Gin is a fantastic spirit for experienced enthusiasts and new drinkers to enjoy. Gin expressions are evolving as brands make more accessible varieties, independent and big distillers bring eclectic flavors to the fore, and companies begin tapping into trends such as wild botanicals, new flavors, and creative infusions. The gin boom mirrors the increased focus other traditional spirits have achieved in recent years, so we’ve put together a handy beginner’s guide for those new to enjoying the spirit. Below you’ll find useful information on how to drink gin and the different types of the spirit on the market, along with a trio of the most popular gin classic cocktails to add to your repertoire. How To Drink Gin
Neat Gin Drinking gin neat, or over ice, is not as popular as other old-school spirits such as vodka, single malt Scotch, or American whiskey. Neat drinkers tend to fall into two categories: those who like the dry classic gin with a bold bite and clean mouthfeel, or those who prefer fruit flavors and/or additional distilled botanicals. Mixed Drinks The staple choice for gin drinkers are mixed drinks, such as gin tonic, gin and soda water, basic fruit juice such as cranberry juice, or mixed drinks with ginger ale or ginger beer. Often, the bright carbonation from soda water or sweetness of juice, and some ice cubes, really transform the flavors of your gin drink, offering great refreshment alongside the alcohol tang from the spirit. It’s a pretty simple process to splash ginger ale or soda in with a couple of fingers of dry gin and give it a fancy name! Cocktails and Mixology Whether it’s a classic cocktail or trendy concoction dreamt up by your bartender, gin has a fantastic reputation as a cocktail option. Where vodka most often goes for neutrality, gin aims for individuality and flavor that goes well for the dry cocktail lover (think gin martini) versus the sweeter, brighter cocktail choices, such as the Singapore Sling.
See more about - The Top 15 Best Gin Drinks To Try In 2021
Gin Infusions “Ginnovation” keeps picking up momentum. The humble dry spirit is the alcohol of choice for those looking to get more individualized, interesting flavors and botanicals into their mixed drinks and cocktails. These days gin lovers can even choose their own botanicals and infusions. This can be done for you at gin bars, which are becoming a popular way to spend time with friends. The alternative is you can make your own perfect gin at home with your own infusion recipe or pre-made pack (these make fantastic gifts). Types of Gin
Unlike vodka, which has only just scratched the surface of providential, flavor, and taste options that move away from its usual complete neutrality, gin has a lot of different variations for you to get involved with. Some gin lovers enjoy all types – while others like to use different styles for different purposes or stick with one variety or brand that they enjoy.
See more about - The Nine Most Useful Mixers For Gin Drinks
London Dry Gin Just as the name says, London dry gin is a style that creates a crisp dry mouth feel redolent of the juniper berries used to make the spirit. Dry gin is the most popular commercial type of gin, with the most famous brands including bestsellers Bombay Sapphire, Beefeater, and Tanqueray. While London Dry is as old school as straight gin gets, even the big brands are experimenting with flavors, fruits, herbs, and spices for use in limited edition bottles. Best choice: Bombay Sapphire Gin Botanical Gin The fastest-growing quality gin style, botanical gin (or wild gin) has become popular as casual gin drinkers and more avant-garde producers look to craft more interesting flavors. The term botanical refers to the many different berries, herbs, and spices used in distillation in addition to the traditional juniper berry base. Best choice: Hendrick’s Gin Sloe Gin Sloe gin differs from classic gin as it uses sloe fruit from the blackcurrant plant rather than juniper berries, and comes with lower alcohol by volume (ABV). Sloe gin works brilliantly as a fruity alternative to dry gin and tonic while providing a zesty cocktail base for mixologists to play with. Best choice: Plymouth Sloe Gin Genever Genever gin (also called Dutch gin) is a triple grain malt spirit with 22 unique botanicals. It’s a rougher, riper, fuller flavor spirit whose taste belies its abv (42%). Genever suits the experienced dry gin lover looking for a different taste, or those who prefer something with a more pronounced flavor than classic London dry style gins. If you’re unfamiliar with genever, find the flavor overwhelming, or are more used to English gins; you might like to consider chilling it in the freezer where it neutralizes the taste a little more. I recommend Bols Genever Barrel Aged Gin, a premium riff on the 200-year-old brand that comes from the oldest spirit distiller in the world (born in 1575). Best choice: Bols Genever Barrel Aged Gin Old Tom Cat Gin Gin was outlawed in the UK by the Spirits Act of 1750, which caused defiant pub owners to hang a wooden plaque shaped like a black cat to inform the passerby of the spirit’s availability. The gin lover would deposit coins into the cat’s mouth, then a bartender would pour a ration of Old Tom gin through a tube between the cat’s paws. These days some craft gin distilleries are recreating the more rustic Old Tom Cat recipes, which provide a more earthy taste than classic dry gin. Best choice: Barr Hill Reserve Old Tom Cat Gin
See more about - The Top 21 Best Gin Brands To Try In 2021
Classic Gin Drink and Cocktail Recipes Whether it’s a simple gin mixer or classic cocktail, having a few different go-to concoctions is a great way to experiment with different flavors and find the way you most like to enjoy the spirit. The trio of options below are fundamentally perfect gin drinks that are simple to learn and add polish to your repertoire. Gin Tonic
You can’t have a how-to article about gin without including the simplest and most refreshing mixed drink. The key to a great gin and tonic recipe is to balance the bitterness of tonic against the gin, with the added component of carbonation to add spritely character to your gin mixer. Your choice of gin can have a real effect. Choosing a flavored or pink distilled gin usually adds sweetness and color, dry gin is crisp and clean against the tonic, where a botanical gin brings out the juniper and herbal infusion. And don’t skimp on the tonic, let the bubbles fly free! Ingredients
3 oz gin (I recommend Beefeater pink gin for theater) 1/2 oz fresh lime juice 4 oz (1/2 cup) tonic water Ice
Garnish: Lime wedge or slice Instructions Fill a highball glass with ice. Add gin and fresh lime juice then fill with tonic water. Garnish with a lime wedge. Gin Martini
The Martini is a classic cocktail made with gin and vermouth. While it may be a simple cocktail recipe, it needs to be executed cleanly to really shine, and getting it wrong could spell disaster for a date or night out. Ingredients
3 oz gin (I recommend Aviation Gin) ½ oz dry vermouth Ice
Garnish: 1 lemon peel twist or 3 olives skewered on a cocktail pick Instructions Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker full of ice and stir. Pour strained mixture into a martini glass then garnish with the lemon peel or olives and serve. Elderflower Aviation Gin Cocktail
Adding floral flavor to the traditional Aviation cocktail cuts down the tartness of the lemon juice-based mixer and works well with the Maraschino liqueur. Elderflower is sweet and friendly and works brilliantly with beautifully herbal botanical gin. It’s great as a liqueur but I’ve found Elderflower cordial is a cheaper and more long-lasting alternative. You can crank up the lemon content but playing with the floral aspect really makes it a great tasting twist on a classic gin cocktail recipe. Ingredients
5 oz Gin (I recommend a “fruitier” gin such as Gin Mare) ¾ oo Lemon juice ½ oz Maraschino liqueur ½ oz Elderflower liqueur or Elderflower Cordial Ice
Garnish: Luxardo cherry, Lemon twist Instructions Chill a cocktail glass. Throw some ice into a cocktail shaker, add the gin, Elderflower, maraschino, lemon juice, and bitters. Shake to thoroughly combine and chill then strain into the cocktail glass. Rub the rim with the lemon and garnish with the Luxardo cherry Conclusion Learning how to drink gin is an excellent way to develop your knowledge and taste for the spirit. Gin has a lot of unique, individual characteristics that appeal to experimenting with flavors, different styles, and types of mixed drink or cocktail varieties.
See more about - The 10 Best Gins Under $50 To Try in 2021
Gin is a fantastic spirit for experienced enthusiasts and new drinkers to enjoy. Gin expressions are evolving as brands make more accessible varieties, independent and big distillers bring eclectic flavors to the fore, and companies begin tapping into trends such as wild botanicals, new flavors, and creative infusions. The gin boom mirrors the increased focus other traditional spirits have achieved in recent years, so we’ve put together a handy beginner’s guide for those new to enjoying the spirit. Below you’ll find useful information on how to drink gin and the different types of the spirit on the market, along with a trio of the most popular gin classic cocktails to add to your repertoire. How To Drink Gin
Neat Gin Drinking gin neat, or over ice, is not as popular as other old-school spirits such as vodka, single malt Scotch, or American whiskey. Neat drinkers tend to fall into two categories: those who like the dry classic gin with a bold bite and clean mouthfeel, or those who prefer fruit flavors and/or additional distilled botanicals. Mixed Drinks The staple choice for gin drinkers are mixed drinks, such as gin tonic, gin and soda water, basic fruit juice such as cranberry juice, or mixed drinks with ginger ale or ginger beer. Often, the bright carbonation from soda water or sweetness of juice, and some ice cubes, really transform the flavors of your gin drink, offering great refreshment alongside the alcohol tang from the spirit. It’s a pretty simple process to splash ginger ale or soda in with a couple of fingers of dry gin and give it a fancy name! Cocktails and Mixology Whether it’s a classic cocktail or trendy concoction dreamt up by your bartender, gin has a fantastic reputation as a cocktail option. Where vodka most often goes for neutrality, gin aims for individuality and flavor that goes well for the dry cocktail lover (think gin martini) versus the sweeter, brighter cocktail choices, such as the Singapore Sling.
See more about - The Top 15 Best Gin Drinks To Try In 2021
Gin Infusions “Ginnovation” keeps picking up momentum. The humble dry spirit is the alcohol of choice for those looking to get more individualized, interesting flavors and botanicals into their mixed drinks and cocktails. These days gin lovers can even choose their own botanicals and infusions. This can be done for you at gin bars, which are becoming a popular way to spend time with friends. The alternative is you can make your own perfect gin at home with your own infusion recipe or pre-made pack (these make fantastic gifts). Types of Gin
Unlike vodka, which has only just scratched the surface of providential, flavor, and taste options that move away from its usual complete neutrality, gin has a lot of different variations for you to get involved with. Some gin lovers enjoy all types – while others like to use different styles for different purposes or stick with one variety or brand that they enjoy.
See more about - The Nine Most Useful Mixers For Gin Drinks
London Dry Gin Just as the name says, London dry gin is a style that creates a crisp dry mouth feel redolent of the juniper berries used to make the spirit. Dry gin is the most popular commercial type of gin, with the most famous brands including bestsellers Bombay Sapphire, Beefeater, and Tanqueray. While London Dry is as old school as straight gin gets, even the big brands are experimenting with flavors, fruits, herbs, and spices for use in limited edition bottles. Best choice: Bombay Sapphire Gin Botanical Gin The fastest-growing quality gin style, botanical gin (or wild gin) has become popular as casual gin drinkers and more avant-garde producers look to craft more interesting flavors. The term botanical refers to the many different berries, herbs, and spices used in distillation in addition to the traditional juniper berry base. Best choice: Hendrick’s Gin Sloe Gin Sloe gin differs from classic gin as it uses sloe fruit from the blackcurrant plant rather than juniper berries, and comes with lower alcohol by volume (ABV). Sloe gin works brilliantly as a fruity alternative to dry gin and tonic while providing a zesty cocktail base for mixologists to play with. Best choice: Plymouth Sloe Gin Genever Genever gin (also called Dutch gin) is a triple grain malt spirit with 22 unique botanicals. It’s a rougher, riper, fuller flavor spirit whose taste belies its abv (42%). Genever suits the experienced dry gin lover looking for a different taste, or those who prefer something with a more pronounced flavor than classic London dry style gins. If you’re unfamiliar with genever, find the flavor overwhelming, or are more used to English gins; you might like to consider chilling it in the freezer where it neutralizes the taste a little more. I recommend Bols Genever Barrel Aged Gin, a premium riff on the 200-year-old brand that comes from the oldest spirit distiller in the world (born in 1575). Best choice: Bols Genever Barrel Aged Gin Old Tom Cat Gin Gin was outlawed in the UK by the Spirits Act of 1750, which caused defiant pub owners to hang a wooden plaque shaped like a black cat to inform the passerby of the spirit’s availability. The gin lover would deposit coins into the cat’s mouth, then a bartender would pour a ration of Old Tom gin through a tube between the cat’s paws. These days some craft gin distilleries are recreating the more rustic Old Tom Cat recipes, which provide a more earthy taste than classic dry gin. Best choice: Barr Hill Reserve Old Tom Cat Gin
See more about - The Top 21 Best Gin Brands To Try In 2021
Classic Gin Drink and Cocktail Recipes Whether it’s a simple gin mixer or classic cocktail, having a few different go-to concoctions is a great way to experiment with different flavors and find the way you most like to enjoy the spirit. The trio of options below are fundamentally perfect gin drinks that are simple to learn and add polish to your repertoire. Gin Tonic
You can’t have a how-to article about gin without including the simplest and most refreshing mixed drink. The key to a great gin and tonic recipe is to balance the bitterness of tonic against the gin, with the added component of carbonation to add spritely character to your gin mixer. Your choice of gin can have a real effect. Choosing a flavored or pink distilled gin usually adds sweetness and color, dry gin is crisp and clean against the tonic, where a botanical gin brings out the juniper and herbal infusion. And don’t skimp on the tonic, let the bubbles fly free! Ingredients
3 oz gin (I recommend Beefeater pink gin for theater) 1/2 oz fresh lime juice 4 oz (1/2 cup) tonic water Ice
Garnish: Lime wedge or slice Instructions Fill a highball glass with ice. Add gin and fresh lime juice then fill with tonic water. Garnish with a lime wedge. Gin Martini
The Martini is a classic cocktail made with gin and vermouth. While it may be a simple cocktail recipe, it needs to be executed cleanly to really shine, and getting it wrong could spell disaster for a date or night out. Ingredients
3 oz gin (I recommend Aviation Gin) ½ oz dry vermouth Ice
Garnish: 1 lemon peel twist or 3 olives skewered on a cocktail pick Instructions Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker full of ice and stir. Pour strained mixture into a martini glass then garnish with the lemon peel or olives and serve. Elderflower Aviation Gin Cocktail
Adding floral flavor to the traditional Aviation cocktail cuts down the tartness of the lemon juice-based mixer and works well with the Maraschino liqueur. Elderflower is sweet and friendly and works brilliantly with beautifully herbal botanical gin. It’s great as a liqueur but I’ve found Elderflower cordial is a cheaper and more long-lasting alternative. You can crank up the lemon content but playing with the floral aspect really makes it a great tasting twist on a classic gin cocktail recipe. Ingredients
5 oz Gin (I recommend a “fruitier” gin such as Gin Mare) ¾ oo Lemon juice ½ oz Maraschino liqueur ½ oz Elderflower liqueur or Elderflower Cordial Ice
Garnish: Luxardo cherry, Lemon twist Instructions Chill a cocktail glass. Throw some ice into a cocktail shaker, add the gin, Elderflower, maraschino, lemon juice, and bitters. Shake to thoroughly combine and chill then strain into the cocktail glass. Rub the rim with the lemon and garnish with the Luxardo cherry Conclusion Learning how to drink gin is an excellent way to develop your knowledge and taste for the spirit. Gin has a lot of unique, individual characteristics that appeal to experimenting with flavors, different styles, and types of mixed drink or cocktail varieties.
See more about - The 10 Best Gins Under $50 To Try in 2021
Gin is a fantastic spirit for experienced enthusiasts and new drinkers to enjoy. Gin expressions are evolving as brands make more accessible varieties, independent and big distillers bring eclectic flavors to the fore, and companies begin tapping into trends such as wild botanicals, new flavors, and creative infusions.
The gin boom mirrors the increased focus other traditional spirits have achieved in recent years, so we’ve put together a handy beginner’s guide for those new to enjoying the spirit. Below you’ll find useful information on how to drink gin and the different types of the spirit on the market, along with a trio of the most popular gin classic cocktails to add to your repertoire.
How To Drink Gin
Neat Gin
Drinking gin neat, or over ice, is not as popular as other old-school spirits such as vodka, single malt Scotch, or American whiskey. Neat drinkers tend to fall into two categories: those who like the dry classic gin with a bold bite and clean mouthfeel, or those who prefer fruit flavors and/or additional distilled botanicals.
Mixed Drinks
The staple choice for gin drinkers are mixed drinks, such as gin tonic, gin and soda water, basic fruit juice such as cranberry juice, or mixed drinks with ginger ale or ginger beer. Often, the bright carbonation from soda water or sweetness of juice, and some ice cubes, really transform the flavors of your gin drink, offering great refreshment alongside the alcohol tang from the spirit.
It’s a pretty simple process to splash ginger ale or soda in with a couple of fingers of dry gin and give it a fancy name!
Cocktails and Mixology
Whether it’s a classic cocktail or trendy concoction dreamt up by your bartender, gin has a fantastic reputation as a cocktail option. Where vodka most often goes for neutrality, gin aims for individuality and flavor that goes well for the dry cocktail lover (think gin martini) versus the sweeter, brighter cocktail choices, such as the Singapore Sling.
See more about - The Top 15 Best Gin Drinks To Try In 2021
Gin Infusions
“Ginnovation” keeps picking up momentum. The humble dry spirit is the alcohol of choice for those looking to get more individualized, interesting flavors and botanicals into their mixed drinks and cocktails.
See more about - The Top 15 Best Gin Drinks To Try In 2021
These days gin lovers can even choose their own botanicals and infusions. This can be done for you at gin bars, which are becoming a popular way to spend time with friends. The alternative is you can make your own perfect gin at home with your own infusion recipe or pre-made pack (these make fantastic gifts).
Types of Gin
Unlike vodka, which has only just scratched the surface of providential, flavor, and taste options that move away from its usual complete neutrality, gin has a lot of different variations for you to get involved with.
Some gin lovers enjoy all types – while others like to use different styles for different purposes or stick with one variety or brand that they enjoy.
See more about - The Nine Most Useful Mixers For Gin Drinks
London Dry Gin
Just as the name says, London dry gin is a style that creates a crisp dry mouth feel redolent of the juniper berries used to make the spirit. Dry gin is the most popular commercial type of gin, with the most famous brands including bestsellers Bombay Sapphire, Beefeater, and Tanqueray. While London Dry is as old school as straight gin gets, even the big brands are experimenting with flavors, fruits, herbs, and spices for use in limited edition bottles.
See more about - The Nine Most Useful Mixers For Gin Drinks
Best choice: Bombay Sapphire Gin
Botanical Gin
The fastest-growing quality gin style, botanical gin (or wild gin) has become popular as casual gin drinkers and more avant-garde producers look to craft more interesting flavors. The term botanical refers to the many different berries, herbs, and spices used in distillation in addition to the traditional juniper berry base.
Best choice: Hendrick’s Gin
Sloe Gin
Sloe gin differs from classic gin as it uses sloe fruit from the blackcurrant plant rather than juniper berries, and comes with lower alcohol by volume (ABV). Sloe gin works brilliantly as a fruity alternative to dry gin and tonic while providing a zesty cocktail base for mixologists to play with.
Best choice: Plymouth Sloe Gin
Genever
Genever gin (also called Dutch gin) is a triple grain malt spirit with 22 unique botanicals. It’s a rougher, riper, fuller flavor spirit whose taste belies its abv (42%). Genever suits the experienced dry gin lover looking for a different taste, or those who prefer something with a more pronounced flavor than classic London dry style gins.
If you’re unfamiliar with genever, find the flavor overwhelming, or are more used to English gins; you might like to consider chilling it in the freezer where it neutralizes the taste a little more. I recommend Bols Genever Barrel Aged Gin, a premium riff on the 200-year-old brand that comes from the oldest spirit distiller in the world (born in 1575).
Best choice: Bols Genever Barrel Aged Gin
Old Tom Cat Gin
Gin was outlawed in the UK by the Spirits Act of 1750, which caused defiant pub owners to hang a wooden plaque shaped like a black cat to inform the passerby of the spirit’s availability. The gin lover would deposit coins into the cat’s mouth, then a bartender would pour a ration of Old Tom gin through a tube between the cat’s paws. These days some craft gin distilleries are recreating the more rustic Old Tom Cat recipes, which provide a more earthy taste than classic dry gin.
Best choice: Barr Hill Reserve Old Tom Cat Gin
See more about - The Top 21 Best Gin Brands To Try In 2021
Classic Gin Drink and Cocktail Recipes
Whether it’s a simple gin mixer or classic cocktail, having a few different go-to concoctions is a great way to experiment with different flavors and find the way you most like to enjoy the spirit. The trio of options below are fundamentally perfect gin drinks that are simple to learn and add polish to your repertoire.
See more about - The Top 21 Best Gin Brands To Try In 2021
Gin Tonic
You can’t have a how-to article about gin without including the simplest and most refreshing mixed drink. The key to a great gin and tonic recipe is to balance the bitterness of tonic against the gin, with the added component of carbonation to add spritely character to your gin mixer.
Your choice of gin can have a real effect. Choosing a flavored or pink distilled gin usually adds sweetness and color, dry gin is crisp and clean against the tonic, where a botanical gin brings out the juniper and herbal infusion.
And don’t skimp on the tonic, let the bubbles fly free!
Ingredients
- 3 oz gin (I recommend Beefeater pink gin for theater)
- 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
- 4 oz (1/2 cup) tonic water
- Ice
Garnish: Lime wedge or slice
Instructions
Fill a highball glass with ice. Add gin and fresh lime juice then fill with tonic water. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Gin Martini
The Martini is a classic cocktail made with gin and vermouth. While it may be a simple cocktail recipe, it needs to be executed cleanly to really shine, and getting it wrong could spell disaster for a date or night out.
- 3 oz gin (I recommend Aviation Gin)
- ½ oz dry vermouth
- Ice
Garnish: 1 lemon peel twist or 3 olives skewered on a cocktail pick
Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker full of ice and stir. Pour strained mixture into a martini glass then garnish with the lemon peel or olives and serve.
Elderflower Aviation Gin Cocktail
Adding floral flavor to the traditional Aviation cocktail cuts down the tartness of the lemon juice-based mixer and works well with the Maraschino liqueur. Elderflower is sweet and friendly and works brilliantly with beautifully herbal botanical gin.
It’s great as a liqueur but I’ve found Elderflower cordial is a cheaper and more long-lasting alternative. You can crank up the lemon content but playing with the floral aspect really makes it a great tasting twist on a classic gin cocktail recipe.
- 5 oz Gin (I recommend a “fruitier” gin such as Gin Mare)
- ¾ oo Lemon juice
- ½ oz Maraschino liqueur
- ½ oz Elderflower liqueur or Elderflower Cordial
- Ice
Garnish: Luxardo cherry, Lemon twist
Chill a cocktail glass. Throw some ice into a cocktail shaker, add the gin, Elderflower, maraschino, lemon juice, and bitters. Shake to thoroughly combine and chill then strain into the cocktail glass. Rub the rim with the lemon and garnish with the Luxardo cherry
Conclusion
Learning how to drink gin is an excellent way to develop your knowledge and taste for the spirit. Gin has a lot of unique, individual characteristics that appeal to experimenting with flavors, different styles, and types of mixed drink or cocktail varieties.
See more about - The 10 Best Gins Under $50 To Try in 2021
See more about - The 10 Best Gins Under $50 To Try in 2021
