Gin is the most versatile spirit behind the bar. From the clean juniper hit of a London Dry to the floral complexity of a New Western craft gin, there's a style for every palate and a cocktail for every bottle.
What makes gin unique is that it starts life as a neutral spirit and gains its character entirely from botanicals during distillation. Juniper is the one legal requirement — everything else, from citrus peel to cardamom to cucumber, is the distiller's signature.
Below are eight gin cocktails covering the full range — from the simplest serves to the ones worth making an event of.
1.Fill your glass to the brim with ice — the cold is essential.
2.Pour in the gin.
3.Add the tonic slowly, pouring over the back of a spoon to preserve carbonation.
4.Squeeze the lime wedge over the drink and drop it in.
Tip: The ratio matters: 1 part gin to 3 parts tonic is standard. Use a copa (balloon) glass if you have one — the wide bowl concentrates the aromatics. Fever-Tree Indian Tonic is the benchmark.
2
Negroni
Easy
Glass: Rocks glass
Ingredients
30ml gin
30ml Campari
30ml sweet vermouth
large ice cube
orange peel
Method
1.Add gin, Campari and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass.
2.Fill with ice and stir for 30 seconds until well chilled.
3.Strain into a rocks glass over a large single ice cube.
4.Express an orange peel over the glass by twisting it skin-side down, then drop it in.
Tip: Stirring, not shaking, keeps the Negroni clear and silky. Use Martini Rosso or Carpano Antica for the vermouth — quality vermouth makes a measurable difference here.
3
Tom Collins
Easy
Glass: Highball
Ingredients
50ml gin
30ml fresh lemon juice
15ml simple syrup
soda water
ice
lemon slice and cherry to garnish
Method
1.Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
2.Shake for 10 seconds.
3.Strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice.
4.Top with soda water and stir once gently.
5.Garnish with a lemon slice and cocktail cherry.
Tip: Always use fresh lemon juice — bottled juice is too flat and too sweet. The Tom Collins is essentially a gin sour made long with soda, which means the acid-to-sweetness balance is everything.
4
Gimlet
Easy
Glass: Coupe
Ingredients
60ml gin
20ml fresh lime juice
15ml simple syrup
ice
lime wheel to garnish
Method
1.Add gin, lime juice and simple syrup to a shaker.
2.Fill with ice and shake hard for 10-12 seconds.
3.Double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
4.Garnish with a lime wheel on the rim.
Tip: The classic Gimlet uses Rose's Lime Cordial (50/50 with gin, no shaking). This fresh version is sharper and more complex. Either is correct — try both. A floral gin like Hendricks works beautifully here.
5
French 75
Easy
Glass: Champagne flute or coupe
Ingredients
45ml gin
20ml fresh lemon juice
15ml simple syrup
90ml Champagne or Prosecco
ice
lemon twist to garnish
Method
1.Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
2.Shake for 10 seconds.
3.Strain into a chilled flute or coupe.
4.Top with cold Champagne or Prosecco — pour slowly.
5.Garnish with a lemon twist.
Tip: Named after the French 75mm artillery gun for its kick. Use dry Champagne or Brut Prosecco — anything sweet will make it cloying. This is one of the best party cocktails you can make in batches; prepare the gin-lemon-syrup base ahead and top with fizz per glass.
6
Bee's Knees
Easy
Glass: Coupe
Ingredients
60ml gin
20ml fresh lemon juice
20ml honey syrup (1:1 honey and water)
ice
lemon twist to garnish
Method
1.Make the honey syrup by mixing equal parts honey and warm water, then cool.
2.Add gin, lemon juice and honey syrup to a shaker.
3.Fill with ice and shake hard for 12 seconds.
4.Double strain into a chilled coupe.
5.Garnish with a lemon twist.
Tip: The Bee's Knees is a Prohibition-era cocktail originally made with bathtub gin — the honey and citrus masked the rough edges. Today it showcases a good gin rather than hiding it. A light floral gin like Tanqueray No. Ten is ideal.
7
Singapore Sling
Medium
Glass: Highball or sling glass
Ingredients
45ml gin
15ml Cherry Heering
7.5ml Cointreau
7.5ml Bénédictine
120ml pineapple juice
15ml lime juice
10ml grenadine
1 dash Angostura bitters
ice
pineapple slice and cherry to garnish
Method
1.Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
2.Shake well for 12 seconds.
3.Strain into a highball filled with ice.
4.Garnish with a pineapple slice and a maraschino cherry.
Tip: This is the Raffles Hotel original recipe. It looks complicated but the method is just "shake and pour". Cherry Heering is essential — cheap cherry brandy gives a completely different (worse) result. Make a batch of the base ingredients without ice for parties.
8
Clover Club
Medium
Glass: Coupe
Ingredients
50ml gin
20ml fresh lemon juice
15ml raspberry syrup
1 egg white
ice
3 raspberries to garnish
Method
1.Add all ingredients to a shaker without ice.
2.Dry shake for 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white.
3.Add ice and shake again for 10 seconds.
4.Double strain into a chilled coupe.
5.Garnish with three fresh raspberries on a cocktail pick.
Tip: The Clover Club predates the Prohibition era and deserves a comeback. Make the raspberry syrup by simmering equal parts raspberries, sugar and water, straining out the seeds. The dry shake before adding ice is non-negotiable for a proper foam.
Buying Gin in the UK
For cocktails, a London Dry gin in the £20–£30 range covers everything: Beefeater, Tanqueray and Gordon's (the premium version) are all excellent and won't be wasted. For a G&T you want to sip and enjoy, step up to Tanqueray No. Ten, Hendrick's or Monkey 47. Plymouth gin is worth seeking out for a Gimlet. Avoid "gin-flavoured spirits" — these are not actually gin and are noticeably worse in cocktails.
UK shop picks
Buy Gin for these cocktails
Bottles we recommend for the recipes above — shipped from UK retailers. Affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What is the difference between London Dry gin and other gin styles?
London Dry gin must be made by redistilling a neutral spirit with natural botanicals — nothing can be added after distillation except water and a tiny amount of sweetener. It doesn't have to be made in London. New Western or contemporary gins have fewer rules and can emphasise non-juniper botanicals like cucumber, rose or lavender.
Can I use any gin for cocktails?
Most London Dry gins work well in all classic gin cocktails. Very light or floral gins (like Hendrick's) can get lost in bold drinks like the Negroni — save those for G&Ts and Gimlets. Heavily peated or unusual gins are best in simple serves where their character can be appreciated.
How should I store gin?
Store gin upright in a cool, dark place. Unlike wine, gin doesn't improve in the bottle — but it also doesn't deteriorate quickly. An opened bottle will stay in good condition for 1–2 years if stored correctly. The flavour very gradually fades over time, particularly the citrus top notes.