13 Best Gin Cocktails to Explore Your Love of Gin

Gin is one of the ancients of the alcohol world and has been around for centuries.  Yet in recent times, there’s been a massive gin revival.  Once seen as a bit of a niche drink that was only enjoyed by people that liked gin and tonic, things are now very different, and gin is huge. 

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases and sometimes recommend products from other sellers at no extra cost you. For more details see my disclosure policy and privacy policy.

One of the big reasons for that is gin cocktails – there are so many of them!  From classics to modern twists, there is something for all tastes and many of them are really simple.  Here are 13 of my favourites or ones that are on my must try list.

Classic gin cocktails

Martini

The Martini is probably one of the most famous classic cocktails out there and there are hundreds of different versions including the Vodka Martini (enjoyed in a certain way by a famous fictional spy of note).  The classic is always the best place to start though.

• 6cl gin
• 1cl dry vermouth (Martini)

Pour into a mixing glass with ice and stir.  Strain into a chilled martini (cocktail) glass and add a squeeze of lemon peel juice or an olive.

Gimlet

The Gimlet might win the award for the simplest gin cocktail out there as it only has two ingredients. Like many easy cocktails, there’s no technique or equipment needed!  It is a little uncertain who created it, but it was around in the Savoy Cocktail Book of 1930.

• Two parts gin
• One part lime cordial (such as Rose’s)

Mix the ingredients and serve with a slice of lime.  Yes, that’s it.  You can substitute the gin for vodka or use another fruit cordial if you want as well.

Bramble

The Bramble was created in London in the 1980s by Dick Bradsell.  It is often seen as a spring cocktail and some fresh red berries are often used to finish it.

• 4cl gin
• 5cl fresh lemon juice
• 1cl simple (sugar) syrup
• 5cl creme de mure (blackberry liqueur)

Fill the glass with ice, add gin, lemon juice and syrup then stir.  Add the blackberry liqueur in a circular fashion to make the marbling then garnish with berries and a lemon slice.  An old-fashioned glass is recommended for it.

French 75

The French 75 (also known as the 75 cocktail) was created back in World War I in the New York bar in Paris.  Harry MacElhone was the bartender credited with creating it and named it after the French 75mm field gun – because both had a real kick.  It has featured in a few famous films including Casablanca (1942).  The recipe is a simple one:

• 3cl gin
• 2 dash simple (sugar) syrup
• 5cl lemon juice
• 6cl champagne

Add the gin, syrup and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake and strain into a champagne flute then top with champagne (or a favourite sparkling wine).

Negroni

The Negroni has been around for a while but the first confirmed use of the current recipe was back in 1919 in Florence, Italy.  Count Camillo Negroni made it to add a kick to the Americano cocktail.  The family later went on to found the Negroni Distillerie in Treviso and produced ready-made versions.  Orson Welles was reported to enjoy it.

• 3cl gin
• 3cl sweet red vermouth (Martini)
• 3cl Campari

Stir all ingredients into a glass with ice, garnish with an orange slice and serve.  An old-fashioned glass is recommended.

Tom Collins

The Tom Collins was created as early as the 1870s when it was mentioned in the writing of Jerry Thomas, one of the forefathers of the mixologist in the US.  It has also led to a whole range of other drinks, you can see one example below.

• 5cl gin
• 3 cl lemon juice
• 5cl simple (sugar) syrup
• 6cl club soda

Add the fin, juice and syrup to a tall glass with ice then top with soda water and garnish with a wedge of lemon and a maraschino cherry.  The tall glass used is even known as a Collins glass.

Gin Rickey

The Gin Rickey is a classic version of the Rickey cocktail which uses bourbon.  It was first mentioned back in the 1880s in Washington DC at Shoomaker’s bar.  Around 10 years later, the gin version was created.  It also led to other popular cocktails such as the Mojito.

• 2oz gin
• Half a lime squeezed into the glass
• Sparkling mineral water

Add the gin and lime into a highball glass then add ice and stir.  Top with mineral water.

Modern gin cocktail recipes

Elderflower Collins

The Collins is a sour cocktail that uses a base spirit such as gin as well as lemon juice, sugar and soda water.  This recipe gives it a modern twist with elderflower cordial which is available in most supermarkets.

• 50ml gin
• 20ml lemon juice
• 10ml simple (sugar) syrup
• 10ml elderflower cordial
• Soda water to finish

Add the gin, lemon and sugar and the cordial to a shaker then pour over ice in a rocks glass.  Add the soda water and a sprig of a favourite herb.  For another alternative, replace the soda water with sparkling wine to make an Elderflower Royale.

Fog Cutter

This is one of those drinks like the Long Island Iced Tea that uses quite a few different spirits in it.  You can pick up almond syrup at the supermarket from the same brand, Monin, as premade sugar syrup and other cocktail essentials.

• 20ml gin
• 20ml brandy
• 20ml rum
• 40ml orange juice
• 20ml lemon juice
• 15ml almond syrup
• 5ml sherry

Add the spirits, juices and the syrup in a cocktail shaker then strain into a glass, top with sherry and a favourite fruit garnish.

Southside

The Southside is a version of the Mojito but made with gin.  Which is itself a version of the Collins.  See, all cocktails are related.

• 50ml gin
• 20ml lime juice
• 15ml sugar syrup
• 6-8 mint leaves

Add the gin, lime and syrup into the shaker with the mint leaves and shake well.  Strain into a Martini glass and garnish with one mint leaf.

Cucumber Gin Cocktail

The mix of cucumber and gin is a popular one – you can even get cucumber flavoured gin.  But if you want to make everything from scratch, here’s the recipe.

• 1 cucumber
• 4 two inch strips of lime zest
• 2 tsp sugar
• 4 lemon wheels
• 4 ounces gin
• 1 ounce fresh lime juice
• Soda water

Shave four ribbon of cucumber and put to one side.  Cut a four-inch piece of cucumber and chop roughly.  Muddle with the lime zest, lemon slices and sugar in a cocktail shaker then add the gin and lime juice as well as ice.  Shake and strain into a Collins glass then top with soda water.  Garnish with the remaining lemon and cucumber slices.

Rosy Gin Kombucha Cocktail

Kombucha is nearly as popular as gin in its own way at the moment and this drink is a mix of both.  Use original or unflavoured kombucha for this creative gin cocktail recipe.

• 2 ounces gun
• 1 ounce Campari
• ½ ounce lemon juice
• ½ tsp grated ginger
• 5 ounces kombucha, chilled

Add the gin, Campari, lemon juice and ginger to a glass then stir in the kombucha.  Strain into an ice-filled Collins glass and garnish with lemon wedges.

Barbados Gin Punch

Serve this in a real coconut for a stylish look for just an ordinary punch bowl if that’s easier.  Watch for a coconut water that is white or clear to get the right look.

• 1 bottle dry gin (750ml)
• 6 cups coconut water
• ¾ cup lime juice
• ¾ cup sugar (more if needed)
• ¼ cup dry curacao (Triple Sec)
• 8-12 coconut shells

Whisk the gin, water, lime, sugar and curacao in a bowl until the sugar dissolves.  Chill for 1-4 hours.  Serve in coconut shells or a punch bowl with ice and garnish with a mint sprig and lime.

Have fun with gin drinks

Whether you dry a gin martini or branch out into pink gin cocktails or something that is fruity, there are no shortage of styles of gins to use and cocktails to try. Don’t forget to swap the type of gin you try too, from London dry gin to flavoured!

What’s your favourite gin cocktail?  I’d love to hear in the comments below!