Gin has been the the breakout star of the spirit world for the last couple of years and this trend does not seem to be running out of steam just yet. Before it gets overtaken by a new fad, why not have a go at creating some of the best gin cocktails for summer? We’ve got recipes to suit every taste and we reckon you could even convert some gin skeptics!
1. Tom Collins
The Tom Collins cocktail is a classic for a reason and is the perfect cocktail to refresh you on a hot summer’s day. It’s so simple to put together, as it only consists of 5 ingredients! It’s tangy, lemon-y and not a challenging flavour to manage.
Ingredients: gin, lemon juice, soda water and caster sugar.
Find the full recipe at Jamie Oliver.
2. Rhubarb & Fennel Gin Cocktail
Rhubarb gin has exploded in popularity in the last year or so, thanks to it’s distinctive tangy flavour and sweetness. It is generally served with lemonade instead of tonic water, to add to the sweetness, but this cocktail version prefers to stick with just the hard liquor! The addition of a fennel bulb adds an aniseed-like taste that pairs delightfully with the stalk of fresh rhubarb, whilst the sugar and lemon add much needed sweetness.
Ingredients: gin, dry vermouth, fennel bulbs, rhubarb stalks, sugar and lemon juice.
Find the full recipe at Bon Appetit.
3. The Bramble
Berry flavoured drinks are absolutely ideal for summer! You will need quite a specific blackberry liqueur called crème de mûre to create this cocktail, but you can use more commonly found alternatives such as Chambord (which is raspberry flavoured but is very similar) if you cannot find it in any shop.
Ingredients: gin, lime juice, syrup, crème de mûre (or Chambord) and fresh raspberries.
Find the full recipe at The Spruce Eats.
4. Cucumber & Coriander G&T
G&T’s are a popular choice amongst dieters, as it does have the lowest calorie count of most alcoholic beverages. The fact that botanical gins pair wonderfully with other healthy flavours such as cucumber and herbs is an added bonus!
Ingredients: gin, tonic water, cucumber and coriander sprigs.
Find the full recipe at BBC Good Food.
5. Apple, Elderflower & Gin Cocktail
This fruity little number is perfect for an evening nightcap, to sip as you sit in your garden watching the sun go down. It reminds us very much of sunny picnics in the park and garden parties. It’s thirst-quenching and perfect for cooling off in the heat.
Ingredients: gin, elderflower cordial, cloudy apple juice and apple slices.
Find the full recipe at BBC Good Food.
6. Gin & Jam
Jam in a cocktail? It works better than you might think! Jam is essentially just concentrated fruit and is a replacement for a fruit liqueur, however it has a thicker consistency. Blend with egg white for a fluffy, silky texture.
Ingredients: gin, lemon juice, jam, egg white and orange (or lemon) zest.
Find the full recipe at Olive Magazine.
7. Limoncello & Thyme Collins
This twist on the classic Tom Collins cocktail requires you to make your own Limoncello by placing lemon peel, thyme and vodka in a glass container and leaving it to mingle together for 2 weeks in a dark space. Making this cocktail is quite a complicated process, but we think that the end result is worth it.
Ingredients: lemons, vodka, thyme, caster sugar, gin, soda water and thyme.
Find the full recipe at Olive Magazine.
8. Blueberry Gin Sour
Amaretto sours are very popular, so why shouldn’t gin sours be? With a combination of fresh lemons and sweet blueberries paired with the sourness of Angostura Bitters, you’ll be coming back for more!
Ingredients: fresh blueberries, sugar, lemon juice, egg white, gin, angostura bitters and lemon peel.
Find the full recipe at Super Golden Bakes.
9. Gin Basil Smash
Gin is the best spirit to pair with non-sweet flavours, such as herbs and vegetables, as it is made using botanical products itself. This is truly a drink for sophisticated adults, as the herb-y flavour palette of basil and lemon will not appeal to everybody!
Ingredients: gin, basil leaves, lemon juice and simple syrup.
Find the full recipe at JS Online.
10. Candied Grapefruit Cocktail
The bitterness of grapefruit has the same appeal to gin as tangy rhubarb does, as it helps to counteract any overarching sweetness. You can push the flavours of this cocktail even further if you wish, by adding a dash of cayenne pepper for an extra boost of underlying heat.
Ingredients: gin, fresh grapefruit juice, agave nectar, grapefruit peel, cayenne pepper (optional) and sugar.
Find the full recipe at Pretty Plain Janes.