12 Summer Gin Cocktails to Try

Got basil? Love gin? Here’s the ideal drink for you: the Gin Basil Smash! This modern spin on the Whiskey Smash is light and herbaceous, pairing peppery basil with botanical gin. If there’s summer in a cocktail glass, this is it! This addition to our summer cocktails perfectly captures that feeling of fresh cut grass between your toes and sticky melted popsicle fingers.

First up in the best summer gin cocktails: the Gin Mule, aka Gin Gin Mule! This cocktail is more than meets the eye. Considered a modern classic cocktail, it’s a mashup of the Moscow mule and minty Mojito. You’ve got the bubbly ginger beer and lime of a mule, balanced by the muddled mint and sweetness of a mojito. 

Another top summer gin cocktail: the Gin Rickey! The rickey is a classic highball drink with soda water and lime juice. Add sweet raspberry syrup to a lime rickey and you’ve a new and improved version of it! The berry plus lime formula has the perfect sweet tart flavor and bubbly texture. Or try a: Cherry Lime Rickey.

The season for watermelon is short and sweet, so once it’s in: capitalize on this hydrating fruit! Meet the gin watermelon cocktail. It’s spirit-forward, botanical from the gin and tangy from lemon, and just sweet enough.

Herbs in cocktails? Yes, please. Basil’s peppery flavor could not be more perfect in cocktail recipes. Here it pairs nicely with the botanical essence of gin in a basil gimlet, a drink made of lime juice, gin and muddled basil. Truly the perfect summer gin cocktail! 

The popular Finnish long drink recipe mixes gin, grapefruit soda, and a splash of cranberry into Finland’s famous fizzy cocktail. It takes 3 minutes and one glass!

Another easy summer gin cocktail? Enter the Salty Dog! This recipe's got a unique name and a beautiful pale pink color. It’s tangy and refreshing, perfect as a brunch drink or for happy hour. It’s got a light summery vibe, but it works in winter when citrus abounds. 

Here’s one of the most refreshing cocktails out there: a Southside Fizz! A cousin of the Southside Cocktail, this summer gin cocktail features bright citrus, herbaceous mint, and fizzy soda water. It’s tart and fizzy, perfect for drinks on the patio.

Here’s a light, bubbly classic gin cocktail that’s flown under the radar for too long: the Floradora! This beautifully pink drink was inspired by a Broadway show by the same name and dates back to the early 1900’s. It’s a total gem of a drink: raspberry syrup pairs beautifully with lime, gin, and the spicy kick of ginger beer!

Have you tried a classic Long Island Iced Tea? Mixed up as intended, this drink will blow you away. Ditch the sour mix and Triple Sec in favor of fresh citrus and top shelf liquor. One sip and it’s zingy, sweet tart, nuanced and sophisticated.

Also try: Tokyo Tea or Blue Long Island

Here’s an herbal, sweet tart cocktail that’s a new favorite around here: this Lavender Gin Cocktail! It’s a spin on the classic Tom Collins starring this fresh herb. And wow, is it full of flavor! It’s sweet tart, zing and bubbly, with a subtle floral finish to each sip. 

What’s more refreshing for summer than a classic gin and tonic? Its crisp, botanical flavor is straightforward but at the same time intriguing: a feat using only 2 ingredients! It’s no wonder that this is one of the world’s popular cocktails.