With the hype that Gin and Gin Cocktails experienced over the last decade, it's barely surprising that the juniper-flavored spirit tops the list of most-used spirits in mixed drinks.
It's impossible to count how often you heard someone order a Gin & Tonic in the past couple of years - or how often you ordered one yourself. And that's only one of the many classic cocktails made with Gin. There's a lot more!
So, here are the 33 top Gin Cocktails. And if those aren't enough:
-> View all Gin Cocktail recipes on Cocktail Society
Classic Gin Cocktails
These are cocktails based on Gin that have been around for a long time. They build the base for many modern twists and tweaks.
1. Negroni
The Negroni is a beautifully bittersweet aperitif cocktail from Florence, Italy. You make it with Campari, Gin, and sweet Vermouth, garnished with an orange twist.
2. Gin Sour
The Gin Sour is an early twist on the Whiskey Sour that quickly became a classic itself. It follows the regular Sour template of lemon juice, simple syrup, base spirit, and an optional foamy egg white top.
3. Gin & Tonic
No bar menu is complete without a Gin & Tonic. In fact, you can often find multiple versions of this drink on the menu, combining different types of Gin with all sorts of tonics.
4. Dry Martini
The Dry Martini has been the first of the many Martini variations we know today. It's one of the most classic and elegant drinks one can order. The recipe only calls for two ingredients: Dry Gin and Dry Vermouth.
5. Aviation Gin Cocktail
The Aviation ruled the cocktail scene for forty years before it fell into oblivion. The ingredient responsible for the purple color, Crème de Violette, was discontinued in the 1960s. It was brought back only in 2007. Since then, the drink has made an impressive comeback.
6. Clover Club
The origin of the Club Club Cocktail lies in Philadelphia. It was invented around the turn of the century, conceivably in 1901. Besides Gin, the recipe for the fruity cocktail asks for lemon juice, Dry Vermouth, raspberry syrup, and one egg white.
7. The Bramble
The Bramble is another fruity Gin classic. But although its name sounds quite vintage, it is a creation from the 1980s. The recipe includes Dry Gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, and Crème de Mûre (a particular blackberry liqueur).
8. John Collins
The John Collins is a sour and refreshing drink made with Gin, lemon, syrup, and soda water. People often confuse it with the Tom Collins, as it's almost the same recipe. -One made with London Dry, the other with Old Tom Gin.
9. Gin Fizz
When you change the ratios slightly and add an egg white to the John Collins, you get a Gin Fizz. Another beautiful crowd pleaser that you definitely should not miss.
10. Bijou Cocktail
US Bartender Harry Johnson invented this cocktail in the 1890s and named it Bijou - Jewel in French. It refers to the three ingredients - Gin represents the diamond, Sweet Vermouth stands for ruby, and Green Chartreuse symbolizes an emerald.
11. Vesper Martini
A twist on the original Dry Martini made with Gin, Vodka, Cocchi Americano, and garnished with a lemon peel. The drink was dreamt up by famous author Ian Fleming and first ordered by James Bond in the book Casino Royale.
12. Gibson Gin Cocktail
The Gibson is another famous twist on the classic Martini. This time, it's not the ingredients of the actual drink that change, but the garnish. Instead of olives, you skewer pickled onions on a cocktail pick.
13. French 75
Bartending legend Harry MacElhone invented the French 75 while he worked in Paris, in his venue Harry's New York Bar. It's an elegant combination of Gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and simple syrup. -And it's dangerously easy to drink.
14. Angel Face
The Angel Face is a boozy, fruity mix of Gin, Apricot Brandy, and Calvados - an Apple Brandy from the French Normandie.
15. Last Word
The Last Word Cocktail is another item on the list of unforgettable Gin classics. It's a beautifully balanced blend of Gin, Maraschino Liqueur, Green Chartreuse, and freshly squeezed lime juice.
16. Corpse Reviver #2
This one sounds a bit nasty, but the Corpse Reviver is a delicious, complex drink made with Dry Gin, Lillet, Cointreau, lemon juice, and Absinthe. It's the second in a row of four cocktails, all intended to bring you back from the dead.
17. The Original Tuxedo
Gin and Absinthe are a winning combination, and you can find that in more cocktail recipes than you might think. The Tuxedo is one of those. It also calls for Dry Vermouth, Maraschino Liqueur, and bitters.
18. Martinez Gin Cocktail
The Martinez is the forerunner of the Dry Martini, and fittingly, you can make it either with Gin or with Genever - the Dutch version of Gin that had been there first. The other ingredients are Dry Vermouth, Sweet Vermouth, Maraschino Liqueur, and bitters.
19. Bee's Knees
The Bee's Knees follows the general principles of a Sour Cocktail. However, instead of regular simple syrup, the recipe calls for honey syrup. And it's amazing what a little change like this can do to the overall flavor of a drink.
20. Southside Gin Cocktail
This drink is similar to one of the most iconic Rum cocktails, the Mojito. To make a perfect Southside, you need Gin, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and plenty of fresh mint leaves.
21. White Lady
The White Lady, as the name suggests, is an elegant and classy, all-white drink. Like many other cocktail classics, it was invented by Harry MacElhone, this time while he was working in London. The recipe calls for Gin, lemon juice, and Triple Sec.
22. Singapore Sling
The Singapore Sling is quite an elaborate cocktail. Everyone knows the name, but only few can tell you the long list of ingredients. Plus, there are many versions. Our favorite includes Gin, D.O.M. Bénédictine, Grand Marnier, and Heering cherry liqueur, among others.
23. Hanky Panky Gin Cocktail
Admittedly, the name of the drink makes it appear not very classy. However, the Hanky Panky is not as quirky as it sounds. It is made with Dry Gin, Sweet Vermouth, and Fernet Branca.
24. Casino Cocktail
The Casino Cocktail is pretty close to the Aviation, which is hardly a surprise considering that both were invented by NYC bartender and author Hugo Ensslin. It omits the Crème de Violet and calls for bitters instead.
25. Ramos Gin Fizz
The Ramos Gin Fizz is a rich and creamy riff on the classic Gin Fizz. You have to add lime juice, whipped cream, and orange bitters to the original recipe. And you also need to pay a little attention when preparing it.
26. Gin Gimlet
The Gin Gimlet is a cocktail with a long history. It dates back to the 1860s, but reached its peak in popularity only 120 years later, in the 1980s. It's a mix of Gin, lime, and sugar that inspired many delicious riffs.
Contemporary creations based on Gin
Modern Gin Cocktail creations you can find in bars everywhere in the world and that have influenced today's mixology.
27. Coconut Negroni
The Coconut Negroni is a gorgeous, slightly tropical version of the classic. The recipe asks for extra Coconut Rum and some crispy coconut chips.
28. Aperol Sour
This Aperol Sour is taking up the current hype about Aperol. Since the red, herbal liqueur is low in ABV, you combine it with Gin for the right balance. Using Prosecco syrup as a substitute for simple syrup makes this drink perfect.
29. Gin-Gin Mule
The spicy Moscow Mule is one of the most popular Vodka drinks, and the Gin-Gin Mule is one of the best riffs on that. It includes Gin, ginger beer, lime, mint leaves, and syrup.
30. Queen Mother
This cocktail is named after the Mum of the former Queen Elisabeth II. Both used to drink a glass of Gin mixed with Dubonnet every day for lunch. Queen Mum even carried the supplies in her handbag, just in case.
31. Pink Gin Sour
This pretty version of a Gin Sour extends the classic recipe by a few drops of Peychaud's bitters, which give the drink its beautiful pink hue. And they also add some nice complexity. A dash of Angostura bitters makes it even better.
32. White Negroni
When you think of a Negroni, you have a brilliant red color in mind. But this twist is not as colorful - it's not actually white but more of a fancy yellow, though. You make it with Plymouth Gin, Lillet, and Suze.
33. Pink Fig Gin & Tonic
The Pink Fig Gin and Tonic represents an entire group of G&Ts, as you can mix syrups with all sorts of flavors into the classic combination.