Gin is a distilled alcohol flavored with juniper berries and botanicals. With roots in both the Netherlands and the UK, the fragrant spirit is now produced around the world from Africa to Asia as well as in the United States.
We’ve traveled to both Amsterdam and England to drink gin drinks at the source. Now we craft craft gin cocktails at home.
These are our favorites gin cocktail recipes:
23 Of The Best Gin Cocktails
Gin and Tonic
The G&T is a global phenomenon that can't be stopped. Follow our easy Gin and Tonic Recipe with gin and tonic water plus a couple surprises.
The Gin Sour tickles the tongue with clean flavors that are simultaneously sweet and sour. This classic gin cocktail is also super easy to craft at home in just a few minutes.
Follow our classic Negroni recipe and learn how to make the sophisticated Italian sipper with just five ingredients including ice. Unique for its deep red color and acerbic flavor, a Campari Negroni packs a punch with equal parts of bitter Campari, dry gin and sweet vermouth.
Simultaneously sweet and tart, the Tom Collins cocktail is a delightful drink that tastes like spiked lemonade. It's also super simple to craft at home with just a few ingredients.
You probably aren't familiar with the Martinez unless you're either a cocktail connoisseur or a history buff. But once you try this classic gin drink, you'll surely be a fan. Follow our easy Martinez cocktail recipe and craft one at home in just five minutes.
Don't be confused by its deep blue color. The Aviation cocktail is a serious cocktail for serious drinkers. Learn how to craft the classic gin cocktail at home in just five minutes.
The Bijou cocktail is a bold and boozy jewel that we covet all year long but especially during the holidays. The opposite of a lightweight, this sparkly amber cocktail adds a festive flair to any drinking session.
The Vesper Martini may or may not be a double agent. After all, this cocktail's code name is the James Bond Martini. Either way, you don't have to go undercover to craft the sophisticated sipper at home when you follow our special mission a/k/a the Vesper Martini recipe.
Easy to make at home with just a few ingredients, this Gibson is a classic gin cocktail that's cool, classy and tastes like a dream. In other words, it's a winner.
The Bee's Knees is the cat's meow when it comes to classic cocktails. The three-ingredient gin lemon cocktail is both sophisticated to sip and super easy to make at home.
The Pink Lady cocktail proves that you shouldn't judge a drink by its color. Despite its 'girly' hue, this pink drink is a sophisticated sipper that's more dry than sweet. Try our easy recipe and make the classic cocktail at home in just five minutes.
The Army and Navy cocktail is a classic sipper that’s simultaneously sweet, sour and herbaceous. It’s also easy to craft with just four ingredients plus ice.
Simultaneously refreshing and tart, the Greyhound cocktail has just two ingredients. The question is whether those two ingredients are gin and grapefruit juice OR vodka and grapefruit juice.
The Salty Dog cocktail is essentially a Greyhound with a salt rim. Simultaneously salty, sour and surprisingly sweet, it's an ideal drink to sip during the dog days of summer.
Move over Manhattan! See you later Brooklyn! The Bronx isn't just one of New York City's most culturally diverse boroughs. It's also a drink that blends gin with orange juice and two different vermouths. The result is a classic gin cocktail that's as easy to sip as it is to craft.
The Corpse Reviver No. 2 tastes like a dream despite its nightmare-inducing name. Learn the history behind this ghoulishly delightful gin cocktail and then craft one at home in just five minutes.
Are you craving a sophisticated cocktail made with gin and champagne? If so, try our classic French 75 recipe with Cointreau added for balance and an extra punch. You can make it at home with just five ingredients plus ice.
Just thinking about the Hanky Panky cocktail makes us smile beyond its giggle-inducing name. This classic cocktail takes the gin martini to exciting levels with two magical dashes of Fernet-Branca. And, like most classic cocktails, it's super easy to craft at home with just a few ingredients.
The Ramos Gin Fizz is a quintessential New Orleans cocktail. Learn how to craft the fizzy gin drink at home. Also discover why it's considered royalty in the Louisiana city where the good times roll all year long but especially during Mardi Gras.
Don't underestimate the Last Word cocktail. Despite its short ingredient list and pale green hue, the Pre-Prohibition potable is a sophisticated sipper that deserves a seat at the table.
Proving that you shouldn't judge a cocktail by its name, the White Lady Cocktail is a classic drink that's appropriate for multicultural cocktail connoisseurs. Read on to learn how to craft a White Lady cocktail at home in just five minutes.
Gin is a clear distilled spirit that’s flavored with juniper berries and other botanicals.
How is gin different from vodka?
While gin and vodka start as clear spirits, gin is enhanced with the addition of juniper berries and other botanicals.
What’s the most popular gin cocktail?
The Gin and Tonic is the world’s most popular gin cocktail. It’s also one of the easiest gin cocktails to craft at home.
Is it okay to drink gin straight out of the bottle?
While it’s perfectly acceptable to drink gin without any mixers, we recommend drinking the spirit from a glass. We also recommend adding a few ice cubes to the glass and garnishing the glass with a citrus wedge.
Is gin very alcoholic?
Gin ABVs vary by bottle. With most gins ABVs clocking in under 50%, gin is moderately alcoholic. Accordingly, it’s important to pace yourself and not drive while under gin’s influence.
Thirsty For More Cocktails?
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Vodka Cocktails
About the Authors
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website. Since launching the site in 2012, they’ve traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers a unique taste of the world.
Disclosures
Article Updates We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article.
Funding We purchased the ingredients and tools used to craft these cocktails.
