Gin is the most versatile spirit on your bar cart, and the best gin cocktails prove it, ranging from bittersweet and boozy to bright and citrusy. Below you will find easy gin drinks you can build at home in minutes, each with a short ingredient list and simple steps. Start with classics like the Negroni and Martini, then branch into gin cocktails you may not know yet, such as the Green Ghost and the Obituary. Grab a bottle of your favorite gin and let's mix.

Ready to stock up? Shop gin at Country Wine & Spirits, browse more drink ideas on our recipes hub, and keep a bottle of Champagne on hand for the French 75 below.

Bittersweet and boozy gin cocktails

1. Negroni

Base spirit: Bombay Sapphire Gin + Campari + sweet vermouth · Glass: Rocks · Color: Ruby red · Flavor profile: Bittersweet, herbal · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Strong (~24% ABV)

The equal-parts icon of Italian aperitivo hour, bitter, herbal, and beautifully balanced.

Ingredients

• 1 oz Bombay Sapphire Gin
• 1 oz Campari
• 1 oz sweet vermouth
• Orange peel, for garnish

Steps

1. Add the gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice.
2. Stir for about 20 to 30 seconds until well chilled.
3. Strain over one large ice cube in a rocks glass.
4. Express an orange peel over the drink and drop it in.

2. White Negroni

Base spirit: Beefeater Gin · Glass: Rocks · Color: Pale straw · Flavor profile: Bittersweet, floral · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Strong (~26% ABV)

A pale, gently bitter twist on the Negroni that swaps in Suze and Lillet Blanc.

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Beefeater Gin
• 1 oz Suze (gentian liqueur)
• 1 oz Lillet Blanc
• Lemon peel, for garnish

Steps

1. Combine the gin, Suze, and Lillet Blanc in a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir until well chilled, about 20 to 30 seconds.
3. Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
4. Express a lemon peel over the top and drop it in.

3. Obituary

Base spirit: Boodles Gin + dry vermouth · Glass: Coupe · Color: Clear, faintly green · Flavor profile: Dry, herbal, anise · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Strong (~30% ABV)

A bone-dry, absinthe-kissed martini variation with a mysterious name and a serious backbone.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Boodles Gin
• 0.25 oz dry vermouth
• 0.25 oz absinthe
• Lemon peel, for garnish

Steps

1. Add the gin, dry vermouth, and absinthe to a mixing glass filled with ice.
2. Stir until well chilled, about 30 seconds.
3. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
4. Express a lemon peel over the surface and drop it in.

Stirred and spirit-forward gin cocktails

1. Dry Martini

Base spirit: Nolet's Dry Gin Silver + dry vermouth · Glass: Martini (or Nick and Nora) · Color: Clear · Flavor profile: Crisp, dry, botanical · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Strong (~30% ABV)

The definitive stirred gin cocktail, crisp, cold, and endlessly customizable.

Ingredients

• 2.5 oz Nolet's Dry Gin Silver
• 0.5 oz dry vermouth
• Lemon twist or olives, for garnish

Steps

1. Add the gin and dry vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice.
2. Stir for 30 seconds until very cold.
3. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
4. Garnish with a lemon twist or two olives.

2. Sherry Martini

Base spirit: Bombay Sapphire Gin · Glass: Coupe · Color: Pale gold · Flavor profile: Dry, nutty, savory · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Strong (~28% ABV)

A nutty, savory riff that trades most of the vermouth for dry fino sherry.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Bombay Sapphire Gin
• 1 oz fino or dry sherry
• 1 dash orange bitters
• Lemon twist, for garnish

Steps

1. Combine the gin, sherry, and orange bitters in a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir until well chilled, about 30 seconds.
3. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
4. Garnish with a lemon twist.

3. Green Ghost

Base spirit: The Botanist Gin · Glass: Coupe · Color: Pale green · Flavor profile: Herbal, tart, bracing · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Strong (~25% ABV)

A bracing, herbaceous sour built on gin, green Chartreuse, and fresh lime.

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz The Botanist Gin
• 0.5 oz green Chartreuse
• 0.5 oz fresh lime juice

Steps

1. Add the gin, green Chartreuse, and lime juice to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake hard for about 12 seconds until chilled.
3. Double strain into a chilled coupe.
4. Serve up, no garnish needed.

Classic and popular gin cocktails

4. Gin and Tonic

Base spirit: Beefeater Gin · Glass: Highball (Collins) · Color: Clear · Flavor profile: Crisp, dry, botanical · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 2 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Light (~12% ABV)

The easiest gin cocktail there is, built right in the glass with plenty of fizz.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Beefeater Gin
• 4 oz tonic water
• 1 lime wedge

Steps

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Pour in the gin, then top with the tonic water.
3. Squeeze in a lime wedge and drop it in.
4. Give it one gentle stir and serve.

5. Tom Collins

Base spirit: Boodles Gin · Glass: Highball (Collins) · Color: Pale straw · Flavor profile: Citrusy, refreshing · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Light (~13% ABV)

A tall, lemony gin fizz that drinks like sparkling lemonade for grown-ups.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Boodles Gin
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• 0.5 oz simple syrup
• Club soda, to top
• Lemon wheel and cherry, for garnish

Steps

1. Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake for about 10 seconds.
3. Strain into a Collins glass filled with fresh ice.
4. Top with club soda and garnish with a lemon wheel and cherry.

6. French 75

Base spirit: Roku Gin + Sensi Prosecco · Glass: Champagne flute · Color: Pale gold · Flavor profile: Crisp, citrusy, effervescent · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Medium (~18% ABV)

A sparkling celebration in a flute, part gin sour and part Champagne cocktail.

Ingredients

• 1 oz Roku Gin
• 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
• 0.5 oz simple syrup
• Sensi Prosecco, to top
• Lemon twist, for garnish

Steps

1. Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake briefly until chilled, about 8 seconds.
3. Strain into a Champagne flute.
4. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with a lemon twist.

7. Gimlet

Base spirit: Tanqueray Rangpur Gin · Glass: Coupe · Color: Pale, cloudy lime · Flavor profile: Tart, clean, citrusy · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Medium (~22% ABV)

A tart, clean gin sour that leans entirely on lime and a touch of sweetness.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Tanqueray Rangpur Gin
• 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
• 0.5 oz simple syrup
• Lime wheel, for garnish

Steps

1. Add the gin, lime juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake hard for about 12 seconds.
3. Strain into a chilled coupe.
4. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Want a twist on this? Try our Blackberry Sage Elixir Gin Cocktail.

8. Gin Fizz

Base spirit: Empress 1908 Gin · Glass: Highball (Collins) · Color: Cloudy white · Flavor profile: Frothy, citrusy · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Light (~15% ABV)

A frothy, refreshing classic that comes alive with a hard shake and a splash of soda.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• 0.75 oz simple syrup
• Club soda, to top

Steps

1. Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake hard for 12 to 15 seconds.
3. Strain into a chilled glass with no ice, or over fresh ice.
4. Top with a splash of club soda and serve.

Want a twist on this? Try our Berry Divine Fizz Elderflower Gin Cocktail.

Craft and citrusy gin cocktails

1. Aviation

Base spirit: Empress 1908 Gin · Glass: Coupe · Color: Pale violet · Flavor profile: Floral, tart · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Medium (~22% ABV)

A pretty, floral sour tinted pale purple by crème de violette and maraschino liqueur.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin
• 0.5 oz maraschino liqueur
• 0.25 oz crème de violette
• 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
• Brandied cherry, for garnish

Steps

1. Add the gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and lemon juice to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake for about 12 seconds until chilled.
3. Double strain into a chilled coupe.
4. Garnish with a brandied cherry.

2. Bee's Knees

Base spirit: Roku Gin · Glass: Coupe · Color: Golden · Flavor profile: Honeyed, citrusy · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Medium (~22% ABV)

A Prohibition-era favorite where honey syrup rounds out gin and fresh lemon.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Roku Gin
• 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
• 0.75 oz honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water)
• Lemon twist, for garnish

Steps

1. Add the gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake hard for about 12 seconds.
3. Double strain into a chilled coupe.
4. Garnish with a lemon twist.

3. Last Word

Base spirit: The Botanist Gin · Glass: Coupe · Color: Pale chartreuse · Flavor profile: Herbal, complex, tart · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Strong (~27% ABV)

An equal-parts modern classic that balances gin, Chartreuse, maraschino, and lime.

Ingredients

• 0.75 oz The Botanist Gin
• 0.75 oz green Chartreuse
• 0.75 oz maraschino liqueur
• 0.75 oz fresh lime juice

Steps

1. Add all four ingredients to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake hard for about 12 seconds.
3. Double strain into a chilled coupe.
4. Serve up, no garnish needed.

4. Southside

Base spirit: Tanqueray Rangpur Gin · Glass: Coupe · Color: Pale, minty green · Flavor profile: Minty, citrusy · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Medium (~20% ABV)

A crisp, minty gin sour that tastes like a mojito's more elegant cousin.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Tanqueray Rangpur Gin
• 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
• 0.75 oz simple syrup
• 6 to 8 fresh mint leaves
• Mint sprig, for garnish

Steps

1. Add the gin, lime juice, simple syrup, and mint leaves to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake hard for about 12 seconds to break up the mint.
3. Double strain into a chilled coupe.
4. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig.

How to choose a gin for cocktails

The style of gin you reach for shapes the whole drink. A London Dry gin is the most versatile choice, with a juniper-forward, citrusy backbone that works in nearly everything from a Negroni to a Gin and Tonic. Old Tom gin is a touch sweeter and rounder, which suits classic sweeter builds like the Tom Collins. Contemporary or "new western" gins dial back the juniper in favor of floral and citrus botanicals, making them a great match for bright drinks like the Gimlet and Bee's Knees. When a recipe calls for supporting bottles, keep a good gin stocked alongside Campari and sweet vermouth for Negronis.

For more inspiration, head back up to our recipes hub, or explore our other roundups: the best whiskey cocktails and our bubbly Champagne cocktails. When you are ready to restock, shop gin at Country Wine & Spirits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular gin cocktail?

The Negroni and the Gin and Tonic.

What is the easiest gin cocktail to make at home?

The Gin and Tonic, built over ice with no shaking.

What gin is best for cocktails?

A London Dry gin is the most versatile; Old Tom suits sweeter classics; contemporary gins shine in citrus drinks.

What can I mix with gin besides tonic?

Sweet or dry vermouth, Campari, citrus, sparkling wine, soda water, and elderflower liqueur.

How much gin goes in a cocktail?

Usually 1.5 to 2 oz per serving.

Are gin cocktails strong?

Spirit-forward ones (Negroni, Martini) are; tall drinks (Tom Collins, G&T) are lighter.