When it comes to spirits, there are none as unique as gin. When distilled, gin doesn’t have much flavor, save for the ingredients it’s made with. It’s not all that different from vodka. It’s the addition of juniper berries and various herbs and botanicals either in the distillation process itself (or a second distillation), through vapor infusion (the herbs and botanicals are hung in a basket in the still), or through maceration (adding the flavors to an already distilled gin) that give the gin its distinct, memorable aromas and flavors.
If you’ve ever had gin (or even sniffed it), you know the most potent ingredient is juniper berries. They are what gives gin its patented pine tree aroma and flavor. Other common ingredients include orris root, angelica root, orange peel, and licorice.
Our 5 favorite gin drinks
Gin is the base ingredient in myriad classic (and contemporary) cocktails, including the iconic gin and tonic, gin gimlet, gin rickey, martini, and more. It adds a piney, botanical flavor to every cocktail. That’s why you should always have a few bottles of gin on hand for mixing.
5. Gin gimlet
While there are other stories about its genesis, the most often repeated story is of Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette of the British Royal Navy. It’s believed that in the late 1800s, he was known to add lime cordial to his gin to get his vitamin C intake and fight the effects of scurvy at sea. Another surprisingly simple cocktail, it’s made with sweetened lime juice and gin. That’s it. Simple, sweet, and full of citrus (whether you’re concerned about scurvy or not).
The gin gimlet is the subject of quite some controversy, though. Bartenders have been arguing for decades about whether it should be made with commercial lime cordial or fresh lime juice and sugar. Most older recipes call specifically for Rose’s Lime Juice, which is a syrup made using high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors. That doesn’t exactly fit in with what you’d normally want to go in your cocktails.
Cocktail expert Jeffrey Morgenthaler, however, defends the use of Rose’s in a gimlet. “One often-polarizing part of this cocktail renaissance happening right now is the idea that fresh or homemade ingredients make all drinks better,” Morgenthaler wrote. “To many, it feels plain wrong to put some high fructose corn syrup in a glass now, but I don’t know if fresh is always better. Personally, I found gin gimlets to be pretty delicious with Rose’s. They always had a tart, sour bite that beautifully married icy cold gin and bright, sweet, acidic Rose’s Lime.”
I respect Morgenthaler’s opinion as an expert, but personally, I disagree. I love the round, juicy quality of fresh lime juice and the fact that you can adjust the sweetness level to your liking when you use your own sugar syrup. Pouring in Rose’s allows for only one level of sweetness — with far too much sugar for my taste that covers up the nuances of a good gin — and it’s something of a blunt instrument.
But a gimlet is dead easy to make either way, so if you’re interested, you should try making the drink both with Rose’s and with fresh lime juice and see which one you prefer.
4. Martini
If you don’t know a lot about the martini, you might assume it’s made with vodka. Technically, that would be a “vodka martini.” The classic martini is made with London dry gin and dry vermouth. While its history is as cloudy as a dirty martini, many believe it was created in 1911 by a bartender named Martini di Arma di Taggia at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York City.
3. Gin rickey
The rickey can be made with gin or bourbon, but we prefer the first version. Some believe it was invented in the 1880s in Washington, D.C, by a bartender named George Williamson. Others believe, it was created in the late 1800s for Democratic lobbyist Joe Rickey. This highly refreshing highball cocktail is made with gin, fresh lime juice, and sparkling water.
2. Negroni
The Negroni isn’t for everyone. But those who enjoy this drink really love it. It gets its name from a man named Count Camillo Negroni. He invented the drink at Caffe Casoni in Florence, Italy, in 1919 when he asked the bartender for an American with gin instead of soda water. The bittersweet, herbal drink is made with gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
1. Gin and tonic
When it comes to gin, there aren’t any cocktails more well-known than the iconic gin and tonic. It’s as simple as it is flavorful. This highball cocktail is made with tonic water and gin. You can add a little flavor by garnishing it with a slice or wheel of lime. The drink originated in Holland in the early 1800s when gin was mixed with a quinine-filled tonic to fight malaria. British soldiers in India also drank tonic mixed with their daily ration of gin to combat the disease.
Why gin is a great mixing spirit
Since every distiller can put their mark on their gin by adding countless different herbs and botanicals, it’s an extremely versatile spirit when it comes to mixing into cocktails. London dry gin, artisanal gins, flavored gins, and everything in between, gin is a must-have for the home bartender.
Picking the right gins for you
When picking the gin to mix with, it’s important to have a few bottles on hand. Stock your home bar with at least one (if not more) London dry gin, old tom gin, navy strength gin, and maybe a bottle of small-batch, artisanal gin. If you only have the budget for one bottle of gin (since you’ve been overspending on other spirits), you need to grab a bottle of well-made London Dry gin.
The piney juniper, botanical, dry aroma, and flavors work well in a variety of cocktails, including the classic gin and tonic, gin gimlet, Negroni, and more. While you can’t go wrong with a bottle of Beefeater, Bombay Sapphire, or even Gordon’s, we suggest a bottle of Sipsmith London Dry Gin or No. 3 London Dry Gin.
