Gin Cocktails
The Cocktail Monkey Guide to Gin
Gin cocktails often become classics for a very good reason. If you take a close look at the IBA Official Cocktail List of Unforgettable Cocktails you might notice that the majority of them are gin cocktails.
Creative bartenders often have a real love affair with gin. As a base spirit it has a lot to offer. Gin’s blend of juniper, coriander, citrus peel and botanical notes is a playground of flavor to work with.
A good bartender can use this base of flavor to go in a lot of directions. Looking for something with some woody spice? Play up the juniper and other woody botanical flavors. Citrus? Absolutely. Floral? No problem.
- Classic Gin Cocktail Recipes
- Tasty and Refreshing Gin Cocktails
- Modern Classics
- Gin Buyers Guide
Classic Gin Cocktails
If popularity and longevity count, the following are some of the world’s best loved gin cocktails. These are straightforward and easy to recreate. These are your back pocket cocktails. Be prepared to whip one up on a moment’s notice.
If you love a classic cocktail, check out our list of classic cocktail recipes.
Gin and Tonic
This drink is a classic for good reason. It’s simple to make with just gin and tonic water and a squeeze of lime. More highball than cocktail, perhaps, but it seems wrong not to mention it.
Martini
The Martini is a popular cocktail made with gin and vermouth. It is typically served in a martini glass chilled and garnished with an olive or a lemon twist.
Negroni
The Negroni is a cocktail made with equal parts gin, Campari, and vermouth. It is usually served on the rocks in a tumbler glass.The Negroni was invented in Florence, Italy in 1919 by Count Camillo Negroni.
Tom Collins
Tom Collins is a cocktail that was named after a 19th century practical joke. It is made with gin, lemon juice, sugar, soda or tonic water, and ice. It is a refreshing boozy lemonade. And it is delicious.
Martinez
The Martinez is one of my personal favourite classic gin drinks. It is a precursor to the modern martini. Made with red vermouth and sweetened with Maraschino it is a dark and complex drink.
Tuxedo No.2
Tuxedo No.2 is a cocktail made with plymouth gin, dry vermouth, maraschino, and an absinthe. Like the name suggests, it is a classic and perfect for an elegant dinner party.
Lesser Known Classic Gin Cockails
If you’re looking for something classic, but a little off the beaten path the following drinks have stood the test of time.
For many people, the Martini is first drink that comes to mind when they think about gin. That’s not to say it is the first, but for the average person it is the first one that comes to mind.
Many of these drinks are variations on the Martini.
Hanky Panky
The Hanky Panky is a classic cocktail that was invented by Ada Coleman in the early 20th century. It is made with gin, vermouth, and Fernet Branca.
White Lady
The White Lady is made with gin, vermouth, and orange curaçao. It is typically shaken and strained into chilled coupe glass. It has a beautiful frothy white head and it goes down easy.
Twentieth Century
The Twentieth Century is a cocktail that was invented in the early twentieth century. the 21st century now, but this gin cocktail still makes an appearance on the menu every once in a while. The Twentieth Century Cocktail is unique for its surprising pairing of gin and creme de cacao.
Aviation
One of prettier gin cocktails is the Aviation. It was created in 1916 by Hugo Ensslin, head bartender at New York’s Hotel Wallick. The Aviation is made with gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and lemon juice.
Vesper Martini
The Vesper Martini is a cocktail that was created by James Bond in the novel Casino Royale. The drink consists of gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc. It is typically served in a cocktail glass with a twist of lemon.
Poet’s Dream
The Poet’s Dream is an intriguing cocktail with an evocative name. Gin, Bénédictine, and dry vermouth. It is yet another variation on a classic Martini.
Casino Cocktail
The Casino Cocktail is another gin cocktail from Harry Craddock’s Savoy Cocktail book. It is based on the classic combination of gin and maraschino. It is finished with lemon juice and orange bitters.
Rolls Royce Cocktail
The Rolls Royce is another Savoy Cocktail Book variation on the Martini. Gin, of course, with both sweet and dry vermouth and a dash of Benedictine. Delicious.
Last Word
When you add Chartreuse and Maraschino liqueur to a gin sour you get the last word. The Last Word comes from prohibition era Detroit, but it feels as fresh as last week.
Gin Cocktails: A Tasty and Refreshing Treat
This is why gin is a summer drink.
Gin is the reigning champion of summer: It’s mild, it’s botanical and it blends with every sort of juices, sodas and everything else you can think of. But also this makes for incredible cocktails throughout the year.
These are the best gin cocktails to stir, or shake and strain your way to refreshment. Get out your cocktail shaker and mix one of these up next time you’re looking for some summer vibes.
Many of these drinks are variations on the classic sour. Sour gin cocktails are gin’s playground. Lemon and lime play so well with gin, it’s not surprising that several sour cocktails are pretty synonymous with gin. Gin Fizz, Tom Collins, Gin Daisy – they all have that classic sour cocktail base. Here are a few more variations on the gin sour to mess around with.
London Maid
The London Maid is a classic gin cocktail made with lime and simple syrup. You can think of this drink as a gin take on the Daiquiri.
Bee’s Knees
When you sweeten a gin sour with honey it’s the Bee’s Knees. It was a popular gin drink in the 1920’s. Also the last time people actually used that expression.
Bramble
It’s not like there aren’t enough reasons to look forward to August, but if you need one more this is it. When blackberries start to ripen muddle a few in the bottom of a glass and mix up a Bramble. Another one of our favorite classic gin cocktails.
Gin Daisy
The Daisy is cocktail category unto itself. It’s a variation on a classic sour lengthened with soda water. The Gin Daisy is probably the most well known of the classic cocktail with the name daisy attached.
French 75
The French 75 was named for the World War 1 French artillery guns. The combination of gin and champagne with lemon and sugar packs a punch.
The French 75 is refreshing. It’s easy-to-make cocktail that is perfect for any celebration.
Pegu Club
The Clover Club is a refreshing cocktail that was invented in the early 20th century. It is made with gin, lemon juice, lime juice, raspberry syrup. The bartender at the Clover Club in Philadelphia created this drink.
Gin Buyers Guide
When buying gin, you’ll want to consider the flavor and botanical ingredients. There are a variety of flavors available, such as juniper, citrus, floral, and herbal. You’ll also want to consider the botanical ingredients. Some use more than 20 botanicals, while others use just a few.
There are several styles to choose from , such as London Dry, Plymouth, Old Tom and Contemporary Gin. London Dry is most widely available style of gin. Plymouth gin is popular as well. It is an old style that comes from Plymouth, England. It has a more complex flavor profile than London Dry gin.
Contemporary gin is an emerging new style of gin that emphasizes interesting and exotic flavours. Craft distillers and larger producers alike are pushing back against traditional flavour profiles.
London Dry
London Dry gin is the most popular type of gin and is characterized by its clean taste. It’s made with juniper berries, coriander, angelica root, orris root, and other botanical ingredients.
Contemporary
Contemporary gin is a broad category that is broader and more innovative than the classic styles. Some of the most popular contemporary gins include Hendrick’s, Bombay Sapphire, and Tanqueray. Each brand has its own unique flavor profile, thanks to the variety of botanicals used in the distilling process.
Old Tom
Old Tom is a style of gin popular in the 18th century. Old Tom Gin tends to be sweeter than most other types of gin. Old Tom has a small amount of sweetness and it has an aroma like oranges.
Plymouth Gin
Plymouth Gin is a style of gin that is made in Plymouth, England. It has a more complex flavor profile than London Dry gin. It is made at the Black Friars distiller since the late 1600’s.
What Goes Well With Gin?
Fizzy Stuff – Sparkling water, tonic, soda. Whatever form it comes in it works well to lengthen gin cocktails and make them a little more refreshing.
- Tonic Water is surely the best mixer given the ever-popular popularity of Gin & Tonic.
- Soda water for fizzes, spritzes and other drinks with a little carbonation soda is essential.
Citrus is an essential flavour element is gin. Most gins are made with some orange, lime or lemon peel in the botanical blend. That makes it easy and natural to mix with gin.
- Limes and Limes – Wedges, peels, or fresh squeezed lime juice. It all just works.
- Orange – There are a handful of cocktails that call for fresh orange juice, but it can be tricky to work with. It adds more sugar than acid which can make it a difficult ingredient to balance. A squeeze of orange peel over
- Other Citrus – Grapefruit can work well, too. You can also try other more exotic citrus like yuzu, pomelo and meyer lemons are all delicious pairings with gin.
Vermouth – The classic pairing with gin. There is a whole world of vermouth out there. They go so well with gin it is worth exploring them all.
Bitters – Angostura bitters and orange bitters are essential for your bar in general. For gin drinks they will do everything you need them to do. Others you might consider are grapefruit, cherry and Peychaud’s. Beyond that there are dozens of other flavours you can try out.