20 Gin Cocktails to Get Your Summer Started

Gin is a distilled liquor that gets its primary flavor from juniper berries, though it can be made using different botanicals and methods. This gives the gin a wide range of possible flavors to be used in a wide variety of cocktails. Not sure where to start? Here are 20 gin cocktails to get your summer started.

What to include in a gin cocktail

If you want to mix drinks like a pro, here are a couple of things to keep in mind. When vetting gin cocktails, you want a mixer that will help the flavor of the gin shine through without overpowering it. For a juniper or botanical forward gin, citrus or tonic mixers tend to work best. If you have a bitter gin, bitters or a cherry liqueur will pair deliciously.

Or, if you’re in the mood to mix your favorite flavors together and see what happens, it’s always fun to ask a friend for a recommendation. Better yet, take some time to peruse the labels and see what sparks your eye.

20 of the best gin cocktails

Whether you’re a master mixologist or unfamiliar with the other side of the bar, gain inspiration with these 20 gin cocktail recipes.

1. Gin and tonic

The quintessential gin drink and the perfect introductory beverage. Simply pour a shot of gin into a glass of ice and top with your favorite tonic water. Garnish with a lime wedge, kick your feet up, and enjoy. 

2. Bramble

If you like blackberries, you’ll love this sweet and sour bramble cocktail. Pour 2 oz of gin into your mixer, followed by 1 oz lemon juice, a 1/2 oz of simple syrup, and a 1/2 oz of blackberry liqueur. Shake, pour over a glass of crushed ice, and garnish with a couple of fresh blackberries. If you’re feeling fancy and want to make it a bramble royale, top with champagne.  

3. Gimlet

The classic gimlet is a 50/50 mixture of gin and lime juice served in a martini glass neat. Contemporary versions of this classic call for a splash of soda water, simple syrup, or bitters.

4. French 75

Named for a piece of French artillery, this drink earns its name. Combine 1.5 oz of gin, 3/4 oz of lemon juice, and 3/4 oz of simple syrup in your mixer and shake. Pour into a champagne flute and top with 2 oz of champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.

5. Negroni

An Italian gin cocktail made from 1 part gin, 1 part vermouth, and 1 part amaro bitter liqueur, a negroni is traditionally served as an aperitif. Stir all 3 ingredients and serve in a rocks glass over ice, garnish with an orange peel.

6. Tom Collins

This cocktail is essentially adult lemonade. Mix 2 oz of gin, 1 oz of lemon juice, and 1/2 oz of simple syrup and pour over ice. Top off with a splash of club soda and garnish with a lemon wedge. 

7. Gin fizz

A gin fizz is a Tom Collins with egg whites for creaminess. Combine gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg whites and shake hard for 20 seconds. Add ice and shake for another 30 seconds until frothy. Strain into a glass and top with soda water.

8. Gin Rickey

Created in the historic bars of Washington, D.C., a Gin Rickey is simply gin, lime juice, and club soda served in a highball glass over ice and garnished with a lime wheel.

9. Pegu Club

A Burmese cocktail named for a local river, this drink will taste like a tropical vacation. To make it, combine 2 oz of gin, 3/4 oz of triple sec, 1/2 oz of lime juice, a dash of simple syrup, orange bitters, and aromatic bitters in a shaker. Shake, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and relax.

10. Gin and juice

Named after a 1990s chart-topper, add a shot of gin to a tall glass of ice and top with your favorite fruit juice. This beverage is typically made with orange juice, but if you’re feeling adventurous, try grapefruit or pineapple juice.

11. Aviation

This cocktail gets its gorgeous purple color from creme de Violette liqueur. Besides the creme de Violette, this cocktail contains gin, maraschino liqueur, and lemon juice.

12. Georgia gin

Perfect for peach-lovers, combine 1.5 oz of gin, 1 oz of orange juice, and a 1/2 oz of peach schnapps to a chilled shaker and shake until cold. Serve in a cocktail glass with an orange wedge.

13. Cucumber cooler

Perfect for hot weather, this cooling beverage is made by adding muddled mint, lime, and sugar to a shaker with gin and cucumber slices. Shake and serve in a glass of ice and top with tonic water. 

14. Last word

Dating back to Prohibition, this gin drink revival is a perfectly balanced combination of gin, lemon juice, green chartreuse, and maraschino liqueur, shaken and best served in a chilled cocktail glass.

15. Gin greyhound

The perfect drink for beginners, all you need is 2 oz of gin, 4 oz of grapefruit juice, and a splash of simple sugar (if you’re looking to smooth out some of the tartness). Serve in a chilled martini glass.

16. Gin martini

Fun fact: Martinis were first served with gin, not vodka as many may think. The easiest martini recipe calls for equal parts gin and vermouth, but most adjust them to taste. Serve with a green olive for a garnish and, if you prefer your martini dirty, add in some olive brine.

17. Floradora

Served in a tall glass on ice, this cocktail mixes 1.5 oz of gin, a 1/2 oz of raspberry liqueur, a 1/2 oz of lemon juice, and 4 oz of ginger ale. Garnish with a lime wedge for some extra flavor. 

18. Gin sling

A gin sling perfectly balances sweet, sour, bitter, and herbal flavors. To carefully craft this cocktail, shake up 1.5 oz of gin, 1 oz of sweet vermouth, 1 oz of simple syrup, 3/4 oz of lemon juice, and a dash of aromatic bitters. Pour in a highball glass over ice and top with a few ounces of soda water. 

19. Red snapper

If you’re a fan of Bloody Marys, the red snapper is a perfect introduction to gin drinks. Mix gin with either Bloody Mary mix or make your own from scratch. Customize it with all of your favorite garnishes like bacon, pickles, and celery. Don’t forget the extra horseradish!

20. Bee’s knees

Another Prohibition-era cocktail, the bee’s knees was made with honey instead of sugar to help cover the flavor of the cheap gin of the 1920s. Nowadays, this cocktail is only enhanced by honey when mixed with a quality gin. The only other ingredient you need is lemon juice.

Perfect your gin cocktails with Instacart

With all these tasty places to start, kick off your gin exploration with confidence. Order all your ingredients through Instacart and choose same-day delivery or pick up at check out so you can spend less time shopping and more time relaxing in the summer sun.

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