Craving a fun gin drink but short on time? Here’s how to craft simple gin cocktails with just a few ingredients and minimal effort.
Sometimes you’ve got time to mix up some fun cocktails, but other times you want something that’s quick and easy. If you’ve got a bottle of gin on hand, here are our top simple gin cocktails that are easy to throw together.
What’s a simple gin cocktail?
How do we define simple here? We’ve got a whole list of our best gin cocktails that includes all the classics. This collection is a sub-set of gin cocktails that take 5 minutes and are made with only a few ingredients and no fancy techniques. Many of them you can build right in the glass, so you don’t even need to dirty a cocktail shaker!
There’s everything from two-ingredient gin cocktails to simple bubbly highballs. Here’s what to mix with gin (tonic water and beyond!) to make an easy, breezy drink to enjoy. Alex and I have made these recipes multiple times, and we love every one of them! Some top favorites are the Gin Rickey, Gin Gin Mule, and Salty Dog.
The recipes: our top 10 simple gin cocktails
The Gin Rickey is one of the best simple gin cocktails there is! Gin, soda water, and lime make the best bubbly, refreshing highball drink: and you can built it right in the glass.
It’s minty, it’s bubbly, it’s refreshing: meet the simple Gin Gin Mule! Considered a modern classic cocktail, it’s a mashup of the mule and minty Mojito. You’ve got the bubbly ginger beer and lime of a mule, balanced by fresh mint.
Here's another fun simple gin cocktail: the Salty Dog! It's got a fun name and a beautiful pale pink color, pairing gin and grapefruit juice with simple syrup. It’s tangy and refreshing.
What’s a more classic simple gin cocktail than THE gin and tonic? Its crisp, botanical flavor is straightforward but intriguing: quite a feat using only 2 ingredients! It’s no wonder that this is one of the world’s popular simple cocktails.
Need an easy 2 ingredient cocktail idea with gin? Try this Gin and Lemonade! It might sound overly simple, but gin and lemon are a natural cocktail pairing featured in many classic drinks.
Here’s a classic cocktail that is super refreshing and takes only 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to whip up! Not only is it simple to make, it’s the perfect balance of sweet and tart with the botanical flavor of gin.
This tall highball drink is a gin sour, a sweet and sour drink made with gin and lemon juice. It’s refreshing, bubbly, and makes any evening more fun!
Looking for a fast and simple gin cocktail? Try Gin and Soda! Adding club soda to gin lets you enjoy the botanical intrigue of the flavor: and it takes no time at all to mix up.
Here’s a fun simple gin cocktail you can build right in the glass: the Finnish Long Drink! This concoction of gin and usually grapefruit soda was invented in Finland in the 1950’s. It’s now becoming available canned in the US: but why not make it homemade?
This gin cocktail's got a unique name and a beautiful pale pink color! Just grapefruit juice and gin make one tangy and refreshing cocktail! It's perfect as a brunch drink or for happy hour.
Best types of gin
The general rule around gin cocktails: the better the gin, the better the drink. Don’t buy the cheapest gin you can find. Try to invest in a mid-price range gin: the drink will only taste as good as the gin you invest in! Here are a few notes:
- Malfy, Aviation, Beefeater London Dry have a developed, botanical flavor that blends well in cocktails.
- Locally distilled gin is a great option! In Indianapolis, we like 8th Day Distillery, Hotel Tango, and Big Heart Gin.
- Steer clear of strong flavored sipping gins in cocktails. For us this includes brands like Tanqueray gin (very floral) and Opihr gin (spice-forward). These types of gin can overpower the subtlety in many mixed drinks.
More gin cocktails
Looking for more gin cocktail ideas? We’ve got recipes for every season! Here are a few of our top ideas:
Frequently asked questions
Malfy, Aviation, and Beefeater London Dry is a versatile choice for most simple cocktails. However, you can explore other styles like juniper-forward gins or citrusy gins depending on your taste preference.
Not at all! Most recipes use readily available ingredients like citrus juice, tonic water, and simple syrup.
Absolutely! Many of the recipes, like the Gin and Tonic, Gin Rickey, and Gin and Lemonade can be built directly in the glass. For drinks requiring mixing, a mason jar or even a tightly sealed mug can work in a pinch.
Experiment with different garnishes! Fresh herbs like mint, rosemary, or thyme can add a touch of elegance. You can also use slices of cucumber, orange, or lemon for a pop of color and flavor.
Let us know if you have any questions!
interesting change for me, will have to keep these for the weekend, I’m not a big gin drinker so, thank you