It seemed such a great idea at the time to invite friends around for gin cocktails. It is now a week before the big day and, it occurred to me that I don’t actually know how to make any.
After some quick panic research, I put together a list of the top 10 best gin cocktails so I will at least appear slightly knowledgeable. You can benefit from my dedication and hard work as I decided to put everything into this fabulous article.
Quick Cocktail Overview
Below is a quick summary of the top 10 best gin cocktails that we will be reviewing today. Each one is surprisingly simple to make, especially if you prep a little in advance to ensure you have all the ingredients listed in this article.
| # | Cocktail | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Tom Collins | 6 |
| 2. | French 75 | 4 |
| 3. | Aviation | 4 |
| 4. | Gin Gimlet | 4 |
| 5. | Gin Martini | 4 |
| 6. | Clover Club | 5 |
| 7. | Classic Gin Fizz | 5 |
| 8. | Negroni | 4 |
| 9. | Southside | 5 |
| 10. | Perfect G&T | 4 |
Top 10 Best Gin Cocktails
Here are my top 10 best gin cocktails in no particular order of preference. Each has a step-by-step written guide, and a video is also included. You may be interested to know that there is a super-secret bonus cocktail at the end of this article.
1. Tom Collins
One of the most iconic Gin cocktails of all time. A classic zesty affair that is rather pleasingly super simple to make.
Video Guide
Check out this great step-by-step video guide! Please show the artist some love by liking or subscribing to their channel!
Ingredients
- 50ml gin
- 25ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 25ml simple syrup **
- Soda water
- Garnish with a lemon slice and a maraschino cherry
Method
- Add ice, gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup to your shaker.
- Shake until well chilled.
- Strain into a Collins glass filled with fresh ice
- Top up with soda water
- Garnish with a slice of lemon and a maraschino cherry
**Simple Syrup – slowly heat 2 parts of sugar to 1 part water until the sugar dissolves then allow to cool. Keep in the fridge for up to a month!
2. French 75
The French 75 is a delicate and refreshing cocktail (with a kick!) which apparently gets its name from the 75mm guns used in World War I. It is a delight to drink, and Champagne is often replaced with Prosecco however let’s keep to the original recipe!
Video Guide
Check out this great step-by-step video guide! Please show the artist some love by liking or subscribing to their channel!
Ingredients
- 50ml gin
- 15ml lemon juice
- 15ml simple syrup **
- Champagne
Method
- Add the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice.
- Shake for about 5 – 10 seconds.
- Strain into a champagne flute and top with chilled Champagne.
**Simple Syrup – slowly heat 2 parts of sugar to 1 part water until the sugar dissolves then allow to cool. Keep in the fridge for up to a month!
3. Aviation
Certainly more of a sipping cocktail, and boy what a looker it is thanks to the crème de violette giving off that beautiful blue/violet hue, just like a perfect summer sky and hence the name.
Also Read: 9 First-Class Gins for the Perfect Aviation Cocktail
Video Guide
Check out this great step-by-step video guide! Please show the artist some love by liking or subscribing to their channel!
Ingredients
- 50ml Aviation Gin
- 15ml Maraschino liqueur
- 10ml Crème de violette
- 25ml Fresh lemon juice
Method
- Add ingredients to a shaker
- Add ice and shake for 10 seconds
- Strain into chilled martini style cocktail glass
- Serve with a brandied cherry.
4. Gin Gimlet
Sweet and zesty all at the same time! The Gin Gimlet is a classic cocktail that will still be around when we are pushing up the daisies.
Video Guide
Check out this great step-by-step video guide! Please show the artist some love by liking or subscribing to their channel!
Ingredients
- 50ml Gin
- 25ml fresh lime juice
- 25ml Simple Syrup **
- Garnish – lime wedge
Method
- Shake ingredients together with ice.
- Pour into a coupe glass.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
**Simple Syrup – slowly heat 2 parts of sugar to 1 part water until the sugar dissolves then allow to cool. Keep in the fridge for up to a month!
5. Gin Martini
Undoubtedly one of the most famous Gin cocktails on the planet. No Top 10 Best Gin Cocktail list would be complete without it. Just goes to show that style is never out of fashion. I tend to add a splash of soda water just to take the edge off if I am having a few!
Video Guide
Check out this great step-by-step video guide! Please show the artist some love by liking or subscribing to their channel!
Ingredients
- 50ml Gin
- 25ml Dry Vermouth
- Lemon peel & olive to garnish
Method
- Add all the ingredients to a tall glass and stir.
- Strain into a Martini glass.
- Garnish with lemon peel, add an olive if desired.
6. Clover Club
A dry and fruity tipple sure to please any palate. The Clover Club is a cocktail that has been around even before the prohibition. The cocktail was named after a drinking club that dates back to the late 1800s
Video Guide
Check out this great step-by-step video guide! Please show the artist some love by liking or subscribing to their channel!
Ingredients
- 50ml Gin
- 15ml lemon juice
- 15ml raspberry syrup
- 15ml Martini Extra Dry Vermouth
- 15g egg white
Method
Shake all the ingredients with ice then strain into a separate mixing glass or shaker and shake again with no ice. This dry-shake has the effect of whipping air into the cocktail.
Strain into a chilled coupe glass and enjoy. You can leave the egg white out if you prefer, but it adds a lovely sherbet effect to the palate.
7. Classic Gin Fizz
No matter what gin you choose, this zesty cocktail is sure to be a popular choice at any party (well it was at my most recent event!).
Video Guide
Check out this great step-by-step video guide! Please show the artist some love by liking or subscribing to their channel!
Ingredients
- 50ml Gin
- 20 ml freshly squeezed lemon
- 20 ml of simple syrup **
- 20 ml of egg white
- 50ml soda water
Method
- Place the ingredients (but not the soda water) into a shaker and shake (without ice) for about 5 seconds.
- Add a few ice cubes and shake for a further 10 – 20 seconds
- Strain into a rocks glass already containing the soda water
- Garnish with a lemon wedge
**Simple Syrup – slowly heat 2 parts of sugar to 1 part water until the sugar dissolves then allow to cool. Keep in the fridge for up to a month!
8. Negroni
A classic Italian pre-dinner drink thought to get your appetite started, more like get a hangover started early! Watch yourself with this one.
Video Guide
Check out this great step-by-step video guide! Please show the artist some love by liking or subscribing to their channel!
Ingredients
- 25ml gin
- 25ml sweet vermouth
- 25ml Campari
- 1 orange
Method
- Pour the gin, sweet vermouth and Campari into a ‘rocks glass’ filled with ice.
- Stir
- Finally, add a twist of orange peel
9. Southside
I have always been a lover of the classic Rum Mojito, and here we have a delightful Gin Mojito for your drinking pleasure. This also went down a treat, just make sure you use fresh lime juice!
Video Guide
Check out this great step-by-step video guide! Please show the artist some love by liking or subscribing to their channel!
Ingredients
- 50ml premium Gin
- 20ml fresh lime juice
- 15ml simple syrup **
- Fresh mint leaves (5 or 6)
- Crushed ice
Method
- Pop the gin, fresh lime juice, sugar syrup, and the mint leaves into your shaker then get your arms moving.
- Strain into a Martini glass (no ice) or my preference, a ‘rocks glass’ (with crushed ice)
- Garnish with a fresh mint leaf or two.
**Simple Syrup – slowly heat 2 parts of sugar to 1 part water until the sugar dissolves then allow to cool. Keep in the fridge for up to a month!
10. The Perfect G&T
Last but not least, the most simple but the Big Daddy of all Gin Cocktails. The classic Gin and Tonic.
Video Guide
Check out this great step-by-step video guide! Please show the artist some love by liking or subscribing to their channel!
Ingredients
- 50ml Gin
- 150ml Indian Tonic Water
- Ice
- Garnish with a squeezed wedge of lime
Method
- First, add the ice into the balloon glass and stir to chill the glass
- Drain off any excess liquid
- Add the Gin
- Top up with Indian Tonic Water
- Squeeze a wedge of lime into the glass
- Garnish with the lime wedge.
Geek Secret Bonus Cocktail!
Only you, me, and the rest of the English speaking world on the Internet have been let into this secret bonus cocktail. Oh, and anyone with Google Translate. But hey, don’t feel you are less special now.
Raspberry Gin Fizz
Smooth, bubbly, and very, very cheeky indeed. Opt for Chambord, not some cheap dodgy Raspberry Liqueur like I did last time and it was awful. Really does make all the difference.
Ingredients
- 25ml Gin
- 15ml Chambord Raspberry Liqueur
- 150ml Prosecco
- Garnish with a fresh raspberry
Method
- Add the Gin and Raspberry Liqueur to a champagne flute
- Top up with Processo
- Gently stir
- Garnish with a Fresh raspberry
Conclusion
Well, I hope you enjoyed this Top 10 Best Gin Cocktails guide, and if you have any gin cocktails that you would like to share then, please get in touch.
Planning a Gin Cocktail evening? Then the below checklist should help.
Evening Checklist
Make sure you have:
- Gin!
- The ingredients for the cocktail(s) you wish to make including garnish
- A cocktail shaker set with strainer
- A selection of fancy glasses
- Plenty of ice
- Some cocktail drinking guests
- The next day off work
