23 Gin Cocktails That Will (Literally) Shake Up Your G&T Routine
Shaker not included.
Nothing is simpler than a gin and tonic, but what if you want to up your home bartending game? Any way you shake it, gin is one of our favorite alcohols for mixing up exciting, new cocktail recipes. Gin adds a uniquely complex herbal note to so many classic cocktails, like French 75, Singapore Sling, and Tom Collins. But why stop there? Check out all our favorite gin cocktails to find your next favorite drink.
Gin might be the most versatile alcohol for mixing. And if you ever find yourself not in the mood for vodka, gin is often a great substitution for a traditionally vodka-based cocktail, like martinis, the greyhound, and gimlets. If you've never had a Negroni, one of our favorite ways to drink gin, mix one up ASAP (it's just three ingredients!). After that, you'll be craving frozen Negronis and Negroni Jell-O shots in no time.
Flavor-wise, gin primarily derives its flavor from juniper berries, but secondary notes can be derived from a wide array of ingredients, such as various fruits, herbs, spices, and, of course, other botanicals. We love playing with herbal flavors with gin, like in our rosemary gin fizz and bee's knees cocktail. Try our Aviation cocktail (made with floral, purple-hued crème de violette), and it'll soon become your new go-to drink.
Not sure which type of gin to add to your bar cart? No sweat, we've rounded up all the best gins, the best gifts for gin-lovers, and yes, even a recipe for gin and tonic pickles.
Gin Rickey
Crafted with ingredients you already have in your fridge, the gin rickey is as refreshing as it is simple to make and, not to mention, low-carb! So if you have limes, club soda, and gin, you’re well on your way.
Get the Gin Rickey recipe.
Singapore Sling
Finally, a pink drink you can order in peace. The Singapore Sling is a strong yet balanced cocktail that’s earned its place in the respectable cocktail hall of fame. The sling cocktail has many different variations, but at its core, a sling is just a drink made with a spirit (gin in this case), sugar, water, and nutmeg. This version is named for its place of origin: The Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore at the hands of a bartender named Ngiam Tong Boon.
Get the Singapore Sling recipe.
French 75
The French 75 is among the fanciest of cocktails. Sure, there’s the tried-and-true margarita and the timeless Old Fashioned, but the French 75 has got what those two don’t: Champagne! Champagne is what makes this drink distinctively French (and totally worth the splurge), but a more affordable sparkling wine such as Prosecco or Cava are both sound options. Make sure to squeeze the lemon twist into your drink to add some of those floral lemon oils.
Get the French 75 recipe.
Negroni
Something about the bittersweet, botanical flavors of Negroni makes us feel like we're on vacation. This classic Italian cocktail amps up the notes of juniper in gin with sweet vermouth and herbaceous Campari. The best part? No crazy ratio to memorize. Just stir equal parts of all three and that’s it!
Get the Negroni recipe.
Tom Collins
What’s not to love about a simple, classic cocktail like the Tom Collins? It’s basically a spiked and sparkling lemonade, served in a Collins glass, obviously, which immediately inducts it into the summer cocktail hall of fame. The classic garnish for a fizzy Tom Collins is a lemon wedge and a bright red maraschino cherry, but it’s time for an upgrade. Leave the artificially dyed maraschinos for sundae topping and go for the dark red cocktail cherry that’s been candied or preserved in alcohol like luxardo, amarena, or sour cherries. They aren’t nearly as sweet, and they taste like actual cherries!
Get the Tom Collins recipe.
Long Island Iced Tea
Long Island iced teas are the ultimate cocktail mystery. How does this classic cocktail, with its combination of five alcohols, manage to taste incredible and resemble the taste of a lemony sweet tea?! We highly recommend making a homemade sour mix with lemon, lime, and grapefruit to add a bit more complexity that takes this drink up several notches.
Get the Long Island Iced Tea recipe.
Blueberry Gin & Tonic
The addition of a blueberry syrup turns a classic gin and tonic into a perfect summer drink, making it fruity, a little sweeter, and a beautiful shade of purple. It’s a fun party drink that mixes up quick with very little effort. The syrup will make more than you need for one drink, but you can save it for future cocktails or serve it over pancakes or ice cream!
Get the Blueberry Gin & Tonic recipe.
Bee's Knees Cocktail
For those who love gin, this bright, juicy cocktail will definitely live up to its name. With only three essential ingredients—honey, lemon, and gin—a good Bee’s Knees perfectly highlights the complex flavors of the starring spirit. Though this Prohibition-era drink may have been created to mask less-than-ideal bathtub gin, it’s still popular today thanks to its refreshing simplicity.
Get the Bee's Knees Cocktail recipe.
Appletini
Apple schnapps brings sweet-tart green apple flavor, while a splash of calvados (apple brandy) gives it a fiery kick. Easy to shake up, you can use either gin or vodka for this too! Warning: These babies are STRONG, so don't plan on going anywhere after consuming. 😂
Get the Appletini recipe.
Gimlet
This cocktail couldn't be simpler with only 3 ingredients, shaken and served. We love garnishing with a lime wheel and a bit of lime zest. It adds a flavorful intensity that comes from the oils that are released when a lime is zested and complements the herbaciousness of the gin.
Get the Gimlet recipe.
Salty Dog Drink
Crisp, grapefruity, refreshing, and only three ingredients?! The Salty Dog just became our go-to summer cocktail. Sign us up.
Get the Salty Dog Drink recipe.
Aviation Cocktail
Conceived over 100 years ago by New York bartender Hugo Ensslin, the Aviation has fallen in and out of style through the years. After crème de violette, the violet liqueur key to the purple hue and floral flavor, was discontinued in the '60s, it was all but impossible to mix up a classic Aviation at home. Thankfully, it was brought back in the mid-aughts. Though it can still be tricky to find, fans of this floral cocktail know it's worth the search.
Get the Aviation Cocktail recipe.
Negroni Jell-O Shots
We knew it was only a matter of time we'd turn our favorite summertime cocktail into a Jell-O shot for a fun take on the drink. Finish these off with an orange peel for that classic Negroni touch.
Get the Negroni Jell-O Shots recipe.
Rosemary Gin Fizz
This gin fizz gets a major flavor boost from rosemary simple syrup. This recipe will make far more syrup than you'll need for 2 drinks, but kept in an airtight container, it'll last 1 to 2 weeks! Use it to make more fizzes, or add it to other drinks that need sweetening, like homemade lemonade or iced tea.
Get the Rosemary Gin Fizz recipe.
Grapefruit Gin-mosas
No brunch spread is complete without a bubbly drink, and these grapefruit gin-mosas are mimosa’s classier and more mature cousin. The combo of fresh grapefruit juice, grapefruit soda, gin, and your favorite bubbly is a refreshing twist even the most basic brunchers will appreciate.
Get the Grapefruit Gin-mosas recipe.
Spicy Bee’s Knees
It’s easy to get in the routine of pouring a couple glasses of wine on a date night, but a spicy cocktail is so much more fun, no? This one is a hot twist on the prohibition-era classic, and it starts with homemade hot honey simple syrup. Combine it with lemon juice, gin, and ice, and you have yourself the perfect date-night cocktail!
Get the Spicy Bee’s Knees recipe.
Sparkling Greyhounds
A classic greyhound keeps it simple: grapefruit juice, vodka or gin, and ice. Our version includes some sparkly upgrades: a sweet/savory rim made of sugar and salt, and a sugar-encrusted sprig of rosemary. Refreshing and easy to down, they're great for a lively brunch or cocktail hour.
Get the Sparkling Greyhounds recipe.
Gin & Tonic Pops
We'll take our G&Ts frozen, please. No popsicle mold? No worries—these freeze up perfectly in mini Dixie cups.
Get the Gin & Tonic Pops recipe.
The Last Word Cocktail
Cherry limeade fans, we've found the sophisticated cocktail you've got to try. Next on your list? This cherry and coconut-spiked limeade recipe.
Get the The Last Word Cocktail recipe.
Long Island Iced Tea Jell-O Shots
After we made our Long Island Iced Tea Pops, we knew we had to make a Jell-O shot version. Don't let their adorable appearance fool you—these little guys pack a PUNCH!
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine and if wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.
