: Lemon rind twist Instructions Add the gin, vodka and Lillet blanc into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass (or highball if you prefer). Add the lemon twist to the drink, but make sure to rub the twist along the rim of the glass before dropping it into the cocktail.
- Gimlet
My man Snoop rapped about sipping on gin and juice when I was young fella, and that’s how it will always be for me (let’s face it, gimlet would just sound weird when you’re laying down bars). A gimlet is a classic gin mixer that’s simple, easy and tasty, no matter the quality of your gin, or the quantity of your juice. Ingredients
2 Ounce gin (For gin and juice it must be Tanqueray Dry Gin) 2/3 ounce lime juice (If you want to take a risk switch for grapefruit juice) A splash of sugar syrup Ice
Garnish: Lime twist Instructions Add gin, lime juice, sugar syrup, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake to blend, and then strain into an old-fashioned glass or mason jar. Garnish with a lime twist and then serve.
- Bronx Cocktail
Look, a Bronx cocktail is just a different martini gin cocktail recipe with some orange juice thrown in for its restorative powers (there’s no olives either). As a gin lover and juice destroyer, this appeals to me more than the classic, extremely dry martini, and when drawn up fresh glows brightly in the glass. Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces gin (Try it with Drumshanbo Irish Gunpowder gin) 1/4 ounce dry vermouth 1/4 ounce sweet vermouth 3/4 ounce orange juice
Garnish: Orange slice or rind Instructions Shake the gin, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth and orange juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain the shaker’s cocktail mix into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a slice of sweet orange then serve.
- The Gin Sour (Gin and Bitters)
The Gin Sour is a tart cocktail that goes heavy on the gin and is almost guaranteed to make you wince. The cocktail recipe is simple, but there’s some great options to either fortify the alcohol or to level out the gin and make it smoother. Ingredients
2 ounces gin (I recommend Dryhook Ginsmiths Dry Gin) ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice ¾ ounce simple syrup ½ ounce egg white Splash of bitters Ice
Garnish: Maraschino cherry, lemon twist Instructions Combine your ingredients in a mixing glass, along with plenty of ice. Shake thoroughly to make sure the egg white is mixed in, then strain mixture into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist and Maraschino cherry.
- Elderflower Aviation Gin Cocktail
Adding floral flavor to the traditional Aviation cocktail cuts down the tartness of the lemon juice-based mixer and works well with the Maraschino liqueur. Elderflower is sweet and friendly and works brilliantly with beautifully herbal botanical gins. You can crank up the lemon content but playing with the floral aspect really makes it a great tasting twist on a classic gine cocktail recipe. Ingredients
5 Oz. Gin (I recommend a ‘fruitier’ gin such as Gin Mare) ¾ Oz. Lemon juice ½ Oz. Maraschino liqueur ½ Oz Elderflower liquor Ice
Garnish: Luxardo cherry, Lemon twist Instructions Chill a cocktail glass. Throw some ice into a shaker, add the gin, Elderflower, maraschino, lemon juice, and bitters. Shake to thoroughly combine and chill then strain into the cocktail glass. Rub the rim with the lemon and garnish with the Luxardo cherry.
- Sloe Gin Blackthorn Cocktail
Sloe gin differs from classic gin as it uses sloe fruit from the blackcurrant plant rather than juniper berries and comes with a lower % ABV. It’s generally sweeter, and interesting to deploy into a range of cocktails. Ingredients
2 oz sloe gin (I recommend Sipsmith’s Sloe Gin) 1 oz sweet vermouth 1 dash Angostura bitters Ice
Garnish: Lemon rind Instructions Fill a mixing glass or shaker tin with ice and add the sloe gin, vermouth, and bitters. Stir well until very cold then strain into a chilled cocktail glass or highball. Squeeze some lemon rind over the top and drop the peel into the drink and serve.
The individualized, interesting flavors of gin contribute to the spirit’s popularity as the base in a brilliant range of mixed drinks and cocktails. The gin boom is mirroring the increased focus that other traditional spirits have achieved in recent years, and gin varieties are evolving as gin becomes more accessible, and both independent and large distillers bring new innovations to the fore. The following collection of the top 15 best gin drinks to try in 2021 mix and match a whole host of kick ass variations of popular cocktails. I’ve also matched many of the cocktails and mixers below with our list of 21 gins to try so you can work on augmenting your ingredients and flavors to build the best option for your palate.
See more about - The Top 21 Best Gin Brands to Try in 2021
- Gin and Tonic
You can’t have a best gin drinks article without the simplest and most refreshing mixer. The key to a great gin and tonic recipe is to balance the bitterness of tonic against the gin. Your choice of gin can have a real effect. Choosing a flavored or pink gin usually adds sweetness and color, dry gin is crisp and clean against the tonic, where a botanical gin brings out the juniper and herbal infusion. And don’t skimp on the tonic, let the bubbles fly free! Ingredients
3 ounces gin (we recommend Beefeater pink gin for theater) 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice 4 ounces (1/2 cup) tonic water Ice
Garnish: Lime wedge or slice Instructions Fill a highball glass with ice. Add gin and lime juice then fill with tonic water. Garnish with lime wedge or slice.
- Corpse Reviver No. 2
Sign me up for this. As a parent with two small boys under five, I could probably enjoy this ‘hangover cure’ most mornings for breakfast. I asked my mother-in-law about this cocktail given her love of gin, and she responded with the following text: “I had a Corpse Reviver at a bar in Adelaide one night, and to this day I can’t remember any of it.” The wild card in this classic cocktail is absinthe, which can be hard to get your hands on depending where you are, but it’s well worth getting hold of! Ingredients
1 Ounce gin (Plymouth gin is good fun and has a bit more depth than dry gin) 1 Ounce Cointreau 1 Ounce Lillet Blanc 1 Ounce lemon juice 1 dash absinthe Ice
Garnish: Orange peel
Instructions Add gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, lemon juice, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake to blend. Add a dash of absinth to a glass. Strain drink into glass. Garnish with an orange peel and serve 3. Tom Cat Gin Tom Collins
The Tom Collins was invented by a London bartender named John Collins who used Old Tom Gin to make the cocktail, which is sweeter than botanical gin, but not as sweet as Dutch Genever. A Tom Collins is like the Gin Fizz, except tastes a bit sweeter in the glass. Gin was outlawed in the UK by the Spirits Act of 1750, which caused defiant pub owners to hang a wooden plaque shaped like a black cat to inform the passerby of the spirit’s availability. The gin lover would deposit coins into the cat’s mouth, then a bartender would pour a ration of Old Tom gin through a tube between the cat’s paws. Ingredients
2 ounces gin (I recommend Barr Hill Old Tom Cat Gin) 2/3 ounce lemon juice ½ ounce sugar syrup Soda water Ice
Garnish: Lemon peel, Maraschino cherry Instructions Add gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup to an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake well to blend, then strain into an ice-filled Collins glass. Top with soda water and garnish with a maraschino cherry and lemon wedge.
- Classic Gibson Cocktail
A Gibson is a dry gin martini garnished with a cocktail onion instead of an olive or lemon rind. There are some people out there that would discount it immediately, although the Gibson’s earthiness can taste fantastic in a well crafted drink. Ingredients
2 1/2 ounces gin (Try it with Monkey 47 Schwarzwald gin) 1/2 ounce dry Vermouth Ice
Garnish: 1 – 3 cocktail onions Instructions Add the ingredients to a mixing glass full of ice and stir. If you’re a British MI6 agent with a license to thrill, then stick it all in a shaker and fill your boots. Pour strained into a martini glass then garnish with the cocktail onions and serve.
- Southside Gin Cocktail
Originally hailing from the south of Chicago, the Southside cocktail was allegedly a favorite of gangster Al Capone during Prohibition. There are two popular versions for the modern gin lover: the classic southside cocktail as laid out below, and the Southside Fizz which adds soda water to the mix. Ingredients
2 oz Gin (I recommend the Botanist Islay Dry Gin) 1 oz Fresh lemon juice 5 Mint leaves 1 oz Simple syrup Ice
Garnish: Mint sprig, Lemon slice Instructions First, gently muddle the mint and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, then add remaining ingredients and shake/stir. Strain into a chilled Martini glass then garnish with a mint sprig and lemon twist before serving.
- Negroni
An absolute banger from Italy, the classic Negroni gin cocktail is considered an Aperitif. An aperitif is an alcoholic beverage usually served before a meal to stimulate the appetite and is therefore usually dry rather than sweet. The Negroni is simple, fun to drink, and looks mint served in an old-fashioned whiskey glass. Ingredients
1 ounce gin (use Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin) 1 ounce Campari 1 ounce sweet vermouth Ice
Garnish: Orange peel Instructions Add the gin, Campari and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with large ice cubes. Garnish with an orange peel and serve.
- Classic Gin Fizz
The classic fizz is an easy to make and refreshing gin drink that can take on a different personality by substituting lime juice for lemon. A gin fizz has a very light, sour citrus flavor that allows botanical gin to flourish, supported by the crispness of soda. Ingredients
2 ounces gin (I recommend Hendrick’s gin for flavor) 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice (can be substituted for lime juice) 3/4 ounce simple syrup 2 ounces soda water Ice
Garnish: lemon wedge Optional: Egg white (it makes the cocktail frothier and gives it some more body) Instructions Gather your ingredients together, leaving aside some soda water. Place into a cocktail shaker pre-filled with ice. Shake thoroughly until mixed (go nuts shaking if you use egg white, it needs to be well blended) Strain contents into a highball glass then fill with remaining soda water to taste. Stir lightly, garnish with a fresh lemon wedge then serve.
- Gin Martini
The Martini is a classic cocktail made with gin and vermouth. While it may be a simple cocktail recipe it needs to be executed cleanly to really shine, and getting it wrong could spell disaster for a date or night out Ingredients
3 ounces gin (I recommend Aviation Gin) ½ ounce dry vermouth Ice
Garnish: 1 lemon twist or 3 olives skewered on a cocktail pick Instructions Add the ingredients to a mixing glass full of ice and stir. Pour strained mix into a martini glass then garnish with the lemon or olives and serve.
- Singapore Sling
The Singapore sling is a classic cocktail developed in the early 20th century by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, who was working at the Long Bar in the famous Raffles Hotel. If you ever get the opportunity to put in some drinking time at Raffles, make sure you block out at least an evening, and have plenty of pace on your credit card (drinking in Singapore is very expensive, but lots of fun). Ingredients
5 ounces gin (I recommend Few Barrel Aged Gin) ½ ounce cherry heering 1/3 ounce Cointreau 1/3 ounce Dom Benedictine 4 ounces pineapple juice ½ ounce fresh lime juice Splash of grenadine Splash of Angostura Bitters Ice
Garnish: Maraschino cherries, Pineapple wedge Instructions Add gin, cherry heering, Cointreau, Dom Benedictine, pineapple juice, lime juice, grenadine, and Angostura bitters to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake the drink like your life depends on it, and then strain mixture into a tall glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and pineapple wedge then serve.
- The Vesper
The Vesper classic gin cocktail, or vesper Martini, was created by James Bond author Ian Fleming in the early 1950’s when it appeared in his novel Casino Royale. In the classic spy novel, Bond tells a bartender to shake the cocktail, however I’ll yield to the technical expertise of modern bartenders who recommended stirring the Vesper for maximum effect. Ingredients
3 ounces gin (I recommend Cotswold’s Dry Gin) 1 ounce vodka 1/2 ounce Lillet blanc aperitif Ice
Garnish: Lemon rind twist Instructions Add the gin, vodka and Lillet blanc into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass (or highball if you prefer). Add the lemon twist to the drink, but make sure to rub the twist along the rim of the glass before dropping it into the cocktail.
- Gimlet
My man Snoop rapped about sipping on gin and juice when I was young fella, and that’s how it will always be for me (let’s face it, gimlet would just sound weird when you’re laying down bars). A gimlet is a classic gin mixer that’s simple, easy and tasty, no matter the quality of your gin, or the quantity of your juice. Ingredients
2 Ounce gin (For gin and juice it must be Tanqueray Dry Gin) 2/3 ounce lime juice (If you want to take a risk switch for grapefruit juice) A splash of sugar syrup Ice
Garnish: Lime twist Instructions Add gin, lime juice, sugar syrup, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake to blend, and then strain into an old-fashioned glass or mason jar. Garnish with a lime twist and then serve.
- Bronx Cocktail
Look, a Bronx cocktail is just a different martini gin cocktail recipe with some orange juice thrown in for its restorative powers (there’s no olives either). As a gin lover and juice destroyer, this appeals to me more than the classic, extremely dry martini, and when drawn up fresh glows brightly in the glass. Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces gin (Try it with Drumshanbo Irish Gunpowder gin) 1/4 ounce dry vermouth 1/4 ounce sweet vermouth 3/4 ounce orange juice
Garnish: Orange slice or rind Instructions Shake the gin, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth and orange juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain the shaker’s cocktail mix into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a slice of sweet orange then serve.
- The Gin Sour (Gin and Bitters)
The Gin Sour is a tart cocktail that goes heavy on the gin and is almost guaranteed to make you wince. The cocktail recipe is simple, but there’s some great options to either fortify the alcohol or to level out the gin and make it smoother. Ingredients
2 ounces gin (I recommend Dryhook Ginsmiths Dry Gin) ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice ¾ ounce simple syrup ½ ounce egg white Splash of bitters Ice
Garnish: Maraschino cherry, lemon twist Instructions Combine your ingredients in a mixing glass, along with plenty of ice. Shake thoroughly to make sure the egg white is mixed in, then strain mixture into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist and Maraschino cherry.
- Elderflower Aviation Gin Cocktail
Adding floral flavor to the traditional Aviation cocktail cuts down the tartness of the lemon juice-based mixer and works well with the Maraschino liqueur. Elderflower is sweet and friendly and works brilliantly with beautifully herbal botanical gins. You can crank up the lemon content but playing with the floral aspect really makes it a great tasting twist on a classic gine cocktail recipe. Ingredients
5 Oz. Gin (I recommend a ‘fruitier’ gin such as Gin Mare) ¾ Oz. Lemon juice ½ Oz. Maraschino liqueur ½ Oz Elderflower liquor Ice
Garnish: Luxardo cherry, Lemon twist Instructions Chill a cocktail glass. Throw some ice into a shaker, add the gin, Elderflower, maraschino, lemon juice, and bitters. Shake to thoroughly combine and chill then strain into the cocktail glass. Rub the rim with the lemon and garnish with the Luxardo cherry.
- Sloe Gin Blackthorn Cocktail
Sloe gin differs from classic gin as it uses sloe fruit from the blackcurrant plant rather than juniper berries and comes with a lower % ABV. It’s generally sweeter, and interesting to deploy into a range of cocktails. Ingredients
2 oz sloe gin (I recommend Sipsmith’s Sloe Gin) 1 oz sweet vermouth 1 dash Angostura bitters Ice
Garnish: Lemon rind Instructions Fill a mixing glass or shaker tin with ice and add the sloe gin, vermouth, and bitters. Stir well until very cold then strain into a chilled cocktail glass or highball. Squeeze some lemon rind over the top and drop the peel into the drink and serve.
The individualized, interesting flavors of gin contribute to the spirit’s popularity as the base in a brilliant range of mixed drinks and cocktails. The gin boom is mirroring the increased focus that other traditional spirits have achieved in recent years, and gin varieties are evolving as gin becomes more accessible, and both independent and large distillers bring new innovations to the fore.
The following collection of the top 15 best gin drinks to try in 2021 mix and match a whole host of kick ass variations of popular cocktails. I’ve also matched many of the cocktails and mixers below with our list of 21 gins to try so you can work on augmenting your ingredients and flavors to build the best option for your palate.
See more about - The Top 21 Best Gin Brands to Try in 2021
- Gin and Tonic
You can’t have a best gin drinks article without the simplest and most refreshing mixer. The key to a great gin and tonic recipe is to balance the bitterness of tonic against the gin. Your choice of gin can have a real effect. Choosing a flavored or pink gin usually adds sweetness and color, dry gin is crisp and clean against the tonic, where a botanical gin brings out the juniper and herbal infusion. And don’t skimp on the tonic, let the bubbles fly free! Ingredients
3 ounces gin (we recommend Beefeater pink gin for theater) 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice 4 ounces (1/2 cup) tonic water Ice
Garnish: Lime wedge or slice Instructions Fill a highball glass with ice. Add gin and lime juice then fill with tonic water. Garnish with lime wedge or slice.
See more about - The Top 21 Best Gin Brands to Try in 2021
1. Gin and Tonic
You can’t have a best gin drinks article without the simplest and most refreshing mixer. The key to a great gin and tonic recipe is to balance the bitterness of tonic against the gin.
Your choice of gin can have a real effect. Choosing a flavored or pink gin usually adds sweetness and color, dry gin is crisp and clean against the tonic, where a botanical gin brings out the juniper and herbal infusion.
And don’t skimp on the tonic, let the bubbles fly free!
Ingredients
- 3 ounces gin (we recommend Beefeater pink gin for theater)
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
- 4 ounces (1/2 cup) tonic water
- Ice
Garnish: Lime wedge or slice
Instructions
Fill a highball glass with ice. Add gin and lime juice then fill with tonic water. Garnish with lime wedge or slice.
- Corpse Reviver No. 2
Sign me up for this. As a parent with two small boys under five, I could probably enjoy this ‘hangover cure’ most mornings for breakfast. I asked my mother-in-law about this cocktail given her love of gin, and she responded with the following text: “I had a Corpse Reviver at a bar in Adelaide one night, and to this day I can’t remember any of it.” The wild card in this classic cocktail is absinthe, which can be hard to get your hands on depending where you are, but it’s well worth getting hold of! Ingredients
1 Ounce gin (Plymouth gin is good fun and has a bit more depth than dry gin) 1 Ounce Cointreau 1 Ounce Lillet Blanc 1 Ounce lemon juice 1 dash absinthe Ice
Garnish: Orange peel
2. Corpse Reviver No. 2
Sign me up for this. As a parent with two small boys under five, I could probably enjoy this ‘hangover cure’ most mornings for breakfast.
I asked my mother-in-law about this cocktail given her love of gin, and she responded with the following text: “I had a Corpse Reviver at a bar in Adelaide one night, and to this day I can’t remember any of it.”
The wild card in this classic cocktail is absinthe, which can be hard to get your hands on depending where you are, but it’s well worth getting hold of!
- 1 Ounce gin (Plymouth gin is good fun and has a bit more depth than dry gin)
- 1 Ounce Cointreau
- 1 Ounce Lillet Blanc
- 1 Ounce lemon juice
- 1 dash absinthe
- Ice
Garnish: Orange peel
Instructions Add gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, lemon juice, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake to blend. Add a dash of absinth to a glass. Strain drink into glass. Garnish with an orange peel and serve 3. Tom Cat Gin Tom Collins
The Tom Collins was invented by a London bartender named John Collins who used Old Tom Gin to make the cocktail, which is sweeter than botanical gin, but not as sweet as Dutch Genever. A Tom Collins is like the Gin Fizz, except tastes a bit sweeter in the glass. Gin was outlawed in the UK by the Spirits Act of 1750, which caused defiant pub owners to hang a wooden plaque shaped like a black cat to inform the passerby of the spirit’s availability. The gin lover would deposit coins into the cat’s mouth, then a bartender would pour a ration of Old Tom gin through a tube between the cat’s paws. Ingredients
2 ounces gin (I recommend Barr Hill Old Tom Cat Gin) 2/3 ounce lemon juice ½ ounce sugar syrup Soda water Ice
Garnish: Lemon peel, Maraschino cherry Instructions Add gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup to an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake well to blend, then strain into an ice-filled Collins glass. Top with soda water and garnish with a maraschino cherry and lemon wedge.
Add gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, lemon juice, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake to blend. Add a dash of absinth to a glass. Strain drink into glass. Garnish with an orange peel and serve
3. Tom Cat Gin Tom Collins
The Tom Collins was invented by a London bartender named John Collins who used Old Tom Gin to make the cocktail, which is sweeter than botanical gin, but not as sweet as Dutch Genever. A Tom Collins is like the Gin Fizz, except tastes a bit sweeter in the glass.
Gin was outlawed in the UK by the Spirits Act of 1750, which caused defiant pub owners to hang a wooden plaque shaped like a black cat to inform the passerby of the spirit’s availability.
The gin lover would deposit coins into the cat’s mouth, then a bartender would pour a ration of Old Tom gin through a tube between the cat’s paws.
- 2 ounces gin (I recommend Barr Hill Old Tom Cat Gin)
- 2/3 ounce lemon juice
- ½ ounce sugar syrup
- Soda water
- Ice
Garnish: Lemon peel, Maraschino cherry
Add gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup to an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake well to blend, then strain into an ice-filled Collins glass. Top with soda water and garnish with a maraschino cherry and lemon wedge.
- Classic Gibson Cocktail
A Gibson is a dry gin martini garnished with a cocktail onion instead of an olive or lemon rind. There are some people out there that would discount it immediately, although the Gibson’s earthiness can taste fantastic in a well crafted drink. Ingredients
2 1/2 ounces gin (Try it with Monkey 47 Schwarzwald gin) 1/2 ounce dry Vermouth Ice
Garnish: 1 – 3 cocktail onions Instructions Add the ingredients to a mixing glass full of ice and stir. If you’re a British MI6 agent with a license to thrill, then stick it all in a shaker and fill your boots. Pour strained into a martini glass then garnish with the cocktail onions and serve.
4. Classic Gibson Cocktail
A Gibson is a dry gin martini garnished with a cocktail onion instead of an olive or lemon rind. There are some people out there that would discount it immediately, although the Gibson’s earthiness can taste fantastic in a well crafted drink.
- 2 1/2 ounces gin (Try it with Monkey 47 Schwarzwald gin)
- 1/2 ounce dry Vermouth
- Ice
Garnish: 1 – 3 cocktail onions
Add the ingredients to a mixing glass full of ice and stir. If you’re a British MI6 agent with a license to thrill, then stick it all in a shaker and fill your boots. Pour strained into a martini glass then garnish with the cocktail onions and serve.
- Southside Gin Cocktail
Originally hailing from the south of Chicago, the Southside cocktail was allegedly a favorite of gangster Al Capone during Prohibition. There are two popular versions for the modern gin lover: the classic southside cocktail as laid out below, and the Southside Fizz which adds soda water to the mix. Ingredients
2 oz Gin (I recommend the Botanist Islay Dry Gin) 1 oz Fresh lemon juice 5 Mint leaves 1 oz Simple syrup Ice
Garnish: Mint sprig, Lemon slice Instructions First, gently muddle the mint and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, then add remaining ingredients and shake/stir. Strain into a chilled Martini glass then garnish with a mint sprig and lemon twist before serving.
5. Southside Gin Cocktail
Originally hailing from the south of Chicago, the Southside cocktail was allegedly a favorite of gangster Al Capone during Prohibition. There are two popular versions for the modern gin lover: the classic southside cocktail as laid out below, and the Southside Fizz which adds soda water to the mix.
- 2 oz Gin (I recommend the Botanist Islay Dry Gin)
- 1 oz Fresh lemon juice
- 5 Mint leaves
- 1 oz Simple syrup
- Ice
Garnish: Mint sprig, Lemon slice
First, gently muddle the mint and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, then add remaining ingredients and shake/stir. Strain into a chilled Martini glass then garnish with a mint sprig and lemon twist before serving.
- Negroni
An absolute banger from Italy, the classic Negroni gin cocktail is considered an Aperitif. An aperitif is an alcoholic beverage usually served before a meal to stimulate the appetite and is therefore usually dry rather than sweet. The Negroni is simple, fun to drink, and looks mint served in an old-fashioned whiskey glass. Ingredients
1 ounce gin (use Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin) 1 ounce Campari 1 ounce sweet vermouth Ice
Garnish: Orange peel Instructions Add the gin, Campari and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with large ice cubes. Garnish with an orange peel and serve.
6. Negroni
An absolute banger from Italy, the classic Negroni gin cocktail is considered an Aperitif. An aperitif is an alcoholic beverage usually served before a meal to stimulate the appetite and is therefore usually dry rather than sweet. The Negroni is simple, fun to drink, and looks mint served in an old-fashioned whiskey glass.
- 1 ounce gin (use Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin)
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- Ice
Add the gin, Campari and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with large ice cubes. Garnish with an orange peel and serve.
- Classic Gin Fizz
The classic fizz is an easy to make and refreshing gin drink that can take on a different personality by substituting lime juice for lemon. A gin fizz has a very light, sour citrus flavor that allows botanical gin to flourish, supported by the crispness of soda. Ingredients
2 ounces gin (I recommend Hendrick’s gin for flavor) 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice (can be substituted for lime juice) 3/4 ounce simple syrup 2 ounces soda water Ice
Garnish: lemon wedge Optional: Egg white (it makes the cocktail frothier and gives it some more body) Instructions Gather your ingredients together, leaving aside some soda water. Place into a cocktail shaker pre-filled with ice. Shake thoroughly until mixed (go nuts shaking if you use egg white, it needs to be well blended) Strain contents into a highball glass then fill with remaining soda water to taste. Stir lightly, garnish with a fresh lemon wedge then serve.
7. Classic Gin Fizz
The classic fizz is an easy to make and refreshing gin drink that can take on a different personality by substituting lime juice for lemon. A gin fizz has a very light, sour citrus flavor that allows botanical gin to flourish, supported by the crispness of soda.
- 2 ounces gin (I recommend Hendrick’s gin for flavor)
- 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice (can be substituted for lime juice)
- 3/4 ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces soda water
- Ice
Garnish: lemon wedge
Optional: Egg white (it makes the cocktail frothier and gives it some more body)
Gather your ingredients together, leaving aside some soda water. Place into a cocktail shaker pre-filled with ice. Shake thoroughly until mixed (go nuts shaking if you use egg white, it needs to be well blended)
Strain contents into a highball glass then fill with remaining soda water to taste. Stir lightly, garnish with a fresh lemon wedge then serve.
- Gin Martini
The Martini is a classic cocktail made with gin and vermouth. While it may be a simple cocktail recipe it needs to be executed cleanly to really shine, and getting it wrong could spell disaster for a date or night out Ingredients
3 ounces gin (I recommend Aviation Gin) ½ ounce dry vermouth Ice
Garnish: 1 lemon twist or 3 olives skewered on a cocktail pick Instructions Add the ingredients to a mixing glass full of ice and stir. Pour strained mix into a martini glass then garnish with the lemon or olives and serve.
8. Gin Martini
The Martini is a classic cocktail made with gin and vermouth. While it may be a simple cocktail recipe it needs to be executed cleanly to really shine, and getting it wrong could spell disaster for a date or night out
- 3 ounces gin (I recommend Aviation Gin)
- ½ ounce dry vermouth
- Ice
Garnish: 1 lemon twist or 3 olives skewered on a cocktail pick
Add the ingredients to a mixing glass full of ice and stir. Pour strained mix into a martini glass then garnish with the lemon or olives and serve.
- Singapore Sling
The Singapore sling is a classic cocktail developed in the early 20th century by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, who was working at the Long Bar in the famous Raffles Hotel. If you ever get the opportunity to put in some drinking time at Raffles, make sure you block out at least an evening, and have plenty of pace on your credit card (drinking in Singapore is very expensive, but lots of fun). Ingredients
5 ounces gin (I recommend Few Barrel Aged Gin) ½ ounce cherry heering 1/3 ounce Cointreau 1/3 ounce Dom Benedictine 4 ounces pineapple juice ½ ounce fresh lime juice Splash of grenadine Splash of Angostura Bitters Ice
Garnish: Maraschino cherries, Pineapple wedge Instructions Add gin, cherry heering, Cointreau, Dom Benedictine, pineapple juice, lime juice, grenadine, and Angostura bitters to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake the drink like your life depends on it, and then strain mixture into a tall glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and pineapple wedge then serve.
9. Singapore Sling
The Singapore sling is a classic cocktail developed in the early 20th century by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, who was working at the Long Bar in the famous Raffles Hotel. If you ever get the opportunity to put in some drinking time at Raffles, make sure you block out at least an evening, and have plenty of pace on your credit card (drinking in Singapore is very expensive, but lots of fun).
- 5 ounces gin (I recommend Few Barrel Aged Gin)
- ½ ounce cherry heering
- 1/3 ounce Cointreau
- 1/3 ounce Dom Benedictine
- 4 ounces pineapple juice
- ½ ounce fresh lime juice
- Splash of grenadine
- Splash of Angostura Bitters
- Ice
Garnish: Maraschino cherries, Pineapple wedge
Add gin, cherry heering, Cointreau, Dom Benedictine, pineapple juice, lime juice, grenadine, and Angostura bitters to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake the drink like your life depends on it, and then strain mixture into a tall glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and pineapple wedge then serve.
- The Vesper
The Vesper classic gin cocktail, or vesper Martini, was created by James Bond author Ian Fleming in the early 1950’s when it appeared in his novel Casino Royale. In the classic spy novel, Bond tells a bartender to shake the cocktail, however I’ll yield to the technical expertise of modern bartenders who recommended stirring the Vesper for maximum effect. Ingredients
3 ounces gin (I recommend Cotswold’s Dry Gin) 1 ounce vodka 1/2 ounce Lillet blanc aperitif Ice
Garnish: Lemon rind twist Instructions Add the gin, vodka and Lillet blanc into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass (or highball if you prefer). Add the lemon twist to the drink, but make sure to rub the twist along the rim of the glass before dropping it into the cocktail.
10. The Vesper
The Vesper classic gin cocktail, or vesper Martini, was created by James Bond author Ian Fleming in the early 1950’s when it appeared in his novel Casino Royale. In the classic spy novel, Bond tells a bartender to shake the cocktail, however I’ll yield to the technical expertise of modern bartenders who recommended stirring the Vesper for maximum effect.
- 3 ounces gin (I recommend Cotswold’s Dry Gin)
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1/2 ounce Lillet blanc aperitif
- Ice
Garnish: Lemon rind twist
Add the gin, vodka and Lillet blanc into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass (or highball if you prefer). Add the lemon twist to the drink, but make sure to rub the twist along the rim of the glass before dropping it into the cocktail.
- Gimlet
My man Snoop rapped about sipping on gin and juice when I was young fella, and that’s how it will always be for me (let’s face it, gimlet would just sound weird when you’re laying down bars). A gimlet is a classic gin mixer that’s simple, easy and tasty, no matter the quality of your gin, or the quantity of your juice. Ingredients
2 Ounce gin (For gin and juice it must be Tanqueray Dry Gin) 2/3 ounce lime juice (If you want to take a risk switch for grapefruit juice) A splash of sugar syrup Ice
Garnish: Lime twist Instructions Add gin, lime juice, sugar syrup, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake to blend, and then strain into an old-fashioned glass or mason jar. Garnish with a lime twist and then serve.
11. Gimlet
My man Snoop rapped about sipping on gin and juice when I was young fella, and that’s how it will always be for me (let’s face it, gimlet would just sound weird when you’re laying down bars).
A gimlet is a classic gin mixer that’s simple, easy and tasty, no matter the quality of your gin, or the quantity of your juice.
- 2 Ounce gin (For gin and juice it must be Tanqueray Dry Gin)
- 2/3 ounce lime juice (If you want to take a risk switch for grapefruit juice)
- A splash of sugar syrup
- Ice
Garnish: Lime twist
Instructions
Add gin, lime juice, sugar syrup, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake to blend, and then strain into an old-fashioned glass or mason jar. Garnish with a lime twist and then serve.
- Bronx Cocktail
Look, a Bronx cocktail is just a different martini gin cocktail recipe with some orange juice thrown in for its restorative powers (there’s no olives either). As a gin lover and juice destroyer, this appeals to me more than the classic, extremely dry martini, and when drawn up fresh glows brightly in the glass. Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces gin (Try it with Drumshanbo Irish Gunpowder gin) 1/4 ounce dry vermouth 1/4 ounce sweet vermouth 3/4 ounce orange juice
Garnish: Orange slice or rind Instructions Shake the gin, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth and orange juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain the shaker’s cocktail mix into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a slice of sweet orange then serve.
12. Bronx Cocktail
Look, a Bronx cocktail is just a different martini gin cocktail recipe with some orange juice thrown in for its restorative powers (there’s no olives either). As a gin lover and juice destroyer, this appeals to me more than the classic, extremely dry martini, and when drawn up fresh glows brightly in the glass.
- 1 1/2 ounces gin (Try it with Drumshanbo Irish Gunpowder gin)
- 1/4 ounce dry vermouth
- 1/4 ounce sweet vermouth
- 3/4 ounce orange juice
Garnish: Orange slice or rind
Shake the gin, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth and orange juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain the shaker’s cocktail mix into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a slice of sweet orange then serve.
- The Gin Sour (Gin and Bitters)
The Gin Sour is a tart cocktail that goes heavy on the gin and is almost guaranteed to make you wince. The cocktail recipe is simple, but there’s some great options to either fortify the alcohol or to level out the gin and make it smoother. Ingredients
2 ounces gin (I recommend Dryhook Ginsmiths Dry Gin) ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice ¾ ounce simple syrup ½ ounce egg white Splash of bitters Ice
Garnish: Maraschino cherry, lemon twist Instructions Combine your ingredients in a mixing glass, along with plenty of ice. Shake thoroughly to make sure the egg white is mixed in, then strain mixture into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist and Maraschino cherry.
13. The Gin Sour (Gin and Bitters)
The Gin Sour is a tart cocktail that goes heavy on the gin and is almost guaranteed to make you wince. The cocktail recipe is simple, but there’s some great options to either fortify the alcohol or to level out the gin and make it smoother.
- 2 ounces gin (I recommend Dryhook Ginsmiths Dry Gin)
- ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- ½ ounce egg white
- Splash of bitters
- Ice
Garnish: Maraschino cherry, lemon twist
Combine your ingredients in a mixing glass, along with plenty of ice. Shake thoroughly to make sure the egg white is mixed in, then strain mixture into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist and Maraschino cherry.
- Elderflower Aviation Gin Cocktail
Adding floral flavor to the traditional Aviation cocktail cuts down the tartness of the lemon juice-based mixer and works well with the Maraschino liqueur. Elderflower is sweet and friendly and works brilliantly with beautifully herbal botanical gins. You can crank up the lemon content but playing with the floral aspect really makes it a great tasting twist on a classic gine cocktail recipe. Ingredients
5 Oz. Gin (I recommend a ‘fruitier’ gin such as Gin Mare) ¾ Oz. Lemon juice ½ Oz. Maraschino liqueur ½ Oz Elderflower liquor Ice
Garnish: Luxardo cherry, Lemon twist Instructions Chill a cocktail glass. Throw some ice into a shaker, add the gin, Elderflower, maraschino, lemon juice, and bitters. Shake to thoroughly combine and chill then strain into the cocktail glass. Rub the rim with the lemon and garnish with the Luxardo cherry.
14. Elderflower Aviation Gin Cocktail
Adding floral flavor to the traditional Aviation cocktail cuts down the tartness of the lemon juice-based mixer and works well with the Maraschino liqueur. Elderflower is sweet and friendly and works brilliantly with beautifully herbal botanical gins.
You can crank up the lemon content but playing with the floral aspect really makes it a great tasting twist on a classic gine cocktail recipe.
- 5 Oz. Gin (I recommend a ‘fruitier’ gin such as Gin Mare)
- ¾ Oz. Lemon juice
- ½ Oz. Maraschino liqueur
- ½ Oz Elderflower liquor
- Ice
Garnish: Luxardo cherry, Lemon twist
Chill a cocktail glass. Throw some ice into a shaker, add the gin, Elderflower, maraschino, lemon juice, and bitters. Shake to thoroughly combine and chill then strain into the cocktail glass. Rub the rim with the lemon and garnish with the Luxardo cherry.
- Sloe Gin Blackthorn Cocktail
Sloe gin differs from classic gin as it uses sloe fruit from the blackcurrant plant rather than juniper berries and comes with a lower % ABV. It’s generally sweeter, and interesting to deploy into a range of cocktails. Ingredients
2 oz sloe gin (I recommend Sipsmith’s Sloe Gin) 1 oz sweet vermouth 1 dash Angostura bitters Ice
Garnish: Lemon rind Instructions Fill a mixing glass or shaker tin with ice and add the sloe gin, vermouth, and bitters. Stir well until very cold then strain into a chilled cocktail glass or highball. Squeeze some lemon rind over the top and drop the peel into the drink and serve.
15. Sloe Gin Blackthorn Cocktail
Sloe gin differs from classic gin as it uses sloe fruit from the blackcurrant plant rather than juniper berries and comes with a lower % ABV. It’s generally sweeter, and interesting to deploy into a range of cocktails.
- 2 oz sloe gin (I recommend Sipsmith’s Sloe Gin)
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- Ice
Garnish: Lemon rind
Fill a mixing glass or shaker tin with ice and add the sloe gin, vermouth, and bitters. Stir well until very cold then strain into a chilled cocktail glass or highball. Squeeze some lemon rind over the top and drop the peel into the drink and serve.
