Once you find a favorite type of gin, you’ll want to mix up plenty of great gin drinks. Some of the world’s most popular cocktails feature gin as the primary spirit or at least as a secondary. All of these top 10 gin drinks primarily use it as the alcohol of choice. Once you’ve sampled this lineup of top 10 hits, make sure to branch out into drinks that combine gin with other popular spirits like vodka or rum.
The 10 Top Gin Drinks You Should Try
1. Martini
No real Martini is made without gin. It might be a variation or play on the classic, but only the combination of gin, vermouth, and a favored garnish can truly top this list. It’s up to you if you pick a lemon twist or a green olive, and we won’t tell if you add a splash of olive juice to make it dirty. Make sure to mix 2.5 ounces of gin with .5 ounces of dry vermouth in a shaker, garnishing the glass before drinking.
2. Hanky Panky
A sweet twist on the Martini, the Hanky Panky blends dry gin with Fernet-Branca and sweet vermouth. Choose an orange twist as the garnish here. It’s 1.5 ounces of gin, 1.5 ounces of sweet vermouth, and 2 generous dashes of Fernet-Branca for this combination. Mix with ice in a glass, then strain into a chilled glass so it doesn’t get watered down.
3. Tom Collins
The Tom Collins is similar to many other lemon juice, club soda, and gin cocktails. Yet thanks to the generous addition of simple syrup or sugar mixed with the lemon juice, it’s a sweeter choice than a Gin Fizz. Dating back to the 1800s or earlier, this drink starts with 2 ounces of dry gin and 1 ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Mix in .5 ounces of simple syrup, then add ice and fill the rest of the glass with club soda. The size of the glass will determine the strength of the drink.
4. Gin and Tonic
Nothing is as simple as the Gin and Tonic. All the ingredients are right there in the name. The gin truly shines when you pour 2 ounces of it into a glass with 4 ounces of tonic water or club soda. Use a highball glass and garnish it with lemon slices. Ice optional.
5. Gimlet
Another gin cocktail with a long history behind it, the Gimlet has a slightly milky look due to the concentrated combo of sugar, lime juice, and gin. There’s no club soda to lighten this one up. You’re sure to get a good dose of Vitamin C, just like the British sailors who used to order this drink. Just 2.5 ounces of gin, .5 ounces of lime juice, .5 ounces of simple syrup, and a good stir will do.
6. Negroni
You need sweet vermouth for this gin cocktail too, but you’ll mix it with Campari for a sweet orange flourish. It’s easy to remember the recipe too. Start with 1 ounce of gin, add 1 ounce of Campari, and finish up with 1 ounce of sweet vermouth. This drink deserves large ice cubes or whiskey rocks so it doesn’t dilute too much.
7. Bramble
Blackberries grow on brambles, and the Bramble cocktail is packed with them. The berry flavor goes surprisingly well with the citrus and juniper of gin. You need a specialty blackberry liqueur known as Crème de Mûre liqueur, .5 ounces of it to be exact. Add it to .5 ounces of simple syrup and 1 ounce of lemon juice. Make a mound of shaved ice in a glass and pour 1.5 ounces of gin over it. Then drizzle the syrup and liqueur over the top for a dramatic and colorful effect. Voila! Your bramble gin cocktail is done!
8. Greyhound
Lip-smacking tart flavors abound in the Greyhound. Your brunch will never be the same once you add 1.5 ounces of gin to a rocks glass filled with ice, then add enough grapefruit juice to fill it. Stir it gently before sipping.
9. Gin and Juice
Take a page from Snoop Dogg’s book and add orange, grapefruit, and lime juice to your next gin cocktail. It’s simple enough but surprisingly tropical. Mix 2 ounces of gin in a tall glass with equal parts of grapefruit and orange juice, then a splash of lime juice on top. Add ice, if desired, or simple syrup for a sweeter flavor.
10. Salty Dog
If you just can’t get enough of salt-rimmed drinks, try the Salty Dog. Some people claim that it’s identical to the Greyhound aside from the salt, but most versions also include vodka to up the alcohol content. Blend 1 ounce of gin, 0.5 ounces of vodka, and 3 ounces of grapefruit juice and serve in a salt-rimmed glass.
There’s plenty of inspiration out there to help you use up the last of that bottle of gin. Polish your practical gin cocktail-making skills with these popular classics.
