Recipes
The best gin cocktails for every taste
Flavors and origins – inspiration for gin cocktails
Gin stands for variety in the glass. The spectrum ranges from clear aperitifs to fruity highballs, carried by juniper, citrus, and delicate herbal notes. Whether classic, fruity, or tart, gin can be used to create drinks for almost any occasion. Discover our gin recipes now and find your new favorite cocktail.
Gin has been part of the bar scene for centuries. Its roots range from Dutch genever to 19th-century London distilleries to today's diversity. The defining styles are dry gin with its straightforward dryness, Old Tom with its gentle sweetness, and sloe gin, a fruity liqueur based on gin. Well-known brands such as Gordon's, Beefeater, Tanqueray, Plymouth, and Hendrick's show how different the aroma and character can be and offer a solid guide when making your selection.
Gin classics
Gin Tonic
The epitome of the long drink: clear and straightforward. Juniper meets bitter quinine notes, citrus adds freshness, and plenty of ice provides crisp cold. Whether as an elegant aperitif or a relaxed after-work drink, this classic accompanies almost any occasion with confidence.
Preparation: Fill a highball glass with large ice cubes. Add 5 cl of gin. Carefully top up with 10 to 15 cl of tonic water and stir briefly. Garnish subtly with zest, cucumber, or herbs.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 5 cl Dry Gin
- 10 to 15 cl tonic water
- Garnish of choice
Martini
An icon of cocktail culture with crystal-clear aromatics. Dry and precise, it showcases juniper and the subtle herbs of vermouth. With an olive, it becomes savory; with lemon zest, it highlights the essential oils of the peel while remaining strict and elegant.
Preparation: Stir gin and vermouth over plenty of ice in a mixing glass for 20–30 seconds until chilled. Strain into a pre-chilled coupe. Serve with zest or an olive.
Ingredients:
- 6 cl Dry Gin
- 1 to 2 cl dry vermouth
- Lemon zest, olive, or a few drops of olive bitters
Negroni
Bitter and velvety at the same time, with a bright color and distinctive orange note. Gin provides structure, red vermouth adds herbs and sweetness, and Campari delivers the signature bitterness. A mature aperitif that perfectly stimulates the appetite before a meal.
Preparation: Build all ingredients in a tumbler over large ice cubes. Stir briefly and garnish with orange zest.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 3 cl Gin
- 3 cl Campari
- 3 cl red vermouth
- Orange zest
Tom Collins
Light and sparkling, the elongated cousin of the Gin Fizz. Lemon juice and syrup balance the gin, while plenty of soda makes it particularly refreshing. Old Tom Gin gives it roundness, Dry Gin adds edge while keeping it approachable.
Preparation: Build gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a highball glass over ice and stir briefly. Top with plenty of soda and lift gently.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 6 cl Gin
- 3 cl fresh lemon juice
- 2 cl simple syrup
- Soda to top
Content: 0.7 Liter (€40.71* / 1 Liter)
Gin Fizz
A compact sour with delicate bubbles. Lemon and sugar create balance, a splash of soda lifts the flavors and makes the drink lively. Ideal if you prefer freshness and clarity with a bit of fizz.
Preparation: Shake gin, lemon juice, and syrup vigorously with ice. Strain into a highball with fresh ice. Top with 4 to 6 cl soda.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 6 cl Gin
- 3 cl lemon juice
- 2 cl simple syrup
- 4 to 6 cl soda
Gin Sour
A purist approach to mixing, clear in structure and precise in flavor. Juniper, lemon, and sugar form a harmonious triangle. With egg white, it becomes creamy and rounded; without egg white, it is crisp and direct with a clean, long finish.
Preparation: Optionally dry shake egg white with other ingredients without ice. Then wet shake vigorously with ice. Strain into a coupe and perfume with zest.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 6 cl Gin
- 3 cl lemon juice
- 2 cl simple syrup
- optional 2 cl egg white
Martinez
Classic precursor to the Martini with soft sweetness. Old Tom Gin blends with red vermouth, Maraschino adds an almond accent, and bitters round it off. A mature, bitter drink with warm depth, ideal for quiet evening hours.
Preparation: Stir over ice. Strain into a pre-chilled coupe. Express orange zest over the top.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 4.5 cl Old Tom Gin
- 3 cl red vermouth
- 1 bar spoon Maraschino
- 1 dash Orange Bitters
Gimlet
Two ingredients, clear line, bold character. The sweet-sour lime cordial meets juniper, delivering a juicy lime note carried by the drink’s cold and texture. A straightforward short drink with surprising depth.
Preparation: Stir or briefly shake gin and lime juice cordial with ice. Strain into a coupe.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 6 cl Dry Gin
- 2 cl lime juice cordial
Aviation
Elegant classic with a delicate floral note. Lemon brings freshness, Maraschino delivers cherry and subtle almond, Crème de Violette adds color and a floral echo. An aperitif that appears delicate yet remains present.
Preparation: Shake all ingredients vigorously with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 5 cl Gin
- 2.5 cl lemon juice
- 1.25 cl Maraschino
- 0.5 cl Crème de Violette
Fruity gin cocktails
Boston Cocktail
Apricot and lemon combine into a fresh fruity balance, with a touch of grenadine for color and flavor. The drink feels elegant and lively, ideal before a meal or whenever a fruity short drink is desired.
Preparation: Shake all ingredients vigorously with ice. Double strain into a coupe.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 2.25 cl Dry Gin
- 2.25 cl Apricot Brandy
- 2.25 cl lemon juice
- 0.75 cl grenadine
Paradise
Sunny aromas of ripe orange and velvety apricot. The gin remains in the lead while the fruit plays softly in the background. A quick, uncomplicated aperitif that balances freshness, sweetness, and spice.
Preparation: Shake vigorously with ice. Strain into a small cocktail glass.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 4 cl Gin
- 2 cl Apricot Brandy
- 4 cl orange juice
Singapore Sling
A classic from the Raffles Hotel with a fruity-spicy profile. Cherry, lemon, and herbs add accents, while soda provides length and smooth flow. A festive long drink that elegantly balances warmth, acidity, and bitterness.
Preparation: Shake everything except soda and Benedictine with ice. Strain into a highball glass over ice. Top with about 6 cl soda and a few drops of Benedictine.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 5 cl Gin
- 2 cl Cherry Heering
- 2 cl lemon juice
- about 6 cl soda
- a few drops of Benedictine
- 1 dash Angostura
Grapefruit Rosemary Gin
Mediterranean freshness with subtle bitterness. Grapefruit juice adds juiciness, tonic provides a light bitter note, and rosemary gives herbal fragrance. A simple highball that immediately evokes bright summer vibes visually and taste-wise.
Preparation: Build in a highball glass over ice. Lightly bruise a rosemary sprig and add. Lift once gently.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 4.2 cl Gin
- 20 cl grapefruit juice
- 5 cl tonic water
- 1 rosemary sprig
Content: 0.7 Liter (€38.50* / 1 Liter)
Flower Power
Floral and delicate, with blossom-rich accents. Plymouth Gin provides backbone, St Germain and Crème de Violette contribute fragrance, and dry vermouth ensures balance. An elegant drink for those who appreciate lightness with structure.
Preparation: Shake vigorously with ice. Strain into a pre-chilled coupe.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
Gin Wild Berry
Berry fruit meets effervescence. The drink is simple, lightly sweet, and pleasantly fresh. Mint and berries add aroma and color—a perfect introduction to fruity gin cocktails with minimal effort and guaranteed appeal.
Preparation: Build in a highball over ice. Stir briefly. Add berries and mint.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 5 cl Gin
- 15 cl Schweppes Russian Wild Berry
- 1 cl lime juice
- handful of forest berries
- mint leaves
Tart and spicy gin cocktails
Munich Mule
Spicy ginger bite, juicy lime, and clear juniper structure. The drink is cool, invigorating, and very drinkable. A modern bar icon showing how well gin and ginger beer work together.
Preparation: Build in a copper mug or highball over ice. Stir briefly. Optionally garnish with cucumber and lime.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 5 cl Gin
- 1 to 2 cl fresh lime juice
- 8 to 10 cl ginger beer
- optional cucumber slice
Content: 0.5 Liter (€79.90* / 1 Liter)
The Vesper
Powerful Bond classic with French charm. Lillet Blanc contributes honey and citrus, vodka cools and stretches, gin holds the structure. A serious, dry drink that reveals its depth when sipped slowly.
Preparation: Shake gin, vodka, and Lillet with plenty of ice for a long, vigorous shake. Strain into a pre-chilled martini glass. Squeeze over lemon zest.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 6 cl Beefeater Dry Gin
- 2 cl Vodka
- 1 cl Lillet Blanc
- Lemon zest
Gin Basil Smash
Fresh, green, and aromatic—a modern classic from Germany. Lemon juice and sugar highlight the freshness, while basil provides intense herbal notes. A drink with great impact that delights effortlessly.
Preparation: Lightly muddle basil. Shake vigorously with gin, lemon juice, and syrup over ice. Strain into a tumbler over ice. Garnish with basil.
Ingredients for 1 drink:
- 5 cl London Dry
- 2.5 cl lemon juice
- 1.5 cl simple syrup
- 8 basil leaves
Brief classification of gin styles
Not all gins are the same. Even small differences in sweetness, botanicals, and production methods can influence the character of the drink. The three most important styles for cocktails are dry gin, Old Tom gin, and sloe gin. By choosing the right one, you can determine whether a drink will be clear and dry, smooth and rounded, or fruity and playful.
Dry Gin
Dry Gin stands for a dry, straightforward aroma with distinct juniper and clear citrus and herbal notes. It brings structure to classic drinks while remaining precise and cool. Ideal for martinis, negronis, gimlets, gin fizzes, Tom Collins, and of course gin and tonics.
Old Tom Gin
Old Tom is milder and slightly sweet, often with gentle spice and citrus richness. The subtle residual sweetness smooths out acidity and bitterness, making drinks rounder and more accessible. Perfect for Martinez, Tom Collins, Ramos Gin Fizz, and other historic recipes that benefit from extra smoothness.
Sloe Gin
Sloe Gin is a fruity sloe liqueur based on gin with a ruby red color and notes of berries, almonds, and subtle spices. It rarely replaces classic dry gin in recipes on a one-to-one basis. Instead, it complements drinks as a fruity component in its own right. It is particularly suitable in sparkling highballs, in Sloe Gin Fizz, in fruity sour variations, and in mixtures with berries.
FAQs about gin cocktails
- Which gin is best suited for cocktails?
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London Dry Gin is the versatile base for most recipes. However, other types of gin also work well. Old Tom makes classic drinks rounder and smoother. Sloe Gin complements fruity long drinks and variations with berries or citrus.
- What is the difference between a Gin Fizz and a Tom Collins?
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Both use gin, lemon, and sugar. The Gin Fizz is short and gets only a little soda. The Tom Collins is built in a highball over ice, served taller, and topped with more soda.
- What else can you mix gin with?
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Popular partners are tonic water, ginger beer for a Munich Mule, soda with citrus, bitter lemon, as well as grapefruit or apple juice. Bitters and fresh herbs add small accents without disturbing the balance.
- Which glasses are needed for gin cocktails?
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For highballs like Gin Tonic and Munich Mule, use a tall highball glass, or alternatively a mule cup. Short drinks such as Martini, Gimlet, Aviation, and Martinez are served in a pre-chilled coupe or martini glass. For Negroni and Gin Basil Smash, a tumbler works well as it accommodates large ice cubes.
- What are the most popular gin cocktails?
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The most frequently ordered classics include Gin Tonic, Negroni, Martini, Tom Collins, Gin Fizz, and Gimlet. Modern favorites like the Munich Mule are also very popular. For fruity accents, people often choose Singapore Sling, Paradise, or a Wild Berry Highball with gin.
- Which mixers go well with gin?
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Tonic water is the classic. Ginger beer for Munich Mule, soda with fresh lemon, bitter lemon, and grapefruit juice also work well. For subtle nuances, one or two dashes of bitters like orange or grapefruit can be added without overpowering the drink.
- What snacks go well with gin cocktails?
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Salty nuts, almonds, and olives pair well with the juniper spice. Citrusy and herbal notes go well with light snacks such as crostini with cream cheese and herbs, salmon bites, or antipasti. Fruity gin cocktails also go well with mild cheeses and small fruit skewers with berries or citrus segments.
- Which garnishes suit gin cocktails?
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Lemon or grapefruit zest emphasizes freshness, cucumber and dill bring a cool green note, rosemary or thyme add spice. Cherry works for Aviation and Martinez, orange for the Negroni family. Garnishes should complement the profile, not dominate it.
- What ice is best for gin drinks?
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Large, clear ice cubes melt more slowly and dilute the drink less. For Martinis and Gimlets, stirring over plenty of ice in a mixing glass is crucial, and the drink is served without ice. Crushed ice is rarely needed, as it dilutes faster.
- Shake or stir gin cocktails?
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Drinks made only with spirits, like Martini or Negroni, are stirred to preserve clarity and texture. Drinks containing juice, syrup, egg white, or liqueur are usually shaken vigorously, such as Gin Fizz, Aviation, or Gin Basil Smash. The goal is always a well-balanced, ice-cold mixture.