From Classic Cocktails to New Twists: How to Drink Gin Your Way

Gin can be enjoyed straight, hot, with a mixer, or as a cocktail drink. Some popular mixed drinks and cocktails for gin include Gin and Tonic, Martini, Negroni, or Cubata. On top of that, you can also pair your gin with food. Different gins may pair well with different kinds of food.

This article explores how you can enjoy your glass of gin. We look at different ways to drink your gin and also the suitable food pairings for your gin.

[ez-toc]

How to Drink Gin – 5 Different Ways

Generally, gin can be enjoyed in several ways. Drink your gin straight, hot, with a mixer, as a cocktail, and pair it with food. The key is to learn about making gin drinks, practice it, and develop your own way of enjoying it.

As a start, gins are similar to many other spirits. This means you can drink your gin similarly to most of these spirits. The key is understanding how gin may taste different, thanks to its botanicals. 

This means you cannot simply assume that just because you like your whisky on the rocks, you will also like your gin on the rocks. You can try gin in some of the ways below and see which suits your taste buds better.

Straight

Many people may be surprised that you can drink your gin straight, as they are used to having it as a cocktail. In fact, many high-quality gins should be enjoyed straight, so you can sample the taste without any other flavors interfering.

Neat: Gin may taste differently under different temperatures. If you serve it cold, it suppresses the botanical flavors and mellows the sweetness. If you sip it at room temperature, you may taste more botanicals and the depth of the drink. 

To drink gin neat, pour some gin into a lowball glass, swirl the drink a little, and sip your way.

On The Rocks: Some people may not enjoy neat gin, as it is too strong. Instead, they use some ice to make the drink more palatable.

If you drink your gin on the rocks, your gin will be very cold, which means you get to mellow down the drink. More ice also means more will melt and dilute your gin, making it less intense. 

If you want something in between neat and on the rocks, consider adding only a cube or two of ice into your neat gin, and sip away.

Hot

Like hot whisky or mulled wine, gin can also be enjoyed hot. Hot gin can be a popular drink during the cold winter and a godsend when you have flu or other sicknesses.

Hot Gin Toddy: Probably as a classic of a hot gin, it can be. Sip them during long, cold winter nights in front of a fire. To prepare a hot gin toddy, prepare the following:

• 1 ½ part gin
• ¾ part fresh lemon juice
• ¼ part sugar
• 2 parts hot water
• Cinnamon stick for garnishing.

1. Combine gin, sugar, and lemon juice in a brandy glass.
2. Pour in hot water. Ensure the water is not boiling but just below boiling. 
3. Stir to ensure the sugar is dissolved.
4. Throw in a cinnamon stick for garnishing. Serve and enjoy.

Hot Spiced Gin and Ginger: If you like an even warmer winter drink with gin, give this Hot spiced gin and ginger a try. You can enjoy gin with ginger, which is surprisingly a great mix on cold days. 

To make hot spiced gin and ginger, prepare:

• 1 part ginger syrup (We recommend Mönin)
• 4 parts apple juice
• 1 ½ part gin
• Cinnamon sticks and star anise

Now follow these steps:

1. Bring the ginger syrup, apple juice, cinnamon stick, and star anise to a saucepan. 
2. Allow to simmer under medium fire for five minutes. 
3. Pour the liquid into a heat-resistant glass. 
4. Pour in your gin. Stir to ensure an even mix.
5. Done. Enjoy your drink!

Add In A Mixer

If you prefer to have your gin with other drinks, you do not need to go into full cocktail mode. Sometimes your gin may taste very good just by adding an additional drink. 

The following are some of the simplest, easiest gin mixed-drink you can make at home without fancy equipment or tools. Some mixers are alcoholic, and some are not.

Gin And Coke: There are whisky and Coke, rum and Coke, so why not gin and Coke? Also known as Cubata, Gin and Coke taste surprisingly well, with the sweet caramelly flavor of Coke cutting into the alcoholic and herbal gin.

To make Gin and Coke, prepare

• 1 part gin
• 2 parts Coke
• Lime juice (optional)
• Lime slice as garnishing (optional)

1. Fill a rock or lowball glass half-full with ice. 
2. Pour in the gin and then the Coke.
3. When pouring Coke, pour slowly to avoid too many bubbles. 
4. Squeeze in half a lime juice, and stir until even. 
5. Serve with a lime slice as garnishing.

Gin And Sprite: Gin’s slight bitterness and botanical flavor go very well with Sprite. Sprite makes the drink refreshing, and gin helps to cut into the sweetness of Sprite.

To make Gin and Sprite, prepare:

• 1 part gin
• 2 parts Sprite
• Lime slice as garnishing (optional)

1. Fill a highball glass half-full with ice. 
2. Pour in the gin and Sprite
3. Stir. Do this slowly to avoid the bubbles rising too much
4. As you stir, add Sprite until the glass is almost full. 
5. Serve with a lime slice as garnishing. 

Smoky Martini (Gin & Whisky): Martin is a classic Gin cocktail with Gin and Vermouth. What about substituting the Vermouth and using whisky instead? We recommend you use a smoky scotch for a better taste.

To make a Smoky Martini, prepare the following:

• 2 ½ parts gin
• ½ part smoky whiskey (we recommend Johnnie Walker Double Black)
• Lemon twist for garnishing (optional)

1. Pour gin and whiskey into a shaker filled with ice. 
2. Shake until the shaker is cold to the touch. 
3. Strain the drink into a chilled, cold Martini glass.
4. Serve with a lemon twist as garnishing. Enjoy!

Gin And Tonic: Ahh, the good old gin and Tonic. A staple drink with the British, it was also popular for many today. Tonic water brings in a unique taste and adds some bubbly goodness to the gin.

To make Gin and Tonic, prepare:

• 1 part gin
• 2 parts tonic water (we recommend Fever Tree)
• Lime wedge slices for garnishing

1. Pour gin into a shaker with ice inside. 
2. Shake until the shaker is cold to the touch. 
3. Strain the drink into a chilled, cold highball glass.
4. Add tonic water, and stir. Add slowly to avoid making too many bubbles.
5. Serve with a lemon twist as garnishing. Enjoy!

As A Cocktail

As a cocktail drink, gin knows no bounds. Mixologists like gin as it is mostly clear in color and is not too strong in taste. This makes gin a common ingredient in many cocktails, similar to Vodka. 

Here, we share some of the more common gin-based cocktail drinks for you to start:

Gimlet: The Gimlet is a hidden classic cocktail drink many may not know. It provides a citrusy, refreshing taste, suitable for those looking for a tangy, chilled summer drink under the porch.

To make a Gimlet, prepare:

• 1 part gin
• ½ part lime cordial
• Lime slices for garnishing (optional)

1. Pour gin and lime cordial into a shaker filled with ice. 
2. Shake until the shaker is cold to the touch. 
3. Strain the drink into a chilled, cold couple glass.
4. Serve with a slice of lime for garnishing. 

Martini: Aside from Gin and Tonic, the Martini is probably the most well-known cocktail made with gin. Popularized in the US, Martini is still commonly served and enjoyed in bars worldwide today.

To make a Martini, prepare:

• 1 part gin
• 1 part Vermouth
• Olives
• Lemon slices for garnishing (optional)

1. Pour your gin and Vermouth into a shaker filled full with ice. 
2. Shake until the shaker is cold to the touch. 
3. Strain the drink into a chilled, cold Martini glass.
4. Add in an olive.
5. Serve with a slice of lemon for garnishing.

Southside (Mojito With Gin): Southside is essentially Mojito, with the rum replaced with some gin. Drink to appreciate how gin and mint can combine so well!

To make a Southside, prepare:

• 2 ½ parts gin
• 1 part lime juice
• 1 part sugar syrup
• Some mint leaves 

1. Combine gin, lime juice, and sugar syrup in a shaker with ice
2. Shake until the shaker feels cold to the touch.
3. Strain the drink out to a chilled Martini glass. 
4. Add in mint leaves, and stir to combine leaves with the drink. 
5. Serve with one of two mint leaves on the top as garnishing.

French 75: French 75 was created to commemorate French field guns. This may explain why the drink was made to taste sweet and bubbly, to remind you of how the gun pops, and the sweet taste of victory in wars.

To make a French 75, prepare the following:

• 1 part gin
• 1 part orange liqueur/Triple Sec
• 1 part lemon juice
• ½ part sugar syrup
• Club soda

1. Start by bringing the gin, orange liqueur, and lemon juice in a champagne flute. 
2. Stir even
3. Fill up the flute with a chilled club soda.
4. Serve and enjoy!

Pair It With Food

Gin can also be enjoyed by pairing it with food. Gin has a lighter taste, which means it may work well with many types of food. This is because its light taste will not overpower the food’s flavor.

Poultry: Gin goes very well with poultry, such as chicken, pheasant, duck, or turkey. For example, pair your Gin and Tonic or Gimlet with Korean fried Chicken or BBQ turkey dishes. 

Spiced poultry, cooked in Middle Eastern or Greek style, also works well with classic gin cocktails.

Red Meats: Red meats tend to have a stronger flavor, so you need to pair it with stronger gin. London Dry Gin tends to pair well with your BBQ meats and lasagna. 

You can also try gin with saffron and cardamom-dominated flavor with red meats, such as Gabriel Boudier Saffron Gin. If you cannot find one, try drinking some London Dry Gin while enjoying your meat.

Fish: Fish generally may not be cooked with heavy flavors, so they can work with many types of gin. When eating fish, feel free to sip citrusy, refreshing gin cocktails such as Gin and Tonic or Gin and Sprite.

The citrusy flavor will cut into the fishy taste. If your fish is deep-fried or cooked in cheese, your gin will also cut through the fatty taste.

Asian Food: Asian food can vary and may be more savory. In this case, you want light-tasting gin drinks to help wash down the food. In this case, feel free to experiment with Japanese gin cocktails with classic Asian hot pots. 

Asian food styles with heavier tastes, such as Thai, may also do well with classic gin cocktails or straight gin on the rocks.

Sweet Treats: Many may think of pairing whisky with desserts, but gin is also a good idea. Feel free to experiment with drinking gin straight while enjoying chocolates and sweet treats such as Turkish delights. 

If trying desserts with gin cocktails, keep the drink citrusy and refreshing to help take away the dessert’s sweetness.

Cheese: Cheese does not only go well with wine but with gin too. Gin is dominated by the flavor of botanicals, which may help cut away the milky, fatty taste on your tongue after you sample some cheese. Consider trying light cheeses with gin on the rocks as a start.

Final Thoughts

Whether you prefer it straight, with a mixer, in a cocktail, or even hot, there’s a way to enjoy gin that’s perfect for you. And if you’re feeling fancy, why not try pairing your gin with some delicious food?

With so many options available, there’s no excuse not to indulge in a glass of gin and experiment with different ways to enjoy it.