Top 10 Classic Gin Cocktails You Must Try
Gin, with its rich history and versatile flavor profile, has been the backbone of many classic cocktails. Whether you’re a gin aficionado or just starting to explore this delightful spirit, here are ten classic gin cocktails that you absolutely must try.
1. Gin and Tonic
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- 4 oz tonic water
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions: Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour in the gin, top with tonic water, and gently stir. Garnish with a lime wedge for a refreshing twist.
2. Martini
Ingredients:
- 2.5 oz gin
- 0.5 oz dry vermouth
- Lemon twist or olive for garnish
Instructions: In a mixing glass filled with ice, combine gin and vermouth. Stir until well chilled and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or an olive.
3. Negroni
Ingredients:
- 1 oz gin
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions: Combine gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth in a mixing glass with ice. Stir well and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange peel.
4. Tom Collins
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- Club soda
- Lemon slice and cherry for garnish
Instructions: Fill a shaker with ice and add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Shake well and strain into a tall glass filled with ice. Top with club soda and garnish with a lemon slice and cherry.
5. French 75
Ingredients:
- 1 oz gin
- 0.5 oz lemon juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- Champagne
- Lemon twist for garnish
Instructions: In a shaker filled with ice, combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Shake well and strain into a champagne flute. Top with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.
6. Aviation
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- 0.5 oz maraschino liqueur
- 0.25 oz crème de violette
- 0.75 oz lemon juice
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions: Combine gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.
7. Bee’s Knees
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- 0.75 oz lemon juice
- 0.75 oz honey syrup
Instructions: In a shaker filled with ice, mix gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
8. Last Word
Ingredients:
- 0.75 oz gin
- 0.75 oz green Chartreuse
- 0.75 oz maraschino liqueur
- 0.75 oz lime juice
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
9. Clover Club
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz gin
- 0.75 oz lemon juice
- 0.5 oz raspberry syrup
- 1 egg white
Instructions: Dry shake all ingredients (shake without ice) to emulsify the egg white. Add ice and shake again. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
10. Corpse Reviver #2
Ingredients:
- 0.75 oz gin
- 0.75 oz Cointreau
- 0.75 oz Lillet Blanc
- 0.75 oz lemon juice
- Dash of absinthe
- Lemon twist for garnish
Instructions: Combine gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Add a dash of absinthe. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.