What’s the best way to drin Gin you ask? Well, it’s really up to you! But to guide you along your Gin journey, we put together a list of 15 essential Gin cocktails. We compiled recipes from pre-Prohibition classics to modern favorites. If you’re looking to learn more about how this spirit is made and the different styles of Gin, check out our Gin spirits guide.
Gin Martini
Probably the most iconic cocktail of all time and it’s made with just three simple ingredients: Gin, Dry Vermouth, and a couple of dashes of orange bitters. Stir with ice, strain into a glass, and garnish with a lemon twist.
Of course, there is a world of variations on this classic libation. Stirred or shaken, Gin or Vodka, up or on the rocks, and don’t forget, garnished with a twist, olives (perhaps stuffed with blue cheese?), or a pickled onion (a cocktail of its own name, the Gibson). Give this classic recipe a try if you never have or stick with your favorite variation.
Gin & Tonic
Gin & Tonic, G-and-T, GinTonic – probably the easiest of Gin cocktails with just two ingredients: tonic water and Gin. Garnish with lime and you are good to go. But there’s more to this simple cocktail.
Crafting a Gin and Tonic can be an art. From the type of tonic water to the style of Gin, the ingredients you choose to make your cocktail can have a big influence on the final drink. Tonic is the larger of the two components in this cocktail, so find a tonic you really enjoy to make this cocktail shine.
Gin Fizz
Don’t let the inclusion of egg whites scare you away from this Gin drink. Gin and lemon juice are the key flavors of this classic cocktail. Introduced in the late 1800s, this fizz cocktail includes Gin, egg white, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda. Give the egg white a try – if it is still not your thing, it is perfectly acceptable to leave it out of this cocktail recipe.
Have you heard of a Ramos Gin Fizz? This native New Orleans recipe adds lime juice, cream, and orange flower water to create an even creamier, frothier cocktail.
Bees Knees
Yet another drink that dates its origins back to the Prohibition era. If you like honey and lemon, this is a drink for you. Named after the popular turn of phrase, “bee’s knees,” meaning outstanding, if sour drinks are your thing, then the Bees Knees is for you. A twist on a classic Gin sour, honey replaces sugar and is combined with lemon and Gin.
Mixologist Tip:
Making honey syrup is easy. Just combine equal parts of honey and water in a saucepan and heat until the honey is dissolved into the water. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Negroni
Easy to remember and easy to make — stir together equal parts, Gin, Campari (an iconic Italian aperitif with bitter orange flavors), and Sweet Vermouth. Strain and serve on the rocks or with one large ice cube. It’s the perfect pre-dinner cocktail that will stimulate your appetite.
Try a twist on the classic recipe with a Negroni Bianco. Swap out Campari for bitter bianco aperitivo and Sweet Vermouth for Dry Vermouth. Garnish with a twist of grapefruit.
Tom Collins
Another classic recipe to have in your repertoire. The Tom Collins is essentially a Gin sour featuring Gin and lemon juice with a little simple syrup and topped with club soda. Serve it in a tall glass with lots of ice and garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry. It’s as refreshing as lemonade on a hot summer day.
Cucumber Collins
If you have a bottle of St. Germain and Gin sitting around, give this cocktail a go. A refreshing twist on the classic Tom Collins, this recipe swaps traditional Gin for cucumber gin (or Vodka), Elderflower Liqueur (such as St. Germain), lemon juice, and club soda. The Elderflower Liqueur replaces the simple syrup to give a touch of sweetness and floral aroma. The cucumber Gin takes the refreshing factor to another level with spa-like qualities.
Get the Cucumber Collins recipe
French 75
Champagne and Gin unite in this fizzy, fancy Prohibition-era cocktail. This effervescent drink combines Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and Champagne.
The name, French 75, comes from the fast-firing French field gun used in World War I, symbolizing the quick potency of this cocktail.
Vesper
Made famous by James Bond, the Vesper is a variation on the martini. This drink packs a punch and includes Gin and Vodka, plus Lillet Blanc aperitif. Despite Bond’s popular catchline, “shaken, not stirred,” a cocktail featuring all spirits is traditionally stirred in order to avoid "bruising" the spirit and create a smooth, silky mouthfeel.
Aviation
Before there was Ryan Reynolds’ Aviation Gin, there was the Aviation cocktail. This early 20th-century cocktail combines lemon juice, Maraschino liquor, Crème de Violette, and of course, Gin. The name comes from the iconic blue-violet hue acquired from the Crème de Violette — the same color you’d see flying in a plane above the clouds.
Gimlet
A Gimlet is another variation on the Gin sour. This zesty, citrus cocktail features just three simple ingredients you likely already have at home: Gin and lime juice, plus a little simple syrup. While the origin of the Gimlet is not completely known, it’s believed that this cocktail was created in the 18th century by British navy. Sailors drank citrus juices mixed with liquor (Gin or Rum) to prevent what we now know was scurvy.
Last Word
Created in 1915 at the Detriot Athletic Club, the Last Word is one of the most well-known Prohibition-era cocktails. It’s an herbaceous, refreshing Gin cocktail that packs a punch and is fairly simple to make. This cocktail features Maraschino Cherry Liqueur and Chartreuse — an herbal liquor made by Carthusian monks in France. It combines over 130 botanicals! There are two variations on Chartreuse: Green (the more potent of the two) and Yellow (a little milder but sweeter).
Hanky Panky
The Hanky Panky can be thought of as a sweet variation on the classic martini, featuring sweet vermouth and fernet (a bitter herbal elixir) garnished with an orange twist. The creator of this cocktail, Ada Coleman, was one of the very few female bartenders of the early 20th century. Coleman created this cocktail while working as the head bartender at The American Bar at the Savoy Hotel in London.
Clover Club
Named after a men’s club in Philadelphia in the late 19th century, the Clover Club has stuck around. This Pre-Prohibition cocktail is perfect for fans of raspberry and lemon. The tart, sweet flavor of raspberry syrup and citrus from lemon juice combine perfectly with the herbal aromas from Gin. Get your shaker ready — the addition of egg white creates a delicate foam top but requires a bit of shaking to emulsify.
Bijou
Named for its jewel-toned ingredients, Bijou means jewel in French. This cocktail features earthy, herbal flavors from the Chartreuse and Gin, accompanied by sweet vermouth and orange bitters. While not as popular as other cocktails from its era, this cocktail is worthy of a try.
If you want even more libations to test out, check out our full library of Gin cocktail recipes.
