Essential And Popular Gin Cocktails For 2021
Gin was originally invented by monks for medicinal purposes, but were eternally grateful that its since been discovered as an excellent and herbaceous base for a variety of cocktails. The botanical flavors inherent to gin give it a peppery sweetness that can be identified in almost any drink.
Despite the spirits signature flavor, gin cocktails are incredibly diverse, from fruity and floral Aviations, to savory and piquant Gibsons. Pairing with garnishes from raspberries to onions, gins range is unmatched.
Here are 14 of the most essential and popular gin cocktails.
Berry Gin Cocktails For Summer
Peak of Summer
Nothing screams summer like the return of in-season berries, and the Peak of Summer cocktail knows this best. A riff on the classic Gimlet, the Peak of Summer is loaded up with heaps of fresh strawberries for a delicious cocktail that truly embodies the exact mood its name suggests. To make your own, combine gin, lime juice, strawberry syrup, and chopped strawberries to a cocktail shaker and serve.
Best Seasonal: Isolation Proof Winter Gin
Bovina Spirits
Region: USA | ABV: 47% | Tasting Notes: Juniper, Bergamot, Earl Grey Tea, Honey
For a flavor-packed gin that packs a serious punch, look no further than Isolation Proofs Winter Gin. This seasonal gin is produced with an infusion of loose-leaf Earl Grey tea, raw honey from the distillerys beehives in the Catskills and spring water from the hillside behind the distillery barn. Expect the sweet and spicy flavors of juniper, bergamot, tea leaves, and honey to lead to a warming, long-lasting finish.
Sherry reveals that his preferred methods for obtaining flavors in his flavored gins are distillation, maceration and/or barrel aging, based on which exact botanicals are being used . For example, I prefer extracting the flavor of allspice through distillation, which concentrates the essence of the spice that I love while leaving behind any bitterness or astringency, he says, noting that for other ingredients, such as tea leaves or hibiscus flowers, he prefers implementing maceration, which extracts not only the flavor but also the color of the ingredient.
Region: England | ABV: 41.4% | Tasting Notes: Strawberry, Orange Blossom, Pink Peppercorn, Rose Water
Region: USA | ABV: 30% | Tasting Notes: Tropical Fruit, Jasmine, Citrus
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The Bar At The End Of The Tunnel
During quarantine, my business partner Alex Maynard and I have fielded tons of great questions from home bartenders. We shifted our business model to include virtual cocktail tutorials and the question we were asked the most has been: I bought this big beautiful bottle of Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao, and Ive made many, many mai tais, what else can I do with it? So, we got to work and had a great time workshopping some options we could share with folks. One of our favorite recipes is a riff on the Corpse Reviver No. 2. As vaccines are rolled out and folks continue to be thoughtful and safe imbibers, we hope we may come to see the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. As a category of pick-me-up drinks, corpse revivers felt like a good concept to build a drink around. A drink to represent our hope and optimism for a summer where we welcome back our bar industry. To that concept we added a few elements from our springtime farmers markets: cara cara oranges and fennel. We purposely omitted the absinthe from the recipe because we wanted this drink to be something many folks could make at home without having to get a ton of ingredients. The fennel lends the herbaceous anise element the absinthe would have delivered, while the fresh cara cara orange juice ties all the flavors together with a spring-summer bow. Shake, serve, and violà! Now we can see the lightand the bar at the end of the tunnel.Susan Eggett, cofounder at Sequoia Gold
Ingredients:
0.75 oz. Citadelle gin
Still Austin The Naturalist
Fine sipping gin out of the Texas capital? Yup. This one is dynamic, great for mixing while also excellent as a standalone. Theres a nice mix of spice and floral elements, along with subtle hits of rye, peppercorn, and grapefruit. So many gins are rough around the edges but this one is expertly balanced.
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How To Make A Gin Gin Mule
A Gin Gin mule is only slightly more involved than the classic version. Youll have to muddle mint, and then mix it with lime and simple syrup. Heres what to do :
Tropical Gin Cocktails For Summer
The Toucan Sam
Garnishing a drink neednt be a serious task, and no cocktail knows this better than the Toucan Sam. A mix of gin, Campari, simple syrup, pineapple juice, and lime juice, this cocktail is garnished with a plethora of Fruit Loops and is perfect for easygoing sipping all summer long.
The Starfruit-Mint Bramble
The beauty of the Bramble cocktail is its ability to be tinkered with, producing entirely new versions with an easy ingredient swap or two. The Starfruit-Mint Bramble adds starfruit- and mint-infused simple syrup to the classic mixture of gin, crème de mûre, and lemon juice for a quaffable cocktail carrying tropical hints ideal for beating the heat.
The Rosy Gin Punch
For many, the onset of summer indicates the return of hosting outdoor dinner and cocktail parties. To impress your guests this summer, try making a batch of this delicious Rosy Gin Punch. Easy to make in larger formats, this combination of gin, pineapple juice, lemon juice, and rose syrup is simple to keep your thirst quenched all season long.
Groovy Gimlet
This summer, when youre dreaming of escaping to the tropics, try making the Groovy Gimlet a tiki-inspired twist on the classic gin cocktail. Made by combining butterfly pea tea-infused gin, lime juice, and toasted coconut syrup, this summer gin cocktail is bright and flavorful, plus has a vibrancy that practically begs you to take that next sip.
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Craft Easy Great Drinks With Gin
When thinking of drinks with Gin, most people think of awfully dry cocktails that burn your throat and taste like pine needles.
Well, while some of that may be true, Gin can actually be one of the most versatile of base alcohol’s on the planet.
In this list you’ll find 27 of the best drink with gin that you can make easily in your own home.
From fruity concoctions to instant classics and perfectly dry cocktails, this list will have you covered no matter your tastes.
Drinks these days are too complicated and often overdone. We’re here to change that, and make it easy for anyone to craft a 5-star cocktail in the comfort of their own home.
Without further ado, here is our list of the 27 best drinks with gin you’ll ever make!
Enjoy Hendrick’s Gin In These Cocktails
Hendrick’s is the gin you want when mixing drinks with fresh ingredients. It pairs well with almost any flavor, from fruits to flowers and herbs.
Enjoy it with pomegranate in a poinsettia punch, warm it up mulled wine style with the hot gin punch recipe, or enjoy the lovely flavor of a delicate rose martini. It also does wonders when that cucumber is accented. A recipe like the green gin giant pairs the gin with elderflower, basil, mint, grapefruit, and fresh cucumber for an intriguing, fresh-from-the garden cocktail.
Additionally, Hendrick’s is the gin of choice for many drinkers who prefer vodka. You can use it as a substitute for a variety of vodka cocktails, as seen in the sparkling strawberry cocktail, the cherub’s cup.
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Gin & Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice with gin doesnt need anything else added to it
For a tart, dry mixer for your gin, try cranberry juice! If you have the time and inclination, this could be made by blending and sieving fresh cranberries, but otherwise, shop-bought juice is fine. We like to mix our gin and cranberry juice with a twist and squeeze of fresh lemon or lime to give it added zing, particularly if your juice has added sweeteners.
A Gin Cocktail For Every Season
Whether youâre opening a bar or stocking a bar, include a few bottles of gin with your inventory. That way, youâll have plenty of options for making gin cocktails no matter which month it is.
Enjoy spring cocktails in your garden while the flowers bloom, or drink fall cocktails on your front porch while the leaves change color. Reward yourself with a delicious gin cocktail on any day of the year.
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Cocktails To Try If You Like Drinking Gin
Gin is clear liquor that packs a pretty astounding amount of flavor into a small glass. It’s a neutral grain spirit distilled with juniper and botanicals that has a predominantly piney flavor, but it doesn’t stop there.
It’s similar to vodka, in that they’re both light spirits. But while vodka has no taste, gin is distinctively botanical. There are many varieties of gin, and each distiller makes its own unique take on the liquor that goes beyond juniper . For example, MKT Distillery in Katy, Texas makes a Texas gin with a dialed back juniper flavor and a citrus component featuring ruby red grapefruits, Texas mint, lime, and pecan along with juniper, of course. The result is a flavor profile that’s half citrus, half floral, and entirely unique.
Like the spirit itself, gin cocktails can be just as varied, though many feature similar flavor profiles of citrus fruits, mint, and a touch of sugar. Gin cocktails are often light, refreshing, and a little bit sweet the perfect drink for summer or, really, any time of year. Read on to find some classic gin favorites and a few new cocktails that you’ll want to try.
How To Make A Gin Cocktail
- The key to making drinks is the balance between sweet and sour/bitter. Try not to let one element overpower the other
- Taste your drinks before you serve
- If serving over ice, fill your glass to the top with it
- Ensure your garnish is fresh and stacked close to the straws
- Remember that we drink in three steps: with our eyes first, then with our nose and finally with our mouth
As a general rule, we recommend using 50ml gin for each cocktail unless otherwise stated. If using a liqueur, reduce this to 40ml gin and use 10ml liqueur. Balance 20ml fresh citrus juice with 15ml sugar syrup thats been made from equal parts sugar and water .
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Gin Highballs For Summer
Gin Rickey
While the Gin Rickey has inspired a number of variations, this classic cocktail is a tried-and-true option for relaxing in the afternoon sun. Created by Missouri lobbyist and Civil War veteran Joe Rickey in the 1800s, the Gin Rickey combines gin, lime juice, and club soda for an easy-to-make and easier-to-drink cocktail for the dog days of summer.
Tom Collins
The Tom Collins is another classic highball perfect for summer imbibing. A mixture of gin, lemon, and simple syrup topped with club soda, this cocktail is light, perfectly balanced, and certain to chill you down on summers hottest days.
Gin Gin Mule
The Moscow Mule is arguably one of the greatest summer cocktails, known for its refreshing blend of citrus and spice. If vodka isnt your spirit of choice, try idling this summer with the Gin Gin Mule, a mixture of gin, lime juice, ginger beer, simple syrup, and mint.
Turmeric Rickey
While turmeric may not be the first ingredient you think of when you imagine seasonal cocktail ingredients, the Turmeric Rickey seems to have been invented with summer on the brain. A take on the classic Gin Rickey, this cocktail combines Von Humboldts Turmeric cordial with London dry gin, lime juice, and club soda for a light and sessionable drink perfect for combating summers high temperatures.
The Floradora
Pineapple-Basil Highball
Whats The Best Tonic To Use For Gin And Tonics
I prefer the tonic water sold in the smaller, single-serving bottles. The tonic will be fresh and you wont lose any fizz. A lot of people swear by Schweppes, but we cant say we have noticed a difference enough to specify on that one. We particularly enjoy the Fever Tree and Q tonics.
For a lower calorie cocktail, you can use light tonic. Light tonic doesnt have as much flavor as regular, but it does help to lower the calories. You can also water regular tonic down with a little seltzer water or club soda.
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How To Make A Gin Fizz Cocktail
How to make a Gin Fizz? Youll shake together the gin, fresh lemon juice, syrup, and egg white in a cocktail shaker without ice first, then add ice and pour it into two glasses.
When you top off each glass with soda water, the carbonation combines with the egg white to make a frothy foam topping. Its like magic! And its a trick thats sure to impress all your guests.
Haymans London Dry Gin
The Haymans Distillers dates back to the early 19th century and was once part of the portfolio of James Burrough who was also behind the famous Beefeater brand. After that, the brand changed hands several times before settling into a family business.
It wasnt until after the current family took ownership and Christopher Hayman pushed the brand to start producing gin, which was met with great success. Haymans London Dry Gin features ten botanicals that are steeped for a full 24 hours before distillation. The family is big on tradition, blending elements of their old family recipes with modern innovation to create a clean, classic gin.
The nose starts with juniper followed by coriander, angelica, and a touch of citrus. Its an intense but pleasant aroma. The palate is thick, creamy, and rich with a pepper start that fades into lemony citrus and juniper mid-palate. The finish is rich with juniper and a touch of pumpkin spice and orange zest with a faint hint of sweet licorice right on the end.
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How To Make A Gimlet
What does a gin gimlet taste like? Its tangy and sweet, with an aroma of gin but balanced on the back end. Its pretty botanical and gin forward, so youll want to use a great bottle of gin. If youre not a fan of strong drinks, wed recommend trying the gin fizz instead. Or, you can add a splash of soda water to mellow out the flavors in this cocktail!
Heres how to make a gin gimlet cocktail :
- Add gin, lime juice, and syrup to a cocktail shaker, and shake with ice.
- Pour into a glass and add a splash of soda water if desired.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
The Best Gin Cocktails For Summer
With its herbaceous and botanical flavors of juniper, flowers, and dried fruit, there is perhaps no spirit better suited for summer than gin. As temperatures rise and humidity spikes, gins light flavor profile blends perfectly into a number of cocktails ideal for quenching your thirst and cooling you down. This season, if youre looking for a new aperitif, try one of these delightful gin cocktails for summer.
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Hayman’s Old Tom Gin Cocktails
Hayman’s Old Tom Gin can be infused in every classic cocktail that calls for gin. Even if you have had a martini a million times, switching to Old Tom offers an entirely new experience.
Among the classics that you’ll want to revisit with Hayman’s are the and gimlet. It works just as well in highballs as it does in short drinks, so you’ll also want to mix up a Tom Collins and gin rickey while you have a bottle on hand.
Gracias A Dios Agave Gin 32 Botanics
Continuing our journey into gin made from parts of the world not usually identified with the category, this one comes from Oaxaca, Mexico. Its made from an agave base spirit, the plant most commonly used for tequila and mezcal, and is infused with 32 botanicals meant to represent the 32 Mexican states. Juniper is present, along with citrus, lemongrass, rosemary, ginger, and eucalyptus. Gin lovers should check out this bottle, its unlike most that youve tried before.
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The Best Gin For Cocktails
The idea of cocktails dates back to the 1800s, with the first written recording of the word appearing in a New York newspaper on May 6th, 1806. The history of gin, itself, however, goes back much further. Official credit for the invention often goes to a Dutch physician who used it medicinally in 1550. Though, its also said that Italian monks were flavoring distilled spirits with juniper back in the 11th century.
Regardless, gin is old. It wasnt until the 1850s that it was popularized in cocktails. During the second half of the 19th century, much of the United States grew quite wealthy as they experienced a boom in oil and gold as well as the impending railroad. People had more money than ever and wanted to spend it, so several casual clubs popped up as a place to congregate. In these bars and pubs, bartenders started mixing alcohol with other things purely for fun and not for medicine, with many featuring the popular imported gin and jenever.
Gin can have any number of botanicals in the recipe, as long as one of them is juniper. Juniper is a staple aroma and flavor and is present in most expressions. That said, the best gin for cocktails is one that offers a range of balanced flavor notes without any that will take over the drink. Juniper is well-loved but you dont always want it dominating every sip.