The gin and tonic is a perennial favorite for a reason. It’s easy to make, easy to drink, and genuinely refreshing, especially on a sweaty summer day. Like most of the world, we love the the classic highball cocktail. Hell, just hearing the word gin, makes us immediately think ‘tonic’. But that reflexive snap of the synapses is something we are trying to correct because a good gin is a wonderfully versatile spirit — great for sipping or crafting a variety of excellent mixed drinks. This is especially true in summer, when the floral notes pair well with the season. So, if you’re tired of the standard G+T, here are six gin cocktails — and the best types of gin to use in them.
1. The Negroni
The Negroni celebrated its 100th birthday this year and we are raising our glass to 100 more years for this venerable cocktail. It’s a serious drink, refreshing, yet bitter and perfect as an aperitif. We like ours with Beefeater thanks to its balanced citrus and juniper notes.
Ingredients:
- 1oz Campari
- 1oz Gin
- 1oz Sweet Vermouth
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass with one large cube of ice and garnish with an orange peel.
(Photo by Lily Banse)
2. French 75
The French 75 is a wonderfully refreshing, easy to make cocktail. The pairing of gin and Champagne adds a sparkle to any brunch or a pop to an evening soirée. Plymouth Gin is a staple on our bar and it works well in the 75 thanks to complimentary citrus notes and a spice that plays off the the drink’s sweetness.
Ingredients:
- 2oz Gin
- 3/4oz Lemon Juice
- 3/4oz Simple Syrup
- 2oz Champagne
Directions:
Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to an ice filled shaker. Shake until ice cold and pour into a champagne glass. Top with champagne and garnish with a lemon peel.
(Photo by Jose Soriano)
3. Gin Rickey
Nearly as easy to make as a gin and tonic, the Rickey is a gin highball with a more fun name. Clean and crisp, Tanqueray’s herbal and spicy bouquet is made even more aromatic by the bubbles from the soda.
Ingredients:
- 2oz London Dry Gin
- 3/4oz Lime juice
- Club soda
Directions:
Fill a highball with ice, add gin, lime juice and top with soda. Garnish with a lime wheel. For those who like a touch of sweetness, add a dash of simple syrup.
(Flickr photo by Tim Sackton)
4. The Last Word
This once and future crowd-pleaser was prohibition era drink resurrected in the early 2000s. Now on menus at cocktail bars around the country, it’s an easy drink to make at home. While it’s ratio is 1:1:1:1, the gin in the recipe is the star of the show and that’s why we like to use The Botanist, a robust floral Scottish variety that boasts a nice pop of juniper.
Ingredients:
- 1oz Gin
- 1oz Green Chartreuse
- 1oz Maraschino Liqueur
- 1oz Fresh Lime Juice
Directions:
Shake all ingredients with ice until chilled. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a lime twist and/or a maraschino cherry.
(Photo by Kim Daniels)
5. Basil Gin Smash
A delicious summer cocktail, the basil gin smash is so easy to drink it can be a little dangerous. It’s also simple to make. Hendrick’s Gin is our go-to when whipping one (or a pitcher) up, as the gin’s cucumber notes play beautifully with the basil.
Ingredients:
- 2oz Gin
- 1oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1/2 – 3/4 oz Simple Syrup
- Fresh Basil
Directions:
Muddle six to 10 basil leaves with lemon juice and simple syrup in a shaker. Add ice and gin then shake until chilled. Strain into a larger rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with a sprig of basil
(Flickr photo by Alan Levine)
6. The Vesper Martini
We can thank James Bond or at least Ian Fleming for this excellent riff on the traditional martini. It’s definitely booze-forward, so we don’t recommend having more than one unless you’re 007 and your liver isn’t real. The original recipe calls for Gordon’s gin and who are we to argue?
Ingredients:
- 3oz Gin
- 1oz Vodka
- 1/2oz Lillet Blanc
Directions:
Shake all ingredients over ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garish with a lemon twist.
This article originally appeared on Fatherly. Follow @FatherlyHQ on Twitter.
