The gin cocktail recipes you can’t live without

Gin is a fantastic ingredient to make cocktails with, thanks to its complex botanical flavors. The mix of juniper and other herbs, spices, or fruits used in gins make them delicious in a range of simple gin cocktails that anyone can make, but the spirit works equally well in more complex and classic cocktails.

If you’re mixing up whiskey cocktails or engineering tequila drinks, more power to you. We simply encourage you to embrace gin and not just as the ball and chain to tonic. No, a good gin can do wonders in a number of cocktails, bringing fresh, herbal flavors to the mix and working great with high-toned additions like citrus and other fresh fruit.

Here are some great recipes for gin cocktails, from classic finds plucked from dusty old bar books to new and improved riffs. Happy mixing!

Making the perfect gin and tonic

Before we get into the more complex ways to include gin in your cocktails, let’s start with the basics, the good old gin and tonic. It sounds simple, because the recipe is right there in the name, you might say, but there is more to making a perfect gin and tonic than dumping gin and tonic water in a glass with ice and calling it good. Here’s the method for making a perfect gin and tonic.

• Be sure to chill your gin in the freezer — the colder the gin, the better the drink.
• While you’re chilling the gin, chill the glasses in the freezer as well.
• Fill your glass with ice, using the biggest cubes possible
• Pour the gin over the ice and stir gently.
• Top with a quality tonic water to taste.
• Stir and add a twist of lemon or lime for a garnish.

Which gins to use for a gin and tonic

Given its simplicity as a drink, you might think you can use any old gin to make a gin and tonic. But in fact, quite the opposite is true — you want to use the best gin you can find for your gin and tonic. That’s because the simple nature of just having two ingredients will really highlight the flavors of the gin, for good or bad. If a gin is harsh and has unpleasant flavors, these will be amplified in a gin and tonic. But if it is smooth, with interesting botanicals, then you’ll be able to taste these even better when mixed with a little tonic water.

We’ve covered the best gins for a gin and tonic and the best tonic waters for a gin and tonic, so consult these lists for some ideas. Or see what gins are available locally to you, as there are small craft gin brands all over the world making great gins for you to try. Just don’t cheap and grab a bottom-shelf bottle of gin or you’re unlikely to enjoy your gin cocktails.

Now that we’ve shown you how to make the perfect gin and tonic, enjoy these other classic gin cocktail recipes.

Essential gin cocktail recipes

Tom Collins

Ingredients

• 5 ounces gin
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• Club soda to top
• A lemon slice to garnish

Method

1. In a Collins glass filled with ice, add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2. Top with club soda and stir.
3. Garnish with a lemon slice.

French 75

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of well-chilled sparkling wine
• 1 ounce gin
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• 1 bar spoon simple syrup
• Lemon twist to garnish

Method

1. Shake the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup together with ice, then strain into a glass (we suggest a champagne flute).
2. Top with sparkling wine, give it a quick stir, and then garnish with a twist of lemon (or something herbal).

Singapore Sling

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces gin
• 1/2 ounce Cherry Heering Liqueur
• 1/4 ounce Cointreau
• 1/4 ounce Benedictine
• 4 ounces pineapple juice
• 2/3 ounce grenadine
• 1/2 ounce lime juice
• 1 dash bitters
• Maraschino cherry to garnish
• Pineapple slice to garnish

Method

1. Shake liquid ingredients together with ice and strain them into an ice-filled Collins glass.
2. Garnish with a cherry and a pineapple slice.

Gimlet

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• 1 ounce Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice*
• Lime wedge to garnish

Method

1. Shake gin and sweetened lime juice and strain into a cocktail glass.
2. Garnish with a lime wedge.

*Alternatively, you can try using 1/2 ounce simple syrup and 1/2 ounce lime juice.

The Vesper

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• 1/2 ounce vodka
• 1/4 ounce Lillet-Blanc
• Lemon peel to garnish

Method

1. Shake liquid ingredients well with ice and pour into a cocktail glass.
2. Garnish with a lemon peel.

Negroni

Ingredients

• 1 ounce gin
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• 1 ounce Campari
• Orange to garnish

Method

1. Stir ingredients together over ice.
2. Garnish with an orange slice or twist.

Pomegranate martini

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 ounces The Botanist Islay Dry Gin
• 1 heaping tablespoon fresh pomegranate arils
• 1/2 ounce dry vermouth

Method

1. Muddle pomegranate arils with gin and allow it to steep for 1 to 2 hours.
2. Add the infused gin and vermouth to a mixing glass with ice and stir to chill.
3. Fine strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
4. Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme.

Corpse Reviver #2

Ingredients

• 3/4 ounce London dry gin
• 3/4 ounce Lillet blanc
• 3/4 ounce Cointreau
• 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 2 dashes absinthe

Method

1. Shake all ingredients with ice, double strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Limoncello Collins

Ingredients

• 2 ounces limoncello
• 1 1/2 ounces gin
• 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 3 thin lemon slices
• 2 ounces chilled club soda
• 1 mint sprig
• Ice

Method

1. In a separate container, combine the limoncello, gin, and lemon juice.
2. Press three thin lemon slices against the inside of the glass and add ice.
3. Stir the limoncello mixture and pour it into the glasses.
4. Stir 2 ounces of club soda into the drink and garnish with a mint sprig.

Pegu Club cocktail

Ingredients

• 2 ounces London dry gin
• 3/4 ounce Cointreau
• 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• 1 dash of house orange bitters*

*House orange bitters

1. Mix 1/3 ounce Fee Brothers West Indian orange bitters, 1/3 ounce Angostura orange bitters, and 1/3 ounce Regans’ orange bitters in a bowl and stir.
2. Transfer to a storage container and store at room temperature.

Method

1. Shake all ingredients with ice, then double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
2. Garnish with lime wedge.

The White Lady

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces Highclere Castle Gin
• 3/4 ounce Triple Sec
• 3/4 ounce lemon juice
• 1 egg white

Method

1. Mix the gin, triple sec, and lemon juice with the egg and shake for about 20 seconds to allow the egg to blend through.
2. Strain the mixture, add ice, and shake until cold.
3. Strain into a martini or coupe glass.

Martinez

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces Hayman’s Old Tom gin
• 1 1/2 ounces Carpano Antica
• 1 teaspoon Luxardo maraschino liqueur
• 2 dashes of House Orange Bitters (see above)

Method

1. Stir all ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.
2. Twist the lemon over the drink and set it on the edge of the glass.

Dean Martin

(By Devon Tarby and Alex Day)

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 ounces Tanqueray gin
• 1/4 ounce Clear Creek Douglas Fir Brandy
• 1/2 ounce La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Blanc
• 1/2 ounce Boissiere Dry Vermouth
• 1 drop salt solution*

*Salt solution

1. Combine 2 1/2 ounces of filtered water and 6 tsp of salt in a storage container and stir until salt dissolves.
2. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Method

1. Stir all ingredients over ice, then strain into a martini glass.

Ramos Gin Fizz

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
• 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• 1 ounce heavy cream
• 1 egg white
• 3 drops of orange flower water
• 2 ounces cold seltzer

Method

1. Dry shake all ingredients except seltzer.
2. Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake for 5 minutes.
3. Double strain into a pint glass.
4. Slowly add seltzer, tapping the glass to settle the foam.

The Last Word

Ingredients

• 3/4 ounce London dry gin
• 3/4 ounce Green Chartreuse
• 3/4 ounce Luxardo maraschino liqueur
• 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice

Method

1. Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Poet’s Dream

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Beefeater gin
• 3/4 ounce Dolin dry vermouth
• 1/4 ounce Bénédictine
• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters

Method

1. Stir all ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.
2. Twist a lemon over the drink and set it on glass as garnish.

Bees Knees (Texas style)

Ingredients

• 2 ounces The Naturalist Still Austin American Gin
• 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce honey syrup*

*Honey syrup

1. Add 1/2 cup of honey and 1/2 cup of water to a small saucepan over medium heat.
2. Stir until honey is dissolved.
3. Allow it to cool and then transfer it to an airtight container (refrigerate if not using).

Method

1. Combine ingredients and shake with ice until chilled.
2. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a lemon twist.