The versatile gin is basking in its new-found glory!
Gin is now more popular than ever! This dry spirit is often considered to be the perfect refreshing drink on hot days. It’s easy to see why people prefer it while the temperature soars: Gin’s light, botanical, and it blends with all manner of juices and sodas, and almost everything else! However, people are now discovering its versatility because you can make fabulous cocktails with gin no matter what the season! From sours and highballs to martinis—gin truly deserves a place in your home bar or your cocktail rotation.
Here’s a roundup of a few easy and refreshing gin cocktails….
The OG of gin cocktails! The headliner. It’s more complex than people give it credit for! Add too much gin, and this botanical spirit will overshadow the unique qualities of the tonic. Too much tonic on the other hand, will drown the gin! It’s all about balance, you see!
Ingredients:
gin
tonic water
lime slice, to garnish (optional)
GET IT RIGHT: Make a classic G&T by combining one part gin with two parts tonic. First, fill a highball glass with ice and add the gin. Then, add the tonic and gently stir. Finish off with a lime slice! Or you could garnish with cucumbers or berries!
It doesn’t get more simpler or refreshing than this classic cocktail! Classified as a gin sour, its origin story is quite interesting. It’s believed to have been invented in the late 18th century, in order to save British sailors from Scurvy. Sailors needed the citrus to prevent this disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C. The lime juice mixed with liquor made for a preventative and delicious drink! Scurvy or not, a Gimlet is simply divine!
Ingredients:
50ml gin
25ml lime cordial (sweetened lime juice)
lime slice, to garnish
GET IT RIGHT: Stir together the gin and cordial (freshly squeezed lime juice definitely punches in more flavour), then continue to stir until diluted. Serve in a coupe glass garnished with a lime slice!
We think it’s safe to say the gin’s popularity surge, especially during the lockdown, was all thanks to Hollywood actor Stanley Tucci! This more-than-a-century-old drink created quite a stir last year, when Tucci posted an IG video of him making a cocktail for his wife! What was the said drink, you wonder? It was a ruby-hued, bitter, sweet, dry, and refreshing all at once drink—Negroni!
Ingredients:
25ml gin (the drier the better)
25ml Campari
25ml vermouth rosso
ice
GET IT RIGHT: Pour the gin, vermouth and Campari into a mixing glass or jug with ice. Stir well until the outside of the glass feels cold. Strain into a tumbler and add some fresh ice, and garnish with an orange slice.
They say looks can be deceiving. It’s true in this drink’s case. The Bramble looks like a cocktail with centuries worth of history. In reality, it was created in London, UK in 1984 by Dick Bradsell, (who’s also credited for creating the famed Espresso Martini) at a club in London’s Soho neighbourhood. A true modern-classic cocktail was born! The Bramble gets the moniker from the bushes that blackberries (and other berries) grow on—and was created as an homage to his childhood memory of picking fresh blackberries!
Ingredients:
40ml gin
20ml sugar syrup
20ml lemon juice
10ml crème de mûre (blackberry liqueur)
berries or lemon zest, to garnish
GET IT RIGHT: Tip the gin, sugar syrup and lemon juice together in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Fine strain into Rocks Glass over crushed ice. Then, drizzle some crème de mûre. Garnish with lemon zest or fresh blackberries or other seasonal berries!
No list of gin cocktails will be complete without a Martini on it! While there are many tweaked versions, this one remains a classic! When making a Dry Martini for yourself, good ingredients matter the most! A London-style gin is a must for this cocktail!
Ingredients:
60ml gin
dry vermouth, to taste
1 strip of lemon peel, to garnish
GET IT RIGHT: The ratio is negotiable, but it’s best to keep six parts gin to one part vermouth, unless you want it to taste herbal! Add the gin and dry vermouth into a mixing glass with ice and stir until very cold. Strain into a chilled Martini/cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
While there are many more complicated and complex gin cocktails available out there—these don’t require countless ingredients or bar tools and can be easily shaken or stirred at home in a jiffy! Also, you know the drill: Drink responsibly!
[All Image Credits: Shutterstock]
Eva Pavithran
Vertical Head - Lifestyle