Gin turns into something different depending on what you pour next to it. A splash of tonic makes it crisp and simple. A few drops of vermouth makes it bold and boozy. Shake it with citrus and egg white, and it turns silky and bright. That range is why gin has earned a spot as the backbone of more classic cocktails than almost any other spirit.
Picking the right gin cocktail comes down to matching the drink’s style to your mood: a Gin and Tonic for easy sipping, a Dry Martini for something strong and spirit-forward, or a Clover Club when you want a little sweetness and texture. Some of these drinks date back over a century. Others are newer riffs built on the same bones. Either way, each one on this list earns its place through balance, not gimmicks.
Quick picks:
- Best overall: Gin and Tonic, for easy, no-fuss sipping any night of the week
- Best for cocktail purists: Dry Martini, bone-dry and all about the gin
- Best for bitter lovers: Negroni, bold, herbal, and endlessly riffable
- Best for brunch: French 75, bubbly and bright with a citrus kick
1. Gin and Tonic
This is the drink that made gin famous, and for good reason. Pour 2 ounces of gin over ice, top with 4 to 5 ounces of good tonic water, and finish with a lime wedge. The quinine bitterness in tonic plays beautifully against gin’s piney, herbal notes. Use a London Dry style for a classic backbone, or try a floral gin if you want something softer. Good ice matters here; use large cubes so the drink doesn’t water down too fast.
2. Dry Martini
The Dry Martini is gin’s sharpest, most elegant showcase. Stir 2.5 ounces gin with 0.5 ounce dry vermouth and a few drops of orange bitters over ice, then strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or olives. The ratio of gin to vermouth is a matter of personal taste, so feel free to experiment. If you want to explore more variations on this classic, check out 17 types of martinis for inspiration.
3. Negroni
Equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari make the Negroni one of the most recognizable bitter cocktails around. Stir 1 ounce each over ice and strain into a rocks glass with a fresh ice cube. Garnish with an orange peel. The bitterness is strong and a little medicinal in the best way. If Campari is your thing, our best campari cocktails rounds up more drinks built around that same bittersweet edge.
4. Gimlet
The Gimlet is tart, clean, and deceptively simple. Shake 2 ounces gin with 0.75 ounce lime juice and 0.75 ounce simple syrup, then strain into a coupe. No garnish needed beyond a lime wheel. This drink dates back to British naval days, when lime juice was added to gin rations to fight scurvy. The citrus snap makes it a go-to warm-weather sipper.
5. Tom Collins
Tall, fizzy, and refreshing, the Tom Collins is built for a hot afternoon. Shake 2 ounces gin, 1 ounce lemon juice, and 0.75 ounce simple syrup with ice, strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice, then top with club soda. Garnish with a lemon slice and cherry. It drinks lighter than it sounds, which makes it dangerously easy to enjoy a second one.
6. French 75
Part cocktail, part celebration, the French 75 mixes gin with Champagne for something bubbly and bright. Shake 1 ounce gin, 0.5 ounce lemon juice, and 0.5 ounce simple syrup with ice, strain into a flute, then top with 2 to 3 ounces chilled Champagne. The bubbles make it feel festive without being heavy. For more sparkling options with a French accent, browse 15 french cocktails.
7. Gin Fizz
The Gin Fizz is a frothy, citrusy classic that drinks like dessert and a cocktail at once. Shake 2 ounces gin, 0.75 ounce lemon juice, 0.75 ounce simple syrup, and one egg white hard without ice first, then again with ice. Strain into a glass and top with soda water. The egg white gives it a silky, cloud-like foam on top.
8. Bramble
Created in 1980s London, the Bramble layers gin with blackberry liqueur for a cocktail that looks as good as it tastes. Shake 2 ounces gin with 0.75 ounce lemon juice and 0.5 ounce simple syrup, pour over crushed ice, then drizzle 0.5 ounce crème de mûre on top. Garnish with a blackberry. The dark liqueur bleeds down through the ice in a pretty, marbled pattern.
9. Bee’s Knees
Sweetened with honey instead of sugar, the Bee’s Knees has a warm, rounded flavor that plain syrup can’t match. Shake 2 ounces gin with 0.75 ounce lemon juice and 0.75 ounce honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water), then strain into a coupe. It dates back to Prohibition, when honey helped mask the taste of rough bathtub gin.
10. Aviation
The Aviation is floral, tart, and a little mysterious looking thanks to its pale violet hue. Shake 2 ounces gin, 0.5 ounce maraschino liqueur, 0.5 ounce lemon juice, and 0.25 ounce crème de violette, then strain into a coupe. The crème de violette is what gives it that signature sky-blue tint. Skip it and you get a simpler, still delicious cocktail called the Southside-adjacent “Aviation without violette.”
11. Last Word
Equal parts gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice make the Last Word a boozy, herbal sipper with real punch. Shake 0.75 ounce of each with ice and strain into a coupe. No garnish needed. The Chartreuse brings a complex, almost medicinal sweetness that balances the tart lime. For more drinks built around that French herbal liqueur, see 15 chartreuse cocktails.
12. Clover Club
Pink, frothy, and a little nostalgic, the Clover Club is a Prohibition-era favorite worth bringing back. Shake 2 ounces gin, 0.75 ounce lemon juice, 0.5 ounce raspberry syrup, and one egg white hard, then again with ice, and strain into a coupe. The raspberry syrup gives it a tart berry flavor under all that foam.
13. Southside
Think of the Southside as a minty cousin of the Gimlet. Shake 2 ounces gin, 0.75 ounce lime juice, 0.75 ounce simple syrup, and 6 to 8 mint leaves, then double strain into a coupe. The mint turns it cool and herbal, closer to a gin mojito than a standard sour. It’s one of the most refreshing options on this list for summer sipping.
14. Corpse Reviver No. 2
Despite its grim name, the Corpse Reviver No. 2 is a bright, citrus-forward sour with real depth. Shake 0.75 ounce gin, 0.75 ounce Cointreau, 0.75 ounce Lillet Blanc, 0.75 ounce lemon juice, and a dash of absinthe, then strain into a coupe. The absinthe rinse adds an anise whisper that lingers after each sip. Cointreau fans can find more pours like this one in 15 cointreau cocktails.
15. Singapore Sling
Tall, fruity, and layered, the Singapore Sling was born at Raffles Hotel over a century ago. Shake 1.5 ounces gin, 0.5 ounce cherry liqueur, 0.25 ounce Cointreau, 0.25 ounce Bénédictine, 4 ounces pineapple juice, 0.5 ounce lime juice, and a dash of bitters, then strain over ice in a tall glass and top with soda water. It tastes tropical without turning cloying.
16. Gin Basil Smash
Fresh basil and lemon make the Gin Basil Smash taste like a garden in a glass. Muddle a handful of basil leaves with 0.75 ounce simple syrup, then shake with 2 ounces gin and 1 ounce lemon juice. Strain over fresh ice and garnish with a basil sprig. This German bar creation from the 2000s has quickly become a modern classic.
17. Gin Gin Mule
A twist on the Moscow Mule, the Gin Gin Mule swaps vodka for gin and adds mint for extra lift. Shake 2 ounces gin, 0.75 ounce lime juice, 0.5 ounce simple syrup, and mint leaves, strain over ice in a mule mug, then top with ginger beer. The ginger adds spice and warmth against the cool mint. Fans of that ginger kick should also check out our best ginger beer cocktails.
18. Martinez
Often called the ancestor of the modern Martini, the Martinez is richer and sweeter than its descendant. Stir 1.5 ounces gin, 1.5 ounces sweet vermouth, 0.25 ounce maraschino liqueur, and a dash of bitters over ice, then strain into a coupe. Garnish with a lemon twist. It’s a great pick if you find a Dry Martini too austere.
19. White Lady
Silky and citrus-bright, the White Lady is a close cousin to the Corpse Reviver No. 2 without the absinthe. Shake 2 ounces gin, 1 ounce Cointreau, 0.75 ounce lemon juice, and an optional egg white, then strain into a coupe. The egg white, if used, gives it a soft, pillowy top. It’s an elegant choice for a dinner party aperitif.
How to Choose a Gin Cocktail
The right gin cocktail depends on how strong, sweet, or fizzy you want your drink to feel. Spirit-forward sippers like the Dry Martini or Martinez suit a slow, after-dinner pace. Fizzy, citrusy drinks like the Tom Collins or French 75 work better earlier in the evening or alongside food.
Here’s a quick comparison to help narrow things down:
| Cocktail | Flavor Profile | Strength | Best Occasion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gin and Tonic | Crisp, bitter | Light | Casual sipping |
| Dry Martini | Dry, bold | Strong | Before dinner |
| Negroni | Bitter, herbal | Strong | Aperitif |
| Gimlet | Tart, clean | Medium | Warm weather |
| Tom Collins | Fizzy, citrusy | Light | Daytime, brunch |
| French 75 | Bubbly, bright | Medium | Celebrations |
| Gin Fizz | Frothy, citrusy | Light | Brunch |
| Bramble | Fruity, tart | Medium | Evening |
| Bee’s Knees | Sweet, honeyed | Medium | Cozy nights |
| Aviation | Floral, tart | Medium | Date night |
| Last Word | Herbal, boozy | Strong | After dinner |
| Clover Club | Fruity, frothy | Medium | Parties |
| Southside | Minty, tart | Medium | Summer |
| Corpse Reviver No. 2 | Citrusy, anise | Strong | Brunch, happy hour |
| Singapore Sling | Tropical, fruity | Medium | Warm evenings |
| Gin Basil Smash | Herbal, fresh | Medium | Dinner parties |
| Gin Gin Mule | Spicy, minty | Light | Casual gatherings |
| Martinez | Sweet, boozy | Strong | After dinner |
| White Lady | Citrusy, silky | Medium | Aperitif |
If you’re hosting a crowd and want more variety beyond gin, 31 great cocktail recipes is worth a look for broader inspiration.
Choosing Gin for Mixed Drinks
The gin you choose changes the entire personality of your cocktail. London Dry gin is juniper-forward and crisp, making it the safest bet for classics like the Martini or Gin and Tonic. Plymouth gin is slightly softer and earthier, which works well in a Negroni.
Old Tom gin brings natural sweetness, a good match for the Martinez or other vermouth-heavy drinks. Modern “New Western” style gins lean on citrus or floral botanicals instead of heavy juniper, so they shine in drinks like the Gin Basil Smash or Southside where fresh herbs already play a big role.
Keep a bottle of London Dry on hand as your workhorse, then pick up a second bottle in a different style once you know which flavors you gravitate toward. Tasting gin on its own, over ice with nothing else, is the easiest way to learn what it brings to a glass before mixing it into anything.
