Gin Cocktail Recipes
Gin is one of those liquors whose reputation depends on who’s talking. Ever since the Dutch-born William of Orange became king of England in the late 17th century the genever he and his supporting cast brought with them across the Channel has had an uneasy relationship with both the average man in the street and the cognoscenti of the British Isles. Hailed on the one hand for its versatility and purity and railed against on the other hand for allegedly being the wellspring from which all vice in Britain originated, gin has had to navigate the minefield of societal inspection far more carefully than most other liquors, including its first cousin, vodka.
Today, however, we come not to bury Caesar, but to praise him because we’re calling BS on all that moral turpitude nonsense and celebrating 10 of the most amazing tasting gin cocktails you ever had the pleasure to go to hell for drinking. By the time we’re done with our recipe tour all you diehard gin skeptics out there are going to be reconsidering your resistance to this most British of Dutch beverages. So break out the cocktail glasses and ice cube trays and let’s get started.
1. The Classic Gin and Tonic
We start where many people’s familiarity with gin begins and ends: the Gin and Tonic. The Gin and Tonic is typically associated with the high sun and southern breezes of summertime but there’s no reason it can’t also be your go-to holiday cocktail as well. There are a lot of variations on the Gin and Tonic but we’re tipping out cap to tradition with our first list entry and sticking with the classic recipe. As you might imagine creating a classic G&T does not requires a doctorate in mixology, all you need is:
- 2 oz your favorite gin
- 5 oz tonic water
- Lime wedge for garnish
- Highball glass
Fill the glass with ice. Then add the gin and the tonic on top of it. Stir well and garnish. That’s it. Just remember the right way to drink a Gin and Tonic is to wait a minute or two to let the ice melt just a bit. This will help accentuate the nuances and create a more satisfying cocktail experience.
2. Gin Campari Sour
All the ingredients in this gin cocktail have a bit of bite to them. Yet when combined they become more than the sum of their bites, that is, more than the sum of their parts. They actually tend to cancel out each other’s more aggressive tendencies leaving in their place a harmonious taste sensation that will raise your eyebrows on the first sip. Those ingredients are gin, campari and lemon. And just to help smooth off the edges a bit and add some agreeable texture we’re going to add egg white. Here’s the full ingredient list:
- 1.5 oz your favorite gin
- 0.75 oz Campari
- 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 egg white
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- A splash of orange bitters
- Orange wedge to garnish
To make the Gin Campari Sour combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake until they are fully mixed. Then toss ice into the mix until the shaker is 3/4 full and shake again. This time vigorously, until the egg white creates a frothy texture. Strain the contents into a chilled coupe glass (martini glass will do in a pinch), garnish and enjoy. Those who like to drink will adore this cocktail.
3. The Singapore Sling
The Sling is another venerable gin cocktail that has a ton of variations that all somehow s00eem to work. No one is quite sure who invented this particular drink but origin stories aren’t always necessary to enjoy an outstanding cocktail. The challenge with the Singapore Sling is sifting through the myriad recipes to find one that really stands out from the crowd. After decades of research and hundreds of thousands of man hours (give or take a few decades and hundreds of thousands of man hours) we believe we’ve done that. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1.5 oz gin
- 4 oz pineapple juice
- 0.5 oz cherry heering
- 0.25 oz benedictine
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.25 oz (give or take) grenadine
- A splash of bitters
- Slice of pineapple to garnish
- 1 cherry
Combine everything (but the garnishes obviously) in a shaker. Add ice until 3/4 full. Cover and shake vigorously until thoroughly mixed. Strain into a chilled collins glass over ice. Garnish with pineapple and cherry. Serve and enjoy.
4. Gin Martini
This one really needs no introduction as it’s likely the most beloved gin cocktail with the possible exception of the G&T. Some like theirs shaken and others stirred but either way this is a big boy’s cocktail with few equals. Without a doubt one of the strong points of the Gin Martini is its bold simplicity. The only real variables are your proportional preferences and the above-mentioned choice of having it stirred or shaken (you could tell Bond was a rebel by his preference for shaken Martinis). To create the classic Gin Martini all you’ll need is:
- 2 oz chilled gin
- Dry Vermouth
- Olive
- Chilled Martini glass
Pour a bit of vermouth into the glass and swirl it around until the inside of the glass is coated then toss the excess. Fill a shaker with ice, pour in the gin and gently swirl it around (or shake it if you prefer). Then strain into the glass. Garnish with olive. Note: some prefer a lemon twist or cocktail onion garnish. It’s up to you.
5. Gimlet
While we’re on the subject of two-ingredient gin cocktails we can’t pass over the Gimlet. The Gimlet is often thought of as a warm weather alternative to the Martini. Although we see no reason why you can’t enjoy both year round. That said, the Gimlet can be remarkably refreshing on a hot summer day and is sure to be a hit at your 4th of July celebration. The simplicity of the Gimlet is its charm. So leave the chopping board where it is and just gather up the following:
- 2 oz gin
- 2 oz sweetened lime juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Ice
To create your Gimlet simply dip the rim of a chilled Martini glass into the sugar until it’s coated. Fill a shaker 3/4 of the way with ice. Pour in the gin and lime juice and shake vigorously. Pour the contents into the sugar-rimmed Martini glass and enjoy.
6. The Monkey Gland
The search for the perfect gin cocktail is the search for the perfect combination of flavors and few flavor combos can compare with gin and orange juice. Exactly how the combination of gin and OJ equals a gland from a primate is a mystery that will need to be left for another day. That said, if you like your cocktails to evoke the hazy, turgid atmosphere of early 20th century Picasso paintings you’re going to love the Monkey Gland. That’s because, while it gets its outstanding taste from the gin and OJ, it gets its edge from the splash of absinthe you’re going to toss in. Without the post-impressionists’ favorite liquor the Monkey Gland is a sporty little cocktail that will bring the smiles. With absinthe it’s a mysterious walk down a dark Parisian alley where the gaslights are low and the fog is thick. Here’s what you need:
- 1.5 oz gin
- 1 oz orange juice
- A splash of grenadine
- 2-3 drops of absinthe
Place all the ingredients in a shaker full of ice. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds then strain into a Martini glass and prepare to have your tastebuds transported back in time.
7. Negroni
The Negroni is considered by some to be an ideal pre-dinner cocktail and it’s easy to see why. Comprised of gin, Campari and sweet vermouth it does a great job stimulating the appetite. Just make sure you don’t get carried away by the taste and get over-stimulated. While Campari definitely has a bit of an edge to it it’s subsumed here to some extent by the sweet vermouth with the result being a delightfully balanced experience that’s the perfect prelude to your home cooked Italian meal. Here’s what you need:
- 1 oz gin
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz Sweet vermouth
- Orange twist for garnish
Pour the gin, Campari and vermouth into a chilled cocktail glass. Add ice and stir gently. Garnish with orange twist and enjoy.
8. Floradora
The Floradora languished in obscurity for a long time but has recently begun to receive some well-deserved attention. It brings together two of our favorite ingredients – gin and raspberry – and it has the kind of easy likeability that makes it the great unexpected hit of your party. Simple, unpretentious and tasty as hell the Floradora will have you singing its praises before the first one is done. Here’s what you need to make it happen:
- 1.5 oz your favorite gin
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.75 oz raspberry liqueur
- Ginger ale
- Lime wedge to garnish
Fill a highball glass with ice and add the gin, raspberry liqueur and lime juice. Stir gently. Top with ginger ale and garnish with lime wedge. Serve it at your next soiree and be prepared for the “Oh wow”s. To really make an impression try serving in a diamond glass.
9. Autumn Fizz
As the leaves turn then fall from the trees and those cool breezes become North winds everyone wants a good gin cocktail to sustain and console them as winter looms. Take heart, the Autumn Fizz is the perfect surprise guest at your next holiday get together. It will warm the heart and set the tone for the festivities to come and all while embracing the season rather than denying it. So dust off those highball glasses and the knife sharpener and get ready for some real apple-flavored holiday cheer. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 oz gin
- 0 .25 oz fresh lemon juice
- Splash of agave nectar
- Sparkling apple cider
- Apple slice and thyme to garnish
To make the perfect Autumn Fizz pour the gin into a shaker then add the lemon juice and a splash of agave nectar (not too much of this). Shake vigorously for a few seconds then pour into the highball glass and top up with the sparkling cider. Garnish with freshly cut apple slice and pinch of fresh thyme.
10. New Orleans Fizz
Since we’re in a fizzy state of mind we’re going to end with this favorite from the Big Easy. This cocktail classic is the most complex on our list but if you’ve got some engineer in you it’s well worth the effort. Often called the “Ramos Gin Fizz” this cocktail can trace its origins to 1888 when a self-styled mixologist named Henry Ramos came up with this variation on the traditional gin fizz. Frothy and fun it’s as much adult milkshake as it is cocktail. And because of its most agreeable taste and texture one should always be careful not to get carried away and over-imbibe. That said, here’s what you’ll need to bring this party favorite to your next get together:
- 2 oz your favorite gin
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz sugar syrup
- 1 egg white
- 0.25 oz cream
- 1/2 teaspoon powdered sugar
- Dash of orange flower water
- 1 oz soda water
Add everything but the soda water into a shaker. Shake vigorously for 20-30 seconds. Add ice to the shaker and shake vigorously for 30 more seconds until the mixture is frothy. Strain into a collins glass. Pour the soda water slowly down the edge of the shaker to loosen the remaining froth then use the product to top off the glass. Enjoy.
Conclusion
Gin is one of the iconic cocktail liquors of all time for any number of good reasons. None more so then its incredible taste. So the next time you’re wondering what to do with that bottle of gin that’s been collecting dust behind your bar give one of the above gin cocktail recipes a whirl prepare to have your tastebuds dazzled.
