✔ Updated · 19 gin cocktails with per-drink measurements, grouped by style, plus a mocktail
These 19 easy gin cocktails start with the basics everyone should know, like the gin and tonic, Tom Collins and gimlet, then move on to fruity smashes and herbal drinks and finish with stirred and vintage classics.
The easiest basic gin cocktails are the gin and tonic (gin, tonic water and lime), the Tom Collins (gin, lemon, simple syrup and soda), the gin rickey (gin, lime and soda), the gimlet (gin, lime and simple syrup) and the Bee's Knees (gin, lemon and honey syrup). Each needs three or four ingredients and about 2 oz of gin per drink.
Every card gives the measurements for one drink, and most need only gin, citrus, a sweetener and ice. All of these cocktails contain alcohol and are for adults of legal drinking age only (21 and over in the US). There is also a guide to gin styles, how strong the drinks are and an alcohol-free cucumber cooler.
Basic Gin Cocktails Everyone Should Know
Start here. These classics use gin, fresh citrus, a little sugar and either soda or nothing at all. A London dry gin works in all of them. Measurements are per drink; 1 oz is 2 tablespoons. No bitters for a pink gin? See our Angostura bitters substitutes.
1. Gin and Tonic
2 oz gin, 4 to 5 oz chilled tonic water, a lime wedge. Fill a highball or balloon glass with ice, add gin, top with tonic and squeeze in the lime.
2. Gin Fizz
2 oz gin, 1 oz lemon juice, 3/4 oz simple syrup, 1 oz club soda. Shake everything but the soda with ice, strain into a small glass without ice and top with soda.
3. Tom Collins
2 oz gin, 1 oz lemon juice, 3/4 oz simple syrup, 2 to 3 oz club soda. Shake or stir with ice, pour into a tall glass over ice and top with soda.
4. Gin Rickey
2 oz gin, 1/2 oz fresh lime juice (half a lime), 4 oz club soda. Build over ice in a highball glass with no sugar for a dry, tart, very refreshing drink.
5. Gimlet
2 oz gin, 3/4 oz lime juice, 3/4 oz simple syrup. Shake hard with ice and strain into a chilled coupe. A sweetened lime cordial can replace the lime and syrup.
6. Bee's Knees
2 oz gin, 3/4 oz lemon juice, 3/4 oz honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water). Shake with ice and strain into a chilled coupe with a lemon twist.
7. French 75
1 oz gin, 1/2 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz simple syrup. Shake with ice, strain into a flute and top with 3 oz chilled dry sparkling wine or Champagne.
Fruity and Herbal Gin Drinks
Gin's botanicals love fresh herbs and summer fruit. Muddle gently, just enough to release the juice and oils, then shake and strain over fresh ice. I muddle mint from my garden all summer.
8. Gin Basil Smash
2 oz gin, 3/4 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz simple syrup, 8 to 10 fresh basil leaves. Muddle the basil with the syrup, add gin, lemon and ice, shake hard and double strain.
9. Cucumber Cooler
2 oz gin, 4 cucumber slices, 6 mint leaves, 3/4 oz lime juice, 1/2 oz simple syrup, 2 oz club soda. Muddle cucumber and mint, shake, strain over ice, top with soda.
10. Strawberry Gin Smash
2 oz gin, 3 ripe strawberries, 3/4 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz simple syrup, a few mint leaves. Muddle the berries and mint, shake with ice and pour over crushed ice.
11. Bramble
2 oz gin, 1 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz simple syrup. Shake, strain over crushed ice and drizzle 1/2 oz crème de mûre (blackberry liqueur) over the top. Garnish with blackberries.
12. Rhubarb Gin and Tonic
2 oz gin, 1 oz homemade rhubarb syrup, 1/2 oz lemon juice, 3 oz tonic water. Stir the gin, syrup and lemon over ice, then top with tonic.
Get the recipe →13. Greyhound
2 oz gin, 4 oz fresh grapefruit juice. Build over ice in a highball glass and stir. Salt the rim and it becomes a Salty Dog.
Stirred and Vintage Gin Classics
These are stronger, more grown-up drinks, many dating back a century or more. Stir the spirit-only drinks with ice so they stay clear and silky; shake the ones with citrus.
14. Gin Martini
2 1/2 oz gin, 1/2 oz dry vermouth, 1 dash orange bitters (optional). Stir with ice for 30 seconds, strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a lemon twist or olive.
15. Negroni
1 oz gin, 1 oz Campari or another bitter red aperitif, 1 oz sweet vermouth. Stir with ice, strain over a large cube and garnish with an orange peel.
16. Aviation
2 oz gin, 1/2 oz maraschino liqueur, 1/4 oz crème de violette, 3/4 oz lemon juice. Shake with ice and strain into a chilled coupe for a pale lilac drink.
17. Last Word
3/4 oz gin, 3/4 oz green Chartreuse, 3/4 oz maraschino liqueur, 3/4 oz lime juice. Shake hard with ice and strain into a chilled coupe. Equal parts, intensely herbal.
18. Pegu Club
2 oz gin, 3/4 oz orange curaçao, 3/4 oz lime juice, 1 dash aromatic bitters, 1 dash orange bitters. Shake with ice and strain into a chilled coupe.
19. Red Snapper
1 1/2 oz gin, 4 oz tomato juice, 1/2 oz lemon juice, 2 dashes Worcestershire, 2 dashes hot sauce, pinch salt and pepper. Roll between shakers and pour over ice.
Which Gin to Use
Any good London dry gin works in all 19 drinks, but the style changes the flavor. I keep one London dry bottle and call it done.
| Gin style | Flavor | Best in |
|---|---|---|
| London dry | Juniper-forward, crisp, dry | Gin and tonic, martini, negroni, gimlet, Tom Collins |
| Contemporary (new western) | Softer juniper, more citrus, floral or cucumber | Cucumber cooler, basil smash, gin and tonic |
| Old Tom | Slightly sweet, rounder | Tom Collins, martini, Bee's Knees |
| Plymouth | Earthy, smooth, less dry | Pegu Club, gimlet, martini |
| Navy strength | Bold, about 57% alcohol | Small amounts in gimlets and punches; much stronger |
How Strong Are Gin Cocktails?
All 19 drinks contain alcohol. Most gins are 80 to 94 proof (40 to 47% alcohol by volume), so 2 oz of gin is roughly 1.3 to 1.5 US standard drinks. Stirred drinks like the martini and negroni have no mixer, so they are the strongest on this list; long drinks topped with tonic or soda are the lightest.
These recipes are for adults of legal drinking age only (21 and over in the US). Measure with a jigger instead of free-pouring, serve water alongside, and never drink and drive.
Alcohol-Free Option: Cucumber Mint Cooler
For anyone not drinking, this mocktail keeps the fresh, garden flavors of a gin cooler with no alcohol. Per drink: gently muddle 4 cucumber slices and 6 mint leaves with 1/2 oz simple syrup and 3/4 oz fresh lime juice, fill a tall glass with ice and top with 4 oz tonic water or club soda. A splash of a zero-proof botanical spirit makes it taste even more like a gin drink. For more alcohol-free ideas, see our Cinderella fruity mocktail and blue lagoon mocktail.
Tips for Better Gin Cocktails
- Use fresh citrus. Squeeze lemons and limes just before mixing; one lemon gives about 1 1/2 oz of juice and one lime about 1 oz.
- Keep tonic and soda cold and open a fresh bottle so the drink stays fizzy. Pour it down the side of the glass.
- Make simple syrup and honey syrup: stir equal parts sugar (or honey) and hot water until dissolved, cool, and refrigerate for up to 1 month.
- Use plenty of ice. A full glass melts more slowly than a half-full one, so the drink dilutes less.
More Cocktail Ideas
Explore my classic rum cocktails, tequila cocktails, Cointreau cocktails and espresso martini.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most basic gin cocktails?
The most basic gin cocktails are the gin and tonic, Tom Collins, gin rickey, gimlet and martini. Each uses gin plus one to three other ingredients, such as tonic, fresh lemon or lime juice, simple syrup, soda water or dry vermouth.
What mixes well with gin?
Gin mixes well with tonic water, club soda, lemon and lime juice, grapefruit juice, ginger ale, vermouth, honey, cucumber, mint, basil, rosemary and berries. Tonic is the classic, while citrus and a little sugar make a simple sour like the gimlet or Bee's Knees.
What is the easiest gin cocktail to make?
The gin and tonic is the easiest: fill a glass with ice, add 2 oz of gin, top with 4 to 5 oz of cold tonic water and squeeze in a lime wedge. The gin rickey is just as easy, using club soda and fresh lime instead of tonic.
What is the difference between a Tom Collins and a gin fizz?
Both use gin, lemon, sugar and soda. A Tom Collins is a tall drink served over ice with more soda, while a gin fizz is shaken hard and served short without ice, with less soda. Some gin fizz recipes also add pasteurized egg white for foam.
How much gin is in one cocktail?
Most gin cocktails use 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 oz of gin per drink. At 80 proof, 2 oz of gin is about 1.3 US standard drinks, and a martini is stronger still. These cocktails are for adults of legal drinking age only.
