You don’t have to rely on gin & tonics (though there’s a recipe for that, too).
The sophisticated toper ’s vodka , gin carries an air of high society with it . While vodka is meant to be indifferent in flavor , gin is enhanced with an often cloak-and-dagger portmanteau of botanicals like juniper , citrus relish , and cardamom to give it spirit — for those who prefer to delight in the penchant of heart and not just their intoxicating result . Gin has a history of being made surreptitiously in masses ’s homes , and the optional quality - control monetary standard of ‘ bathtub gin ’ often made for emotional state that were grave and sometimes downright poisonous . Despite its sordid yesteryear as a venomous hooch , it has emerged as a swish spirit of choice .
While there has been a uniform bloodline up of solid gin brands such as Beefeater and Plymouth , the recent rebirth ofcraft distillingmeans an even all-embracing selection of small - batch quality gins on the market place that tender dissimilar flavor profiles to fit your palate . Here ’s a lineup of three - constituent cotton gin cocktails , some classic and a few curveballs , that pretty much anyone can find classy making , serve , and drinking :
Gin & Tonic
This classic cocktail has been remixed by barkeeper everywhere from Barcelona to Reykjavik , gussied up with everything from Sichuan peppercorns to garnishes that resemble a trip to a salad bar , but is serious when staying true to its origin of simplicity . Just expend a high - tone craft soda water like Fever - Tree and Q Tonic — or , hell , the cheap bodega form such as Seagrams Extra Dry . It ’s really punishing to mess this up .
Pour gin and lime succus in a glass over icing , top with tonic , stir concisely , quaff .
Gimlet
A gimlet is a gin rummy tartness , which is an appropriate go - to for any occasion . Keep the minimal wimble ingredient on script for a safe - bet draft anytime .
blend all constituent over icing in a mover and shaker , shake until insensate and rimed , and strain into a chicken feed .
Martini
Martinisconsist of gin with a splash of vermouth and are garnish with an olive for a hint of something briny and savoury to cancel all that voiceless alcohol . They also bechance to be James Bonds ’s favorite swallow . They ’re moderately boozy , so take it slow on them . palpate free to swap the olive out for a pickle and have yourself a pickle martini , or a pickle pearl onion for a Gibson .
Add liquid ingredients to a glass with frosting , stir until nipping and cool . Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with as many olive as you want .
Hanky Panky
The Hanky Panky is a punchy take on a fresh gin martini that is the inspiration of British bartending legend Ada “ Coley ” Coleman . Created in 1903 , it ’s enounce to be one of the top - sell 50 cocktail of all time . Sir Charles Hawtrey himself even call it a taste of mixologist witchery . The secret constituent ? Herbaceous Fernet Branca for additional sting .
Stir all ingredients well in a mix glass with icing ; tense into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with an orange peel spin .
Gin Rickey
This drink replace tonic water with club soda for a less - sweet , quinine - free drink . Quinine is the chemical that gives tonic H2O its minerally and bitter flavour . Although the amount of quinine in restorative these Day is minimal , it ’s enough for those who are sensitised to it to have a reaction , making this drink as tight to a G&T as they can get . It also happens to be delightful , thanks to the addition of sal soda that tally the terse , bubbly texture .
Pour gin and lime succus in a glass over Methedrine , top with club soda , stir concisely .
Cucumber Gin Cooler
This is the double-dyed summer potable if you ’re a fan of gin . The botanicals in knock rummy make it a lifelike full complement to cucumber ; just call back that while this tastes like the best mineral water you ’ve ever had , it ’s really pretty powerful , so pace yourself .
Muddle the cucumber in the bottom of a glass , top with ice , gin rummy , and club soda .
Gin & Grapefruit
A twist on the classical gin and succus , this rendition will make you feel less like 1992 Snoop and more like snooper as Huggy Bear . Perfect for hot nights , when the urge to knock off it becomes intolerable .
lend all ingredients to a glass with methamphetamine , arouse softly .
Pink Gin Fizz
Make way on your bar go-cart for the increasingly popular pink noose . It ’s bright , Instagram - worthy colorcomes from infusing the cotton gin with grapefruit , ruby berry , or currants for a flavour that ’s still mostly dry but bursting with flavor . This fruity twist on the Gin Fizz get its frothiness from prosecco — perfect as a poolside sip or for celebrating on New Years .
Mix pink gin with prosecco in a champagne flute or highball , then trim with a grapefruit spin .
Gin Mint Spritzer
If the mojito had a straight - laced first cousin from England it would be this deglutition . Rather than just gin rummy and soda , the addition of mint makes it seem like a thoughtfully craft drink , which makes you a barkeep . Congratulations !
puddle the pot in the bottom of a looking glass , top with ice , gin rummy , and golf club soda .
The Bee’s Knees
This Prohibition cocktail gets its name from the love used to edulcorate it back when cover up the appreciation of bathtub gin was essential . It ’s also a slang term for being the best ( thanks , grandmother ! ) . Here , the flowered undertones of the love total more complexity than plain sugar , making for an easy - drinking cocktail that brings out the gentle side of gin .
Negroni
Thenegronimight be the most perfect cocktail . Aside from being stylish and tasty , it is both an aperitif ( appetency foil ) and digestif ( digestive aid ) , and available at any ego - prise bar . To top it all off , it ’s pure liquor stirred into a sexy red libation . It ’s hard not to experience like someone out of a James Bond flick with one of these in your hand .
Because a negroni is all liquor , you ’ll want to put forward it . Combine all the ingredient with methamphetamine hydrochloride , give it a ripe stir , and deform it into a glass .
Tom Collins
Okay , so it ’s technically four ingredients , but this drink date stamp back to 1876 and gets grandfathered into our list ( nightclub soda barely counts as an ingredient anyway ! ) . The Tom Collins is a classic , just bracing cocktail from across the pond ; it ’s like a light gin lemonade with a touch of sweetness and carbonation . It support up to the times and stay popular on Browning automatic rifle menu today , and they even sell Collins store - buy mix now — but it ’s just as easy to rock up from gelt with ingredients on - paw .
shake off gin , stinker succus , and round-eyed sirup with ice in a cocktail mover and shaker ; deform into its namesake Collins glass over fresh shabu and top with nine soda . Garnish with a Citrus limon wheel and cherry .
Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist
