I personally love a good and classic Gin and Tonic. The botanical flavors of a great gin paired with the bitter and sweet flavors of a good tonic water make it one of the tastiest drinks to make with the spirit. But there are many other ways to combine gin with a mixer. So, what does gin mix well with?
The answer is less complicated than you might think. The juniper flavored spirit goes extremely well with fresh citrus juices, vermouth, and soda water. But that's not where it stops. So if you don't have tonic water at home, don't worry, here's our guide to the best gin mixers to try in 2024.
Dry Vermouth
Some people might not think of dry vermouth as a mixer, but technically, that's what it is. London Dry Gin and vermouth are all you need to make a classic Martini. Typically, this drink is made with a 5:1 ratio - 5 parts gin per one part vermouth.
If you're not a seasoned Martini drinker though, I would recommend tweaking the ratios to your liking. You can make this drink as 'wet' or 'dry' as you like. 'Wet' simply means that a Martini is made with a higher amount of Martini.
Best way to mix Vermouth with gin: Dry Martini
Soda Water
In case you don't like the bitter taste of tonic water from quinine, mixing gin with soda water is an excellent alternative. I like the reduced sweetness in the drink that lets the gin shine.
A Gin and Soda is refreshingly bubbly and is best when complemented with just a bit of fresh citrus juice. Our preferred options are lime, grapefruit, or lemon juice.
And if you use soda water with added minerals, it is not only an excellent -low-calorie Gin mixer but also one of the healthiest mixers for gin.
Best way to mix soda water with gin: Gin & Soda in 3:1 ratios or a Gin Rickey
Lemon
Lemon juice and lemon, in general, is one of the classic gin mixers. A slice of lemon or a lemon peel twist is also a common way to garnish a Gin & Tonic because it goes so well with the botanicals in a classic London Dry Gin.
If plain lemon juice is too tart for your tastebuds, you can try it with a lemonade made from fresh lemon juice and added sugar. If you like bitter notes in your drink, use bitter lemon instead.
Best way to mix lemon with gin: Gin and (homemade) Lemonade
Lime
Lime is another citrus fruit that goes well with gin. I prefer a combination of fresh lime juice with simple syrup and gin - basically a Gin-based Gimlet.
The original recipe of this simple Gin cocktail includes lime cordial. However, I prefer to combine fresh lime juice with just a bit of syrup. That improves the balance in the final drink - a little sweeter and slightly tarter.
Like lemon, lime has a long tradition as a garnish in Gin and Tonics. It goes perfectly with most Gins and helps bring out the classic coriander and juniper notes.
Best way to mix lime with Gin: Gimlet
Grapefruit Juice
Grapefruit is another citrus fruit that works great when mixed with gin. My preferred varieties for drinks are pink grapefruits or ruby red grapefruits. Both have a nice balance of sweet, tart, and bitter and bring a nice depth of flavor.
Gin goes beautifully with grapefruit, and it's even better with some bubbles. Try it together with chilled soda water or top it with sparkling wine like Prosecco or Champagne.
Best way to mix grapefruit with gin: Gin, grapefruit juice, and soda water.
Pineapple juice
Pineapple juice is an easy gin mixer, famously used in a Gin & Juice. Snoop Dogg loves this combination so much that he wrote a song about it and also created a giant version, which made it into the Guinness Book of World Records.
To pair the sweet and tropical taste of fresh pineapple juice with gin, I recommend going for a classic London Dry Gin with a more subtle juniper note. Beefeater or Seagram both work wonderfully, and Plymouth Gin is another great option.
Best way to mix pineapple juice with gin: Gin & Juice
Ginger Ale
Gin and ginger ale mix very well. Ginger ale adds a little spiciness paired with sweetness. If you prefer a dry drink, use ginger beer instead There, the spicy notes a way more pronounced with just a hint of sugar.
However, ginger beer takes away most of the botanical flavors in a gin, which is why I usually prefer ginger ale. Served on ice and garnished with a sprig of mint and a slice of lemon, it makes for a refreshing drink on hot summer days.
Best way to mix ginger ale with gin: Pair them in a 1:2 ratio over ice and garnish with mint and lemon wheel.
Coke
Gin and coke is the Spanish answer to the classic rum & coke drink. Gin is arguably the most popular spirit in Spain and is typically paired with tonic water in giant Copa glasses and garnished with botanicals and fresh fruits.
This simple drink is known as Cubata in Spain and in the UK. In some cases, the Spanish also call it an RAF as it was said to be a favorite of Royal Air Force servicemen.
Since gin mixes so well with lime, adding a splash of lime juice improves the drink a lot - take 2 ounces of gin, mix it with 4 ounces of chilled cola, and just half an ounce of fresh lime juice.
Best way to mix coke with Gin: Cubata
Earl Grey Tea
Gin and Earl Grey tea are both extremely popular in Britain. No wonder someone came up mixing them into a drink. The concoction can be served hot or cold and can be enhanced with other ingredients.
I find the botanical flavors in gin pair surprisingly well with the floral aromas of Earl Grey. To customize it to your taste buds, you can sweeten it with honey or add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Best way to mix Earl Grey tea with gin: Gin & Tea (hot or cold)
Cucumber
Mixing gin with cucumber actually started with Hendrick's Gin. The famous brand from Scotland is best known for its signature botanicals, rose, and cucumber. Hence, a G&T made with Hendrick's is often garnished with fresh cucumber.
Muddled or juiced, cucumber is a great mixer for Hendrick's but also for gin in general. Mix it with cucumber juice and top it up with chilled soda water for a thirst-quenching drink.
Best way to mix cucumber with gin: Gin, cucumber juice, and soda water
Gatorade
You read correctly - and probably are now wondering if you should really mix gin with Gatorade. Well, hear me out. Gatorade is by no means a mixer I use often, and the result won't be something you see in any serious cocktail bar. Still, pairing gin with classic Gatorade and lemon-lime soda actually makes a drink worth trying.
Simply fill a glass with ice and pour in equal parts of gin, Gatorade, and Sprite. Then add a splash of fresh lemon juice and serve the drink.
Best way to mix Gatorade with gin: Gin, Gatorade, and Sprite