We all love a good gin cocktail. From the classic G&T to the many styles of artisan flavoured gin now widely available, a gin cocktail is refreshing, tasty and a great way to start (or finish) the night. For budding cocktail artists, a logical place to start learning is with gin cocktails. They’re easy to create, difficult to get wrong and will always taste great. We’ve put together this quick guide on how to make five of the loveliest gin cocktails that you don’t have to be Tom Cruise to make.
The New Orleans Fizz
The New Orleans Fizz is a highly refreshing, creamy cocktail that blends a variety of fruity flavours with cream and egg white. Created in New Orleans by Henry C. Ramos in the late 1800’s, this cocktail became very popular and by 1915, Ramos couldn’t keep up with demand, and the New Orleans Fizz became a household name in many bars around the southern USA.
Ingredients
1.5 oz - Whitley Neill Dry Gin
1 oz - Fevertree Premium Tonic
0.5 oz - Fresh Lemon Juice
0.5 oz - Fresh Lime Juice
1.25 oz - Sugar Water
2 oz - Cream
Egg White from 1 Small Egg
2 Dashes of Orange Flower Water
Steps
- Pour the gin, lemon juice, lime juice, cream, egg white and orange flower water into an empty cocktail shaker.
- Shake without ice to blend the liquids.
- Fill the shaker with ice, and shake vigorously. Make sure to shake harder than you usually would to ensure the egg and cream are well mixed, and the cocktail has a silky texture.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled hi-ball glass, and top up with Fevertree premium Indian tonic.
- Enjoy!
The Negroni
The Negroni is arguably one of the most famous gin cocktails, being named by many as ‘the perfect cocktail’. It’s also very easy to make. Bitter, sweet and refreshing, this Italian cocktail has developed a reputation as a fantastic cocktail for summer. The Negroni has its origins in early 1900’s Florence, where the legend dictates that Count Camillo Negroni asked a bartender friend of his to strengthen his Americano with gin rather than soda. Whether or not that is true, the Negroni remains a staple cocktail for any top 5 list.
Ingredients
1 oz - Whitley Neill Dry Gin
1 oz - Belsazar Red Vermouth
1 oz - Campari Bitter
1 Fresh Orange Peel
Steps
- Pour the three ingredients into a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until mixture is chilled.
- Strain into a wine glass and top with the orange peel.
- Enjoy. Told you it was easy!
The English Garden
The English Garden gets its name from its mix of oh-so quintessentially British ingredients, and give the cocktail an aroma reminiscent of a country garden in Cornwall. The English Garden is perfect for summer nights spent outside, as we’ve found that mixing the aromas of outdoors with all the fresh ingredients used in the cocktail is a winning combination.
Ingredients
1.8 oz - Bombay Dry Gin
0.9 oz - Fevertree Elderflower Tonic
2.6 oz - Fresh Apple Juice
0.3 oz - Fresh Lime Juice
A Ribbon of Cucumber
Steps
- Fill a cocktail shaker with the gin, tonic, apple juice and lime juice.
- Add ice to the shaker and, you guessed it, shake!
- Strain the mixture from the ice, and pour the crushed ice evenly between two champagne flute glasses.
- Pour in the cocktail mix evenly between the two glasses.
- Drop one end of the cucumber ribbon into the glass, twisting the glass so the cucumber forms a helter-skelter shape up against the inside of the glass.
- Enjoy!
The Fog Cutter
The Fog Cutter is a vintage tiki cocktail that is most often credited to being invented in the 1940’s by Victor ‘Trader Vic’ Bergeron, the famous owner of the Forbidden Island bar in Alameda, California. Don’t be fooled by the fruity, tropical look of this one, the Fog Cutter packs one hell of a punch. While it does have more rum and brandy in it than gin, we’re still being cheeky and calling it a gin cocktail, because it deserves to be on this list.
Ingredients
0.5 oz - Warner Edwards Gin
0.5 oz - Peinado Spanish Brandy
1.5 oz - El Dorado White Rum
0.5 oz - Romate Fino Sherry
0.25 oz - Giffard Pistachio Syrup
2 oz - Fresh Orange Juice
1 oz - Fresh Lemon Juice
Steps
- Pour everything but the sherry into a cocktail shaker, and shake.
- Crush up some ice and pour into a glass.
- Strain the shaken mixture into the glass, and float the sherry on top.
- Enjoy!
The Many Faces of G&T
Okay, so we’re definitely cheating with this one. The good, old fashioned gin and tonic is probably served at every bar in the civilised world, and is the most popular gin related drink by a country mile. But don’t worry, we’re not just going to rehash the basic recipe. Here we have three vastly different drinks that all fall under the title of G&T. Here at Spirit Store, we know how different people like their G&T’s of varying strengths, so we’re not even going to bother giving you measurements. First off
Pink Gin Jam
This one has become quite popular this last year, being coined by cheap student bars and hipster lounges alike. A sweeter version of the G&T, the mixture is usually topped with blueberries or something similar.
Whitley Neill Pink Grapefruit Gin & Fevertree Light Aromatic Tonic
Lemon & Ginger Gin
For those of us craving the refreshing taste of lemon combined with the earthiness and warmth of ginger, this cocktail is a winner. Neither too sweet or too earthy, the mixture of lemon and ginger is something that is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
Whitley Neill Lemongrass & Ginger Gin & Fevertree Lemonade
Saint Clements
You know the nursery rhyme. This juicy burst of flavour is not what most people class as a subtle taste, instead being a refreshing cascade of citrus and alcohol. This one is best served strong, so the flavour of the orange gin isn’t overpowered by the lemon.
Whitley Neill Blood Orange Gin & Fevertree Sicilian Lemon Tonic
You Know Who To Call. . .
Here at Spirit Store, we have everything that a connoisseur of cocktails needs to make the tastiest gin cocktails there is. From gins to tonics to mixers and glasses, from home bar hobbyists to business owners, we have what you need. Browse our store today for all your cocktail needs, or get in touch with our team to learn more!
