The Five Essential Gin Cocktails
May 19, 2016
While the temperatures might not feel warm and summery yet, consumers across the US are drinking like it is already patio season. Gin, the unofficial spirit of warm weather, is on the rise thanks to a new breed of super-premium, ultra-premium and craft brands capturing the market.
From the crisp and sharp London Dry gins to the floral and fruity international and craft varieties, each brand of gin has a signature botanical bouquet, opening up a new era of experimentation for cocktail enthusiasts. Whether stirred, bold and boozy, or shaken, citrusy and refreshing, gin’s versatility as a spirit is second to none.
To truly appreciate the world of gins out there, it is best to experience them in the drinks that made the spirit famous. Here are five cocktails that gin made famous.
If there was one cocktail to rule them all, it might just be the Martini. It is a classic and timeless wonder that never goes out of style. Dry, wet or dirty, the drink is the definition of perfection to many in the industry, and as such warrants a little fussing over. A classic London Dry gin will always result in a clean, crisp and light-bodied cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2.5 oz gin
- .5 oz Dry vermouth
Preparation
Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir until very cold and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Gin Suggestion
A Classic: The Botanist Gin Adventurous: Bluecoat Gin
The Mimosa and Bloody Mary might get all the attention around brunch these days, but it is the French 75 that should top every brunch-time drink menu. The ingredients are simple enough: gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and Champagne, but the beauty of this drink is that the resulting cocktail is far greater than the sum of its parts. Bright, crisp and delicious, the bubbly French 75 is ideal for day sipping from brunch to dinner. Or is it dunch?
Ingredients
- .5 oz sugar
- 1 oz gin
- .5 oz fresh lemon juice
- 2 oz Champagne
- 1 lemon twist
Preparation
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake gin, lemon juice and .5 oz simple syrup. Strain into chilled flute or cocktail coupe. Top with Champagne. Garnish with lemon twist.
Gin Suggestion
A Classic: Death's Door Adventurous: Hendrick's
The bittersweet Negroni is a classic Italian aperitif cocktail. Equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari combine to create a drink that is perfectly balanced and intriguingly complex. Whether it is built on the rocks in a glass, as it is in Italy, or stirred and strained neat as those stateside tend to order it, a Negroni is an impressive drink no matter how it’s served.
Ingredients
- 1 oz gin
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 1 oz Campari or another bitter-sweet Italian liqueur
- 1 orange for garnish
Preparation
Add all of the ingredients to an ice filled Old Fashioned glass. Stir until cold and garnish with a slice of orange or an orange peel.
Gin Suggestions
A Classic: Sipsmith Gin Adventurous: Opihr Gin
The Bee’s Knees is a classic cocktail of gin, lemon and honey that dates back to prohibition. During that era, citrus, honey and other flavors were often added to a drink to cover up an inferior base spirit. Improving the taste of a bad gin may have been the original intention here, but the result was a hit that is even better today with the variety of premium and super-premium gins that are available in the market.
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin
- .75 oz fresh lemon juice
- .5 oz honey syrup (one part honey, one part water)
- 1 lemon twist
Preparation
Add all ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Gin Suggestions
A Classic: Broker's Gin Adventurous: Bar Hill Gin
This cocktail is hard to miss when someone sips it at the bar. As blue as the sky, this old-school gin cocktail has made a comeback recently as both consumers and industry experts are experiencing a renewed interest in classic liqueurs. Strong and stunning, the Aviation is a gin cocktail with sky-high potential.
Ingredients
2 oz gin
.5 oz Maraschino liqueur
.25 oz Creme de violette
.75 oz lemon juice
1 cherry with stem (optional)
Preparation
Add all ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with stemmed cherry.
Gin Suggestions
A Classic: New Amsterdam Gin Adventurous: Bloom Gin