Gin has gone from a misunderstood spirit to a cocktail staple, loved for its crisp character, botanical complexity, and endless versatility behind the bar. Whether you prefer something spirit-forward and classic or light and refreshing for summer sipping, these gin cocktail recipes showcase just how flexible a great bottle of gin can be.
In this article, we’re sharing 7 refined gin cocktail recipes that you can easily make at home using standard ingredients and basic bar equipment.
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Elderflower Martini
The gin martini is the classic gin cocktail. While some won’t want to mess with a good thing, you might enjoy this elderflower version with added bittersweet notes from the elderflower and lemon juice. Although still spirit-forward, this version of the classic martini is surprisingly refreshing.
Ingredients:
- ¾ oz dry vermouth
- 1.5 oz gin
- 1 oz elderflower cordial
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
- lemon slice for garnish
Instructions:
- Grab your cocktail shaker and add the gin, dry vermouth, lemon juice and elderflower cordial along with some ice cubes.
- Give it your best cocktail-bar shake.
- Pour the mixture into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a slice of lemon.
Negroni
Continuing on to another classic cocktail – the Negroni. This traditional cocktail is experiencing a new wave of popularity, and it’s incredibly easy to put together. The Negroni is hard to mess up.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz gin
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a large mixing glass or cocktail shaker with ice.
- Pour in your gin, Campari and vermouth before giving it a stir with a spoon.
- Strain your mixture into a rocks glass filled high with ice.
- Garnish with an orange peel. Give the peel a spritz overtop first, if you desire.
Gin Daisy
The Gin Daisy is an old-school cocktail that isn’t as widely known today. But it’s delicious – think of it as a “grownup lemonade” that isn’t overly sweet. The optional grenadine is mostly for some added colour, but it can also bring subtle berry notes, which we’d highly recommend.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ oz gin
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
- ¾ oz orange liqueur
- Splash of grenadine (optional)
- Soda water
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions:
- Into your cocktail shaker, add the gin, lemon juice, orange liqueur and grenadine.
- Add ice to the shaker and give it a good shake to chill the mixture.
- Strain over ice into your favourite cocktail glass (ideally a Collins glass).
- Top with your desired amount of soda water and garnish with a lemon peel.
Peach Raspberry Gin Twist
The Peach Raspberry Gin Twist is a fruity remix of a timeless cocktail, perfect for the summertime. You can use peach and raspberry flavoured gin, but this version uses standard gin with the addition of special liqueurs.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz gin
- 1 oz peach liqueur
- ½ oz raspberry liqueur
- ½ oz vanilla liqueur (or sub with vanilla syrup)
- ½ oz fresh lemon juice
- Raspberries and lemon for garnish
- Soda water (optional)
Instructions:
- Fill your cocktail shaker with ice, along with the gin, peach liqueur, raspberry liqueur, vanilla liqueur (or syrup) and lemon juice.
- Shake well to chill the mixture.
- Strain into a cocktail glass served over ice.
- Top with optional soda water and your garnishes.
Bijou
The Bijou is a US pre-prohibition era cocktail that dates back to the 1890s. Bijou is “jewel” in French, and the name is fitting. It’s said that the cocktail is made of three gems, diamond (gin), ruby (vermouth) and emerald (green Chartreuse).
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ oz gin
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- ¾ oz green Chartreuse
- 2 dashes of orange bitters
- Maraschino cherry for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Throw all of your ingredients into a tall mixing glass filled with ice.
- Stir well with a spoon.
- Strain your mixture into a chilled cocktail glass (ideally a coupe glass).
- Top with a maraschino cherry if that’s your style.
Ramos Fizz
If you’re up for a challenge, the Ramos Fizz is one of the trickier gin cocktails to re-create. But the result is well worth the effort. This cocktail is born in New Orleans back in the 1880’s, and is famous for its silky texture and cloudy appearance.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- ¾ oz simple syrup
- ½ oz heavy cream
- ½ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz fresh lime juice
- 3 dashes of orange flower water (sub with rose water, orange oil or orange liqueur)
- 1 egg white
- Soda water
Instructions:
- Into your cocktail shaker, add the gin, simple syrup, cream, citrus juices, orange flower water and egg white.
- Without ice in the shaker, give your mixture a violent shake for no longer than 15 seconds.
- Then add your ice and shake for at least 15 seconds, allowing the mixture to fully chill.
- Strain into a cocktail glass (preferably a Collins glass).
- There will be some leftover cream and egg white in your shaker. To get it out, use a small amount of soda water to wash it back on top of the cocktail.
Hanky Panky
The Hanky Panky is a complex gin cocktail from England. It relies on equal parts of gin and sweet vermouth, plus the addition of the uniquely bitter tasting Fernet-Branca. The end result is bitter, sweet and herbal.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ oz gin (preferably London Dry)
- 1 ½ oz sweet vermouth
- ¼ oz Fernet-Branca
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions:
- Add all of your ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir with a spoon.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with the orange peel.
Shop for premium gin, craft gin and cocktail ingredients at your local Springs Group liquor store near you in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island. We’ve got all of the finest import varieties, plus some exciting options from right here in our backyard. Need a hand? Our friendly staff is highly knowledgeable and eager to help!
