18 Gin Cocktails To Shake Up Your G&T Game

Shaken or stirred, these are our favorite sips.

blueberry gin and tonic
Andrew bui

Any way you shake it, gin is one of our favorite alcohols for mixing up exciting, new cocktail recipes. Nothing is simpler than a gin and tonic, but what if you want to up your home bartending game? Gin adds a uniquely complex herbal note to so many classic cocktails, like the French 75 and our blueberry gin and tonic. But why stop there? Check out all our favorite gin cocktails to find your next favorite drink.

Gin might be the most versatile alcohol for mixing up. And if you ever find yourself not in the mood for vodka, gin is often a great substitution for a traditionally vodka-based cocktail, like martinis, the greyhound, and gimlets. If you've never had a Negroni, one of our favorite ways to drink gin, mix one up ASAP (it's just three ingredients!). After that, you'll be craving frozen Negronis and Negroni Jell-O shots in no time.

Flavor-wise, gin primarily derives its flavor from juniper berries, but secondary notes can be derived from a wide array of ingredients, such as various fruits, herbs, spices, and, of course, other botanicals. We love playing with herbal flavors with gin, like in our rosemary gin fizz and bee's knees cocktail. Try our Aviation cocktail (made with floral, purple-hued crème de violette), and it'll soon become your new go-to drink.

Not sure which type of gin to add to your bar cart? No sweat, we've rounded up all the best gins, the best gifts for gin-lovers, and yes, even a recipe for gin and tonic pickles.

french 75
Andrew bui
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French 75

The French 75 is among the fanciest of cocktails. Sure, there’s the tried-and-true margarita and the timeless Old Fashioned, but the French 75 has got what those two don’t: Champagne! Champagne is what makes this drink distinctively French (and totally worth the splurge), but a more affordable sparkling wine such as Prosecco or Cava are both sound options. Make sure to squeeze the lemon twist into your drink to add some of those floral lemon oils.

Get the French 75 recipe.

blueberry gin and tonic
Andrew bui
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Blueberry Gin & Tonic

The addition of a blueberry syrup turns a classic gin and tonic into a perfect summer drink, making it fruity, a little sweeter, and a beautiful shade of purple. It’s a fun party drink that mixes up quick with very little effort. The syrup will make more than you need for one drink, but you can save it for future cocktails or serve it over pancakes or ice cream!

Get the Blueberry Gin & Tonic recipe.

negroni
Joel Goldberg
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Negroni

Something about the bittersweet, botanical flavors of Negroni makes us feel like we're on vacation. This classic Italian cocktail amps up the notes of juniper in gin with sweet vermouth and herbaceous Campari. The best part? No crazy ratio to memorize. Just stir equal parts of all three and that’s it!

Get the Negroni recipe.

gimlet
erik bernstein
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Gimlet

This cocktail couldn't be simpler with only 3 ingredients, shaken and served. We love garnishing with a lime wheel and a bit of lime zest. It adds a flavorful intensity that comes from the oils that are released when a lime is zested and complements the herbaciousness of the gin.

Get the Gimlet recipe.

aviation cocktail
erik bernstein
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Aviation Cocktail

Conceived over 100 years ago by New York bartender Hugo Ensslin, the Aviation has fallen in and out of style through the years. After crème de violette, the violet liqueur key to the purple hue and floral flavor, was discontinued in the '60s, it was all but impossible to mix up a classic Aviation at home. Thankfully, it was brought back in the mid-aughts. Though it can still be tricky to find, fans of this floral cocktail know it's worth the search.

Get the Aviation Cocktail recipe.

appletini
Parker feierbach
6 of 18
Appletini

Apple schnapps brings sweet-tart green apple flavor, while a splash of calvados (apple brandy) gives it a fiery kick. Easy to shake up, you can use either gin or vodka for this too! Warning: These babies are STRONG, so don't plan on going anywhere after consuming. 😂

Get the Appletini recipe.

bee's knees cocktail
Rachel vanni
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Bee's Knees Cocktail

For those who love gin, this bright, juicy cocktail will definitely live up to its name. With only three essential ingredients—honey, lemon, and gin—a good Bee’s Knees perfectly highlights the complex flavors of the starring spirit. Though this Prohibition-era drink may have been created to mask less-than-ideal bathtub gin, it’s still popular today thanks to its refreshing simplicity.

Get the Bee's Knees Cocktail recipe.

salty dog drink
Lucy schaeffer
8 of 18
Salty Dog Drink

Crisp, grapefruity, refreshing, and only three ingredients?! The Salty Dog just became our go-to summer cocktail. Sign us up.

Get the Salty Dog Drink recipe.

sparkling greyhounds
suzanne clements
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Sparkling Greyhounds

A classic greyhound keeps it simple: grapefruit juice, vodka or gin, and ice. Our version includes some sparkly upgrades: a sweet/savory rim made of sugar and salt, and a sugar-encrusted sprig of rosemary. Refreshing and easy to down, they're great for a lively brunch or cocktail hour.

Get the Sparkling Greyhounds recipe.

long island iced tea
Andrew bui
10 of 18
Long Island Iced Tea

Long Island iced teas are the ultimate cocktail mystery. How does this classic cocktail, with its combination of 5 alcohols, manage to taste incredible and resemble the taste of a lemony sweet tea?! We highly recommend making a homemade sour mix with lemon, lime, and grapefruit to add a bit more complexity that takes this drink up several notches.

Get the Long Island Iced Tea recipe.

gin and tonic pops
Emily hlavac green
11 of 18
Gin & Tonic Pops

We'll take our G&Ts frozen, please. No popsicle mold? No worries—these freeze up perfectly in mini Dixie cups.

Get the Gin & Tonic Pops recipe.

the last word cocktail
Chelsea lupkin
12 of 18
The Last Word Cocktail

Cherry limeade fans, we've found the sophisticated cocktail you've got to try. Next on your list? This cherry and coconut-spiked limeade recipe.

Get the The Last Word Cocktail recipe.

rosemary gin fizz
Parker feierbach
13 of 18
Rosemary Gin Fizz

This gin fizz gets a major flavor boost from rosemary simple syrup. This recipe will make far more syrup than you'll need for 2 drinks, but kept in an airtight container, it'll last 1 to 2 weeks! Use it to make more fizzes, or add it to other drinks that need sweetening, like homemade lemonade or iced tea.

Get the Rosemary Gin Fizz recipe.

negroni jello shots
Parker feierbach
14 of 18
Negroni Jell-O Shots

We knew it was only a matter of time we'd turn our favorite summertime cocktail into a Jell-O shot for a fun take on the drink. Finish these off with an orange peel for that classic Negroni touch.

Get the Negroni Jell-O Shots recipe.

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Grapefruit Gin-mosas

No brunch spread is complete without a bubbly drink, and these grapefruit gin-mosas are mimosa’s classier and more mature cousin. The combo of fresh grapefruit juice, grapefruit soda, gin, and your favorite bubbly is a refreshing twist even the most basic brunchers will appreciate.

Get the Grapefruit Gin-mosas recipe.

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Frozen Negroni

Negronis are having a moment, and this frozen version is a favorite new take on the bittersweet cocktail. (Any frozen cocktail is a great idea, really). This one is super simple, too—four ingredients including gin and refreshing tangerine juice make for a perfect summer treat.

Get the Frozen Negroni recipe.

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Spicy Bee’s Knees

It’s easy to get in the routine of pouring a couple glasses of wine on a date night, but a spicy cocktail is so much more fun, no? This one is a hot twist on the prohibition-era classic, and it starts with homemade hot honey simple syrup. Combine it with lemon juice, gin, and ice, and you have yourself the perfect date-night cocktail!

Get the Spicy Bee’s Knees recipe.

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Watermelon Gin Martini

This watermelon cocktail is made with Tanqueray Rangpur Gin, red vermouth, agave, and 2 cups of fresh watermelon juice—and it tastes just like the best parts of summer. Don't forget sugar for the rim!

Get the Watermelon Gin Martini recipe.

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