Gin cocktails have been popular for centuries, evolving with the times while staying rooted in tradition. The spirit's dryness and herbal complexity allow it to shine when mixed thoughtfully with other ingredients.
While vodka has surpassed gin in global consumption today, gin remains iconic in cocktail culture. Certain gin drinks have attained timeless classic status, like the Negroni, Martini, and Gin and Tonic as a result. Read on to find the old and the new mixes made with this spirit in our list of 17 best gin cocktails.
As possibly the most iconic gin cocktail, the classic gin and tonic beautifully balances the botanical flavors of gin with the bitter quinine taste of tonic water.
Built over ice in a tall glass, the bright, bracing blend of dry gin and bubbly tonic is finished off with a squeeze of lime. The lime adds a burst of fresh citrus to complement the juniper-forward gin.
While any dry gin can be used, a London Dry style allows the combo of juniper, citrus and herbs to stand out when mixed with the tonic. The quinine keeps the drink from being cloyingly sweet. Refreshing yet complex, the easy-drinking Gin and Tonic is a go-to Summer cocktail.
Equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari come together in the Negroni, a bitter, herbaceous Italian cocktail. The gin provides a base of juniper with citrus and herb notes. Sweet vermouth counters with flavors of fruit and caramel. And Campari adds delightful bitterness through herbs and fruit.
Served chilled and straight up or on the rocks, the Negroni has a beautiful scarlet hue. Orange peel is often expressed over the cocktail to accentuate the botanicals. This elegant drink is strong yet balanced.
Bubbly and bright, the French 75 is an effervescent gin cocktail. Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and champagne combine for an elevated flavor profile. Tart lemon balances the gin's juniper and citrus notes. Simple syrup provides subtle sweetness. And dry champagne lends refined bubbles.
The drink is simultaneously light and sophisticated as it is served in a flute and garnished with a lemon twist. Named after a World War I French artillery gun, this bubbly gin drink is best suited for special occasions.
The Aviation cocktail is prepared with gin and maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, and violette liqueur for a botanical, floral flavor profile. Dry gin provides a juniper-forward base while lemon adds bright acidity. Maraschino liqueur contributes sweet cherry and almond notes whereas Violette infuses its lovely floral essence and color.
There is a swift balance between citrus, sweet, and herbaceous notes in this cocktail which is served straight up in a coupe. Invented around 1916, this gin cocktail experienced a revival in the 2000s. More niche than mainstream, the Aviation is a modern classic enjoyed by gin aficionados.
For a unique twist, the Rosemary Gin Fizz features floral herbaceousness from rosemary syrup. Mixed with gin, lemon, simple syrup, and soda water, it makes a lively, aromatic cocktail. The rosemary infusion provides a woodsy complement to the gin’s juniper and citrus. Shaken and served in a highball over ice, the drink is a contemporary, seasonal gin cocktail that's perfect for spring and summer.
Arguably the most iconic gin cocktail, the dry Martini exudes sophistication. Combining just gin and dry vermouth, a classic Martini relies on the botanical blend of the gin to shine through. While ratios vary, a 3:1 proportion of gin to vermouth is common. This minimalist cocktail highlights the crisp flavor of gin, accented by vermouth and garnished with olives or a lemon twist.
A modern classic, the Martini remains widely popular, especially in upscale bars and steakhouses. It's a go-to gin cocktail for James Bond fans and beyond.
In this drink, the elderflower provides a sweet, perfumed note that complements the juniper, citrus, and herbaceousness of gin. It is an easy-drinking highball that lets the elderflower tonic water shine.
More modern than a traditional gin and tonic, it emerged as a trendy cocktail in the 2010s. While less common than the time-tested Gin and Tonic, Gin and Elderflower Tonic appeals to those looking for something more aromatically complex. It is usually served tall over ice and garnished with lime.
This refreshing sour combines gin, fresh lime juice, and sweetener for a tangy, citrusy cocktail. While vintage versions used lime cordial, most modern Gimlets opt for simple syrup or cane sugar. The lime sharpens the herbal gin while the sweetener provides balance. The Gimlet highlights the lively interplay of gin, citrus, and subtle sweetness.
A classic gin cocktail, the Gimlet remains a staple that’s enjoyed widely though not as ubiquitous as a Martini or Gin and Tonic. Though the original is served up, on the rocks variations are also popular.
To add herbal complexity, the Southside incorporates mint with gin, lime juice, simple syrup, and sometimes soda water. Muddling fresh mint releases its cooling, aromatic flavors, working beautifully with the lime’s acidity and gin’s juniper notes. The lime and mint cut through the gin’s richness.
It is a warm weather refresher which has led to its seasonal popularity though they aren’t as evergreen as Martinis and Gin and Tonics. The signature Southside Fizz adds bubbly soda water.
The Bee’s Knees dates back to Prohibition-era speakeasies in the 1920s. It combines gin, honey syrup, and lemon juice for a prohibition-style sour. The honey adds a subtle sweetness that pairs with gin’s herbal qualities. As a Prohibition cocktail, it was likely easy to make discreetly at home. The name allegedly comes from 1920s slang “bee’s knees” meaning excellent or top-notch. Delightfully retro yet timeless, the Bee’s Knees is an approachable gin sour.
Originating in the late 1800s, the Tom Collins is a bubbly, translucent gin highball. Built in a tall glass over ice, it mixes gin with lemon juice, simple syrup, club soda, and is garnished with a maraschino cherry and orange slice.
The drink gets its name from "Old Tom" style gin. Easy to assemble and consumed worldwide, this refreshing cocktail remains popular today. The Collins glass shows off the transparent lemony mixture.
Often considered a contemporary gin cocktail, the Hendrick’s Cucumber Cooler plays up the brand’s trademark cucumber flavors. Muddled cucumber joins Hendrick’s gin, elderflower liqueur, lime, agave, and soda for a refreshingly botanical drink. The cucumber essence pairs with floral elderflower and the lime’s acidity balances the gin’s richness.
A highball over ice, it's Instagrammable with its pale yellow hue and floating cucumber slice. It’s an easy-drinking cocktail that highlights Hendrick’s distinctive cucumber notes.
The Red Snapper is essentially a Bloody Mary made with gin instead of vodka. It is a savory cocktail that combines gin with tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, celery salt, and black pepper.
The gin's juniper aroma comes through, mingling with spicy, herbal layers from Tabasco, Worcestershire, and black pepper. Tart lemon brightens while the tomato juice provides the body.
Typically served over ice in a tall, narrow glass and garnished with celery and olives, the Red Snapper highlights gin's versatility in a savory context. Originating in the 1920s, it remains popular for brunch or as a hangover cure.
This bubbly, citrusy cooler has roots dating back to the late 1800s. Prepared to serve over ice in a tall Collins glass, it combines gin with fresh lime juice, soda water, and simple syrup or grenadine for a red tint. The lime is decidedly prominent, as juice is added before and after shaking with ice. Soda water provides effervescence and dilution.
The Rickey was originally made with rye whiskey, but the gin version became widespread during Prohibition. Refreshing with a strong lime essence, the Gin Rickey is an ideal summertime sipper.
Dating back to the late 1800s, the Clover Club highlights Raspberry's affinity for gin. Gin, raspberry syrup, lemon juice, and an egg white are shaken vigorously and strained into a coupe. The frothy egg white lends a luscious texture and soft pink head.
Raspberry is the star flavor, added to enhance gin's botanicals and lemon's acidity. Several versions of the history exist, but it was likely created at the Clover Club bar in Philadelphia. Elegant yet approachable, the Clover Club is a classic cocktail many associate with the liquor.
With origins in 1930s Paris, the Corpse Reviver #2 is a citrusy, botanical cocktail intended to refresh and energize. Gin, lemon juice, Cointreau, Kina Lillet, and absinthe combine for a complex yet balanced flavor profile. The citrus from lemon and orange liqueurs is most pronounced, paired with the juniper and herbs in the gin.
This drink is often considered a revived classic that is slightly sweet, dry, and smooth. The name implies it provides a pick-me-up, making it a refined brunch or aperitif cocktail.
Highlighting the affinity between herbaceous gin and fresh basil, the Gin Basil Smash balances sweet and savory. Fresh basil leaves are muddled to release their fragrant flavor before combining with gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup and shaken hard with ice.
Double straining into a chilled coupe produces a light green drink teeming with basil essence. The basil pairs with botanicals in gin while lemon provides brightness. Because of the herbaceous notes, this drink shows off basil's starring role in the drink.
It originated in the early 2000s and is now considered a modern classic ideal for summer.
Author
Editor
Michele Garbuio
Michele Garbuio is a seasoned hospitality professional with a global career spanning multiple countries. Currently serving as the Resident Manager at Portrait Milano, part of the Lungarno Collection, Michele brings extensive experience in luxury hotel management to his role. His career journey has taken him from managing prestigious properties worldwide to leading food and beverage operations at top-tier establishments, including Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Jumeirah at Etihad Towers.
With a passion for wine and world travel, Michele has lived and worked in several countries, including Italy, the UAE, Egypt, the UK, and the US. His expertise in food and beverage management is complemented by his strategic leadership in pre-opening operations, guest services, and event planning. Michele is known for his strong commitment to customer satisfaction, financial targets, and staff development, particularly through the creation of wine events and staff training programs.
Michele is based in Milan, Italy, where he continues to lead and inspire in the hospitality industry, always offering his unique perspectives on the evolving world of luxury hotels.
