Guide to Gin (and Gin Cocktails)

Gin is one of the most popular spirits and one of the most common liquors used in cocktails. From Prohibition era classics like the Bees Knees to the iconic Martini or the eternally refreshing Gin and Tonic, there’s a gin cocktail for just about everyone.

What is gin?

Gin is a liquor that’s made from neutral grain spirits that are flavored with a variety of botanicals, one of which must be juniper. The bright, piney flavor of juniper berries gives gin its characteristic freshness. Most gins are around 40% alcohol by volume. Navy Strength gins are those that are at least 114 proof (57%).

The term Navy Strength refers to the British Royal Navy and the gin that they carried aboard their ships. In order to verify that the gin they received was high enough quality, and not watered down, they would mix it with gunpowder and light it on fire. If it burned clear, they knew it was strong enough (57% alcohol by volume).

History of the spirit

Gin’s modern roots can be traced back to England in the 17th century. The Dutch and Belgian spirit jenever is its predecessor, a juniper-flavored spirit made with a grain-based mash. Older spirits incorporating juniper can be traced back even further to monks in Italy in the 11th century.

Unlike spirits like tequila or bourbon, there are no legal requirements for spirits producers to follow in order to call their product gin. The only mandatory botanical is juniper, but some modern gins use such a small amount, that it’s virtually undetectable in the finished product. There’s a push in the spirits community to redefine these low-juniper products as botanical spirits, rather than gin.

The five types of gin

Let's walk through the different types of gin available today. These include the famous London Dry, New American, and the Old Tom style.

London Dry

The London Dry style of gin is the classic, juniper-forward gin. These gins get their flavor from the botanicals that they are distilled with and there are no additives after the fact. Examples of London dry gin include Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray, Beefeater, and Ford’s.

Note: Plymouth gin is technically it’s own category of gin, although its taste and process is similar to London dry. Plymouth gin can only be made in Plymouth, England and it is characterized by a slightly earthier flavor.

Distilled

Bottles of gin that are labeled as “Distilled Gin” means that they are a distilled spirit made with botanicals including juniper that may (or may not) have flavorings or other additives introduced after distillation. These additives could be natural or artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners. While distilled gins can still be of very high quality, regulations allow for much more adulterating of the finished product than London dry gins. Most flavored gins and “pink gins” fall into this category.

New Age, New American, or New Style Gins

The surge in gin popularity in the last couple of decades has brought a ton of new brands to market, including many that produce non-traditional styles of gin. Because the gin category’s definition is quite broad, a wide range of spirits using an even wider range of botanicals exist today. Some of these modern gins retain the prominent juniper flavor, while others skew to a more citrus, herbal, fruit, or floral flavor. Examples of New Age gins include Hendrick’s, Aviation, and Uncle Val’s.

Old Tom Gin

Old Tom gin is characterized by some degree of sweetening and aging, although neither is technically a requirement. It’s often said that Old Tom gin falls between the very dry London dry gin and the very malty genever. Although less common today, Old Tom gin was often called for in classic gin cocktail recipes, including the beloved Tom Collins.

On to the cocktails! Most classic gin cocktails can be categorized into spirit-forward sips (like Martinis and Negronis), sours (like the Gimlet), and highballs (Gin and Tonic). Other notable gin classics include the bubbly gin and champagne cocktail the French 75, and the more modern tiki classic, Saturn (gin with passionfruit, lime, and orgeat syrup).

Spirit-forward gin cocktails

Spirit-forward gin cocktails are those that feature liquor, liqueurs, and other alcoholic ingredients as the primary ingredients. The most classic spirit-forward cocktails are Martinis (made with only alcoholic ingredients) and the Old Fashioned (made with mostly alcoholic ingredients). These drinks pack a punch and showcase the flavors of the spirit.

Classic Gin Martini (gin, dry vermouth, orange bitters)

The Martini is perhaps the most iconic cocktail ever. While everyone has their own preferred specs, a traditional Martini is a mix of gin and dry vermouth with a couple dashes of orange bitters. A lemon twist is the perfect garnish for highlighting the herbal flavors of the drink, although olives are a nice for accenting those savory notes. Get the Classic Gin Martini recipe.

Vesper Martini (gin, vodka, Lillet Blanc)

Like the classic Martini, the Vesper features a mix of gin and a wine-based modifier. The Vesper steps things up a notch with an extra heavy pour of gin and the addition of an ounce of vodka. This ultra boozy martini was invented not by a bartender, but by Ian Fleming, in his famed James Bond novel, Casino Royale. Get the Vesper Martini recipe.

Gibson Martini (gin, dry vermouth, cocktail onion)

The Gibson is a Martini variation that's best known for its garnish - a cocktail onion. Learn all about this savory Martini and my favorite way to make it in my Gibson Martini recipe.

Negroni (gin, Campari, sweet vermouth)

Few classic cocktails have made a bigger comeback than the Negroni. Famous for it's brilliant red hue, this boozy and bittersweet cocktail is a mix of gin, the bitter liqueur Campari, and sweet vermouth. Get my Perfect Negroni Recipe.

Strawberry Negroni (gin, strawberry-infused Campari, sweet vermouth)

This delicious riff on the classic Negroni uses strawberry-infused Campari for a pop of summer berry flavor that pairs beautifully with the liqueur's bittersweet citrus flavors. While infusing Campari with strawberries is the most popular way to make this drink, you can also make a Strawberry Negroni with strawberry-infused gin. Get the Strawberry Negroni recipe.

Quill Negroni (gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, absinthe)

The Quill is a lesser known, unique Negroni variation that fans of the bittersweet cocktail should try at least once! If you enjoy the herbal punch of absinthe, you'll love this complex, boozy sip. Get the Quill Negroni recipe.

Hanky Panky (gin, sweet vermouth, Fernet Branca)

The Hanky Panky is a Prohibition-era cocktail that's sweet, herbal, and bitter. It's flavored with the unique bitter liqueur, Fernet Branca. Get the Hanky Panky recipe.

Sour-style gin cocktails

Sours are a type of cocktail that incorporate spirits, citrus, sugar, and sometimes (often) egg white. Some famous examples of sours are the Whiskey Sour, Amaretto Sour, and basic Gin Sour. Here are some gin cocktails that are boozy, sweet, and sour.

Gimlet (gin, lime juice, simple syrup)

The Gimlet is a classic, simple gin cocktail that was originally a mix of gin and lime cordial. Lime cordial is essentially a sweetened lime juice. Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice is the most common lime cordial sold in stores in the US. Today the Gimlet is better known as a mix of gin with lime juice and simple syrup. Whereas the old school Gimlet was a bit too sweet and sometimes a bit bitter from the bottled lime juice, the modern Gimlet recipe is a deliciously well-balanced mix of sweet and tart flavors.

Southside (gin, lemon or lime juice, simple syrup, mint)

The Southside is a wonderful gin cocktail that is cool and refreshing with the addition of mint. The origins of this classic are greatly disputed, and no one can really agree on whether it should be made with lemon juice or lime juice. I say, try it both ways! Then try the many variations such as the perfectly summery Southside Fizz. Get the Southside recipe.

Corpse Reviver No.2 (gin, Lillet Blanc, Cointreau, lemon juice, absinthe)

A very underrated gin cocktail, the Corpse Reviver No.2 is an equal parts classic that mixes botanicals with citrus and then adds herbal complexity with an absinthe rinse. The strange name is a reference to being hungover, as the Corpse Reviver series of cocktails were invented as "hair of the dog" cures. Get the Corpse Reviver No.2 recipe.

Clover Club (gin, dry vermouth, raspberry syrup, lemon juice, egg white)

Named for a gentleman's club at which it was allegedly invented, the Clover Club is an enduring gin classic made with sweet raspberry and tart lemon. The addition of dry vermouth adds complexity and a rich egg white foam softens and melds all the flavors together. Get the Clover Club recipe.

Bee's Knees (gin, honey syrup, lemon juice)

Perhaps the most famous Prohibition-era gin cocktail, the Bee's Knees is an easy mix of gin, honey syrup, and lemon juice. The light, slightly floral flavor makes this classic perfect for the spring and summer months. Get the classic Bee's Knees recipe.

Yellowjacket (gin, honey syrup, Yellow Chartreuse, lemon juice)

The Yellowjacket is a fun Bee's Knees riff that I created. This version is a little more complex, with the addition of sweet and herbal Yellow Chartreuse. Get my Yellowjacket (Bee’s Knees riff) recipe.

Gin Basil Smash (gin, simple syrup, lemon juice, basil)

One of the most famous modern gin cocktails, the Gin Basil Smash (originally known as the Gin Pesto) was invented in 2008 by German bartender Jörg Meyer. Gin, lemon and simple syrup become bright green and ultra refreshing with the addition of thoroughly muddled basil. Get Meyer's wonderful Gin Basil Smash recipe.

Even more sweet and sour gin cocktails to enjoy:

• Peach Violet Empress Gin Sour
• Strawberry Rhubarb Gin Sour
• Raspberry Basil Blossom Gin Smash
• Strawberry Basil Gin Sour
• Mandarin Ginger Gin Sour
• Pink Gin Lemonade

Highballs

A highball is a type of mixed drink that combines spirits and a long pour of a (typically bubbly) mixer, such as club soda or ginger ale. These long drinks are served in highball or other tall, large capacity glasses. The most famous gin highball is the Gin and Tonic.

Tom Collins (gin, simple syrup, lemon juice, club soda)

The classic Tom Collins is a tall, refreshing gin cocktail made with lemon juice, simple syrup and club soda. It's essentially gin-spiked lemonade. What could be better? Get the Tom Collins recipe.

Gin and Tonic (gin, tonic water, lime juice)

A summer staple, the gin and tonic is perfectly bittersweet and refreshing. This simple two ingredient (plus a squeeze of lime) drink is popular the world over, with famous variations in presentation and garnishing, such as the Spanish G&T, becoming symbolic of the craft cocktail boom. Get the perfect Gin and Tonic recipe.

Ramos Gin Fizz (gin, lemon, simple syrup, cream, egg white, club soda)

This famous New Orleans cocktail is known for its sky-high foam and deliciously creamy texture. A 'fizz' is a combination of a sour and a highball, with club soda and frothy egg white. Get the Ramos Gin Fizz recipe and learn how to get the very best, tall foam on your fizz!

Salty Dog (gin, grapefruit juice, salt)

The Salty Dog is an oddball mixed drink, but it just works. Sour, slightly sweet, floral grapefruit juice is enhanced by the addition of a salted rim. This classic can be made with either gin or vodka, but the botanical flavors of gin really shine in this simple drink. Get the Salty Dog recipe.

Floradora (gin, raspberry syrup, lime juice, ginger ale)

The Floradora is a classic, somewhat forgotten gin cocktail that's sweet and refreshing with raspberry and ginger. Named for a popular Broadway musical in the early 1900s, this lovely mixed drink is a great introduction to gin for those who aren't sure the spirit is for them. Get my Raspberry & Rose Floradora recipe.

Gin Rickey (gin, lime juice, club soda)

One of my all-time favorite easy mixed drinks is the Gin Rickey. Three simple ingredients and 10 seconds and you've got the most refreshing summer drink there is. While some modern versions add simple syrup, a classic Gin Rickey is unsweetened and flavored only by the gin and a hefty squeeze of lime juice. Get the classic Gin Rickey recipe.

Tiki & Tropical Style

There aren't many tropical gin cocktails, but there are a couple that use the tiki ingredient orgeat. Here are the two best known tiki or tropical style gin cocktails today.

Army & Navy (gin, lemon juice, orgeat)

This lovely, three ingredient cocktail combines gin with lemon and almond-flavored orgeat syrup. It's surprisingly complex and still quite refreshing. Get the Army & Navy recipe.

Saturn (gin, lemon, passion fruit syrup, falernum, orgeat syrup)

The Saturn is the most famous gin tiki cocktail - and for good reason! It's incredibly delicious, with layers of tropical and spiced flavors. Although the three sweeteners in this cocktail aren't the most common, they are all easy to purchase online or at a liquor store. You can also easily make your own passion fruit syrup, falernum, and orgeat syrup! Get the classic Saturn recipe.

Gin & Champagne

There's just one classic recipe but an infinite number of variations on it. Gin, citrus, sugar and champagne is quintessential celebratory cocktail.

French 75 (gin, simple syrup, lemon juice, champagne)

The French 75 is a legendary, boozy cocktail that packs a much stronger punch than it would appear (or than it tastes).

Named for a powerful piece of artillery, this classic cocktail is best enjoyed in moderation. There are many wonderful variations on the original, such as using fruit flavored syrups or swapping the champagne for sparkling rose. Get the classic French 75 recipe.

Create you own custom gin cocktail

Still want more? One of the most fun and rewarding things about mixing drinks at home is experimenting and creating your own unique drink recipes. The next time you pick up a new bottle of gin, try making a cocktail using the following specs:

• 2 ounces gin
• ¾ - 1 ounce fresh lemon or lime juice
• ¾ - 1 ounce sweet ingredient (such as simple syrup, honey syrup, a flavored syrup, or a liqueur)
• 4-6 ounces of sparkling water (optional, if you prefer a long drink)

Combine the first three ingredients in a cocktail shaker and fill it ¾ with ice. Shake until it's nice and cold, then strain the liquid into a chilled cocktail glass OR a highball glass filled with ice (if topping the drink off with soda water). Garnish with a fresh botanical that echoes flavors or aromas in your custom recipe.

There are so many ways to customize this drink - try it with St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, easy homemade raspberry simple syrup, or use plain simple syrup but muddle in some fresh seasonal fruit. The possibilities are endless and the best part is that this recipe template works with whatever you already have on hand.

If you prefer your drinks a little more spirit-forward, start with ¾ ounce each citrus juice and simple syrup. If you like things a little sweeter and slightly more mild, start with 1 ounce each of those ingredients. Mellow things even further with the addition of a few ounces of sparkling water.

Want more? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for fun drink recipes and lots of cocktail and mocktail inspiration!