Cocktails · Gin
Six gin cocktails every home bar should know: a proper gin and tonic, Tom Collins, Bee's Knees, gimlet, Clover Club, and Negroni, each with a botanical zero-proof twin.
Gin is the bartender’s favorite spirit because it brings its own flavor: juniper, citrus, and herbs. That’s why these six gin cocktails can be so simple and still taste complex. They cover the essentials, from a proper gin and tonic to a stirred Negroni, and each has a zero-proof twin that rebuilds gin’s botanicals with juniper berries, herbs, and tea (tap 🌿 Mocktails at the top).
Most gin and tonics are served warm, flat, and under-iced. Fix all three: fill a big glass to the top with ice, use very cold tonic, and pour it gently down a bar spoon so the bubbles survive.
Match the garnish to the gin: lime and juniper for a classic London dry, citrus peel and rosemary for a more herbal one.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
The proper way: lots of ice, cold tonic, and a botanical garnish.
Garnish: Lime wheels, a few juniper berries, rosemary sprig
Garnish: Lime wheels, a few juniper berries, rosemary sprig
How the swap works: Crushed juniper (the berry that gives gin its flavor) and rosemary rebuild gin's botanicals right in the glass; the tonic does the rest.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
A gin sour stretched with soda into a tall, refreshing highball. It’s the drink to make when it’s hot and you want something that tastes like lemonade for grown-ups.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Gin, lemon, sugar, and soda.
Garnish: Lemon wheel, cocktail cherry
Garnish: Lemon wheel, cocktail cherry
How the swap works: Shaking crushed juniper infuses the drink with gin's signature pine note, and alcohol-free bitters add the depth.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
A Prohibition classic: gin, lemon, and honey syrup. Honey rounds out gin’s edges and adds a floral note. Make the syrup by stirring honey 1:1 into warm water, or it’ll seize when it hits the cold shaker.
Different honeys make different drinks: clover or orange-blossom honey is light and floral, while wildflower or buckwheat is darker and more assertive. Start light.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Gin, lemon, and honey syrup, shaken and served up.
Garnish: Lemon twist
Garnish: Lemon twist
How the swap works: Chamomile's floral, honeyed notes pair with the honey syrup and fill in for gin's botanicals; it's naturally caffeine-free.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
Three ingredients, and a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and strong. The old recipe used lime cordial, but fresh lime and simple syrup are brighter. It’s served up in a small, chilled glass.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Gin, lime, and sugar. Three ingredients, perfect balance.
Garnish: Lime wheel
Garnish: Lime wheel
How the swap works: Verjus gives body and a gentle wine-like acidity in place of gin; cucumber brings a fresh, green botanical note.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
It’s pink and frothy, and it’s also a serious pre-Prohibition classic. Muddled raspberries, gin, lemon, and a splash of dry vermouth, with egg white or aquafaba for a silky foam. A proper dry shake is essential.
Double strain to catch the raspberry seeds and keep the foam smooth.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Gin, raspberry, lemon, and dry vermouth with a silky foam.
Garnish: Three raspberries on a pick
Garnish: Three raspberries on a pick
How the swap works: Verjus stands in for both the gin and the dry vermouth (it's made from grapes, like vermouth), and a little more syrup balances it.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
Equal parts gin, red bitter liqueur, and sweet vermouth, stirred and served over a big cube. It’s bitter, sweet, and herbal all at once, and it’s one of the easiest classics to make well.
Stir for 20–30 seconds. Keep your sweet vermouth in the fridge once opened; it’s wine and oxidizes.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Gin, red bitter, and sweet vermouth in equal parts.
Garnish: Wide orange peel
Garnish: Wide orange peel
How the swap works: A non-alcoholic bitter aperitif carries the Campari role; black tea gives vermouth's tannic depth, and verjus adds its winey tartness.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
Gin’s flavor comes from botanicals, mostly juniper, plus citrus peel, coriander, and herbs. The zero-proof twins rebuild those in the glass: a few crushed juniper berries, citrus, rosemary or cucumber, and tonic or tea for bitterness.
For the full method, see how to make mocktails. For more spirits, try vodka cocktails and the timeless classic cocktails.
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Tonic is the classic, but gin also shines with soda and lemon (Tom Collins), honey and lemon (Bee's Knees), and bitter aperitifs (Negroni). A good, cold, fizzy tonic makes more difference than an expensive gin.
Between 1:2 and 1:3 gin to tonic. We use 2 oz gin to 4 oz tonic, over as much ice as the glass will hold, so it stays cold and doesn't dilute too fast.
The gin and tonic (two ingredients, no shaker) followed by the gimlet and Bee's Knees, both three ingredients, shaken.
More easy cocktails →Yes. It's one of the best drinks to batch. Mix equal parts, add about 20% water, and keep it in the freezer or fridge. Pour over a big ice cube to serve.
How to batch stirred drinks →Juniper. Lightly crushed juniper berries infuse any drink with gin's signature pine note in seconds. Add citrus peel, a herb, and tonic's bitterness, and you're most of the way there.
How to make mocktails →
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