Try these top gin cocktails, from classic recipes like the Gin Fizz and French 75 to modern favorites like the Gin Gin Mule. Each recipe features step-by-step instructions and expert tips!
Looking for drinks to make with gin? As a cocktail expert and certified mixologist, I’ve created over 300 cocktail recipes and some of my favorite drinks of all time are made with gin.
I’ve made every gin cocktail imaginable, from the Gin Fizz to the Last Word, and what I love about this spirit the way its botanical flavor adds refreshing, nuanced character to drinks. I’ve reviewed all my recipes and here’s a list of the very best gin cocktails that impress people every time I serve them.
My Top Gin Cocktails & Drinks
One of the most classic of all gin drinks is the Gin Fizz! It's perfectly balanced, both sweet and tart, with a frothy egg white foam topping. You'll need a short list of ingredients: gin, lime juice, simple syrup, soda water, and an egg white.
What’s a more classic gin cocktail than the Gin and Tonic? Its crisp, botanical flavor is straightforward yet intriguing: a feat using only 2 ingredients! It’s no wonder that this is one of the world’s popular easy cocktails.
Here’s a gin cocktail that takes only 5 minutes to whip up: the gin gimlet! This drink became popular in the 1950's, and it's the perfect balance of sweet tart against the botanical flavor of gin. All you need is 3 ingredients to whip up this classic. Also try my French Gimlet or Basil Gimlet.
The Tom Collins is a tall highball drink that's a classic gin sour, a sweet and sour drink made with gin and lemon juice. It’s refreshing, bubbly, and makes any evening more fun. This classic cocktail always impresses.
Named after a World War I artillery gun, the French 75 packs a punch with gin, lemon, and champagne. This sparkling cocktail feels fancy enough for New Year's Eve but simple enough to make anytime.
Here's a classic gin drink that's one of the most popular cocktails out there: the Negroni! The bright red of the Campari makes for a stunning jewel-tone statement of a drink. This three ingredient cocktail is easy to make and memorize: it uses one ounce each of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
Here’s a classic gin cocktail that’s refreshing and sweet tart: the Bees Knees! It’s got a fun 1920’s name and a smooth flavor to match. Making simple syrup with honey instead of refined sugar adds a rich depth to cocktails.
A Southside is a classic gin cocktail made with mint, lemon, lime, and gin. It's similar to a Mojito with gin, with a bold and herbaceous flavor. The oldest known printed recipe called “Southside” was from 1917, so it's got decades of history.
Here’s a fun gin cocktail that steals the show: the Clover Club, a bright pink drink that stems back before Prohibition. Sweet raspberry or grenadine syrup combine with zingy lemon and gin to make a balanced sweet tart drink. A classic egg white foam gives a creamy body and frothy texture to each sip.
Here’s a classic gin cocktail that's one of my personal favorites: the Corpse Reviver No 2! It’s a classic gin sour cocktail that’s tart and zingy from lemon juice and orange liqueur, with a hint of licorice on the finish from absinthe. Everyone always loves it when I serve this one!
It’s tall, it’s bubbly, and it’s effortless to make: the Gin Rickey! This classic cocktail was born in the 1880s and has been popular ever since. It’s tangy, bubbly, and irresistibly delicious. Also try my Cherry Lime Rickey or Raspberry Lime Rickey.
Considered a modern classic cocktail, the Gin Gin mule is a mashup of the mule and minty Mojito. The bubbly ginger beer and fresh lime juice of a mule are balanced by the fresh mint and sweetness of a Mojito.
This gin cocktail’s got a unique name and a beautiful pale pink color: the Greyhound! Grapefruit juice and gin make a tangy and refreshing cocktail that's perfect as a brunch drink or for happy hour.
The classic martini is one of the most iconic cocktails of all time. With one sip it announces itself: crisp, cool, searing, and spirit-forward. It’s seeped in tradition and has loads of variations and spin-offs. Also try a Dirty Martini or the Gibson.
The Gin Basil Smash is a modern spin on the Whiskey Smash that's light and herbaceous, pairing peppery basil with botanical gin. It's refreshing, fun, and goes down easy.
Here’s a gin cocktail for the adventurous home bartender. This pale green gin sour is a classic cocktail that was all but lost to history. But with the revival of cocktail culture, the Last Word has come back strong! It’s equal parts tangy, sweet and sour.
The Pegu Club is a classic 1920’s gin cocktail that was invented at, as the name suggests, the Pegu Club. This boozy drink is sophisticated and refreshing, with a citrus and herbal finish. It’s surprisingly balanced and not too sweet.
Here’s a cocktail with a long history: the Gin Sour! It’s the lesser known relative to sours like the Whiskey Sour and Amaretto Sour. But the Gin Sour is just as tasty as its cousins: it’s smooth and balanced, with floral notes from the gin.
The Salty Dog has a fun name and a beautiful pale pink color, pairing gin and grapefruit juice with simple syrup. It’s tangy and refreshing, perfect as a brunch drink or for happy hour.
This smooth, citrus-forward classic gin drink is clear and crisp, with a refreshing flavor and a frothy egg white foam topping. It's a 1920's cocktail that's classy and perfect as a signature drink or just sipping on the porch.
Here’s a gin spin on a classic: the Red Snapper, essentially a classic Bloody Mary with gin. Switching out the vodka leads to a whole new drink: savory, spicy, tangy, spicy, with a subtle botanical finish.
For an over-the-top impressive classic gin cocktail, try the Ramos Gin Fizz! The impossibly tall frothy topping and tangy burst of lime, lemon and orange blossom water makes it taste just like a lemon meringue pie.
One of my favorite refreshing gin cocktails is the Southside Fizz! A relative of the Southside, this gin cocktail features bright citrus, herbaceous mint, and fizzy soda water. It's like a mashup of a Tom Collins and a Mojito.
The Bramble has a sweet name and is full of tangy, fruity and sophisticated flavors. This refreshing drink uses a special blackberry liqueur called crème de mûre and is served over crushed ice.
The Vesper Martini is a gin cocktail invented by James Bond in the 1953 book Casino Royale, and it lives on today! The key ingredient is Lillet Blanc, a lightly sweet, vaguely floral fortified wine that brings life and personality into this drink.
For an impressive gin cocktail that’s fruity and refreshing, try a Singapore Sling! It's for the adventurous drinker because it calls for a whopping 8 ingredients. The combination of fruity, sweet tart and bubbly is intriguingly complex and just plain fun.
Here’s a fun highball gin cocktail to try: the Finnish Long Drink! This concoction of gin and grapefruit soda was invented in Finland in the 1950’s. This homemade spin is easy to make and so fizzy, sweet tart and refreshing.
Gin and lemon are a natural cocktail pairing featured in many classic drinks, like the Tom Collins, Gin Fizz, and French 75. Mixing gin with lemonade is a 2 ingredient cocktail shortcut to those flavors!
Last up, this light, bubbly classic gin cocktail has flown under the radar for years: it's a pink drink inspired by a Broadway show that dates back to the early 1900’s. It’s a unique drink that pairs gin with raspberry syrup, lime, gin, and the spicy kick of ginger beer.
Want gin cocktails by skill lever or season? Try our simple gin cocktails, summer gin cocktails or winter gin cocktails.
Choosing Gin for These Cocktails
Gin is one of the more varied liquors out there, with lots of differences in flavor between top brands. The best choice is a gin you love, but here some of our recommendations:
- Malfy, Aviation, and Beefeater London Dry have a developed, botanical flavor that blends well in cocktails.
- Locally distilled gin is a great option! In Indianapolis, we like 8th Day Distillery, Hotel Tango, and Big Heart Gin.
- Steer clear of strong flavored sipping gins in cocktails. For us this includes brands like Tanqueray gin, which is very floral, and Opihr gin has very forward spices. These overpower the subtlety in many mixed drinks.
Gin Drinks by Skill Level
Our top beginner-friendly gin cocktails the Gin and Tonic, Gimlet, Tom Collins, or Gin Gin Mule. Our top adventurous gin cocktails for experienced palates are the Ramos Gin Fizz, Singapore Sling, or Last Word.
Gin Cocktails For Beginners: If you’re new to making cocktails at home, start with the Gin and Tonic, Gimlet, Tom Collins, or Gin Gin Mule. These require minimal ingredients and simple techniques: no special equipment needed beyond a shaker and measuring tools.
For Adventurous Palates: Once you’ve mastered the basics, try drinks like the Ramos Gin Fizz, Singapore Sling, or Last Word. These recipes demand more ingredients and sometimes special techniques like dry shaking for foam.
Make Ahead Tips for Parties
Several of these gin cocktails work well for batch preparation. Spirit-forward drinks like the Negroni or Martinez scale up perfectly: just multiply the recipe, combine everything except ice in a pitcher, and refrigerate. When guests arrive, pour over ice and garnish.
A classic Gin and Tonic is an obvious choice for a party. I like setting up a G&T bar with garnishes like sliced cucumber, orange peels, lemon wedges, and even dill fronds.
For fizzy cocktails like the French 75, prepare the base (everything except champagne) ahead of time. Add the bubbles right before serving to maintain carbonation.
Frequently Asked Questions
A classic Malfy, Aviation, or Beefeater London Dry are versatile choices for most gin cocktails. We typically avoid very strong gins like Tanqueray and Opihr gin. However, you can explore other styles like juniper-forward gins or citrusy gins depending on your taste preference.
High-quality ingredients are key. Use fresh citrus juices, good quality gin, and appropriate ratios as per the recipe. A well-chosen garnish can elevate the flavor and presentation, from citrus twists to fresh herbs.
It depends on the recipe. Simple syrups can be swapped with pure maple syrup (our favorite), honey syrup, or agave nectar. Experiment cautiously, but remember some substitutions might alter the taste profile significantly.
Pre-squeeze citrus juices and prepare simple syrups in advance. See the notes in the “Make Ahead Tips” section above. Make sure to assemble and serve cocktails right before drinking for the freshest flavors and perfect carbonation if using sparkling ingredients.
Gin Fizz (& More Gin Cocktails)
Pin Recipe
Print RecipeLooking for the best gin cocktail recipe? Try a refreshing Gin Fizz: it’s sweet, tangy, and has a frothy egg white foam topping.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 drinks
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- ½ cup gin
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or simple syrup
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice (1 lemon)
- 1 egg white (or for vegan, substitute 2 tablespoons aquafaba)
- ¼ cup soda water
Instructions
- Place the gin, maple syrup, lemon juice, and egg white in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and shake.
- Pour the drink into two glasses and top with the soda water, which forms the egg white foam on top. Serve immediately.
from A Couple Cooks https://ift.tt/xjW4ofe
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