What to Mix with London Dry Gin? Creative & Fun Mixing Ideas
On its own, London dry gin tastes nice, but after a while, the taste may become boring. As a result, many people started mixing London Dry Gin with other drinks or flavors to make cocktails.
If you are keen to try this, what can you mix into your glass of gin beyond the usual Gin and Tonic? What to mix with London dry gin?
London dry gin tastes great when mixed with citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and lime. Sparkling water also helps to spice up the taste, and common sodas such as coke and ginger beer also mix great with gin. You can also try other alcoholic beverages such as Prosecco or Vermouth.
This article discusses what you can mix to spice up your London dry gin. We will also explore some of the common cocktail recipes people make with London dry gin, before exploring how popular the drink is.
What Is London Dry Gin?
London dry gin is a style of gin. It is recognized for its dry taste but rich botanical flavors. They are commonly made by mixing and then distilling grain alcohol with herbs such as juniper berries, coriander, or citrus peel. It is popular worldwide and is commonly drunk straight or as a cocktail.
London Dry Gin is a popular variety of gin with a dry taste and a strong juniper flavor. London Dry Gin was first introduced in England from the Netherlands and Belgium in the 17th century as a medicine.
The drink became very popular in London and the surrounding area very quickly. By the 18th century, local distilleries sprung up to cater to the demand. This resulted in the creation of the London dry gin.
These days, the term refers to the style of gin rather than the city where the gin is made. This means even if your bottle of Tanqueray says ‘London Dry Gin,’ it may not be made in London itself.
It is commonly made by adding juniper berries, coriander, angelica root, and citrus peel to grain spirit, which is usually made from wheat or barley. The grain spirits are then distilled, giving the spirit the flavors and smells of the botanicals.
One of the most important things about London Dry Gin is that it must be distilled to at least 70% ABV (alcohol by volume). When bottling, the alcohol content is brought down to around 40% ABV.
Today, people worldwide drink London dry gin, a key ingredient in many classic cocktails like the Martini and the Gin & Tonic. It is also often drunk straight up or with ice.
Beefeater, Tanqueray, and Gordon’s are all well-known brands of London Dry Gin. Aside from London dry gin, there are other gin types, such as extra dry gin, Old Tom gin, or Portsmouth gin.
Is London Dry Gin Popular In Cocktails?
London dry gin is popular in cocktails as it has a neutral taste but a strong botanical flavor. This helps to make the cocktail taste fresh, and the botanical flavor helps to spice up many cocktails. Popular cocktails made with London dry gin include gin and tonic, Martini, and Tom Collins.
When drunk, London dry gin has a clear, neutral taste. However, the flavor is bursting with botanicals, such as juniper, coriander, or angelica root.
This means London dry gin has the good characteristics of a good mixer. You can easily add things to alter the taste and have the botanical flavor to enhance the drink.
As a result, London dry gin is used on many popular cocktails, just as other common mixer alcohols such as vodka or rum.
Some of the popular cocktails involving London dry gin include:
Gin and Tonic
Probably the most recognizable cocktail made from gin originated in the British colonial era to make the bitter quinine (drank as a medicine to fight malaria) in tonic water more palatable.
It is made by mixing gin, tonic water, and ice. You may also see it commonly garnished with a slice of lime or lemon. Variations include adding some lime juice inside the drink as well.
Martini
A martini is a popular American invention made by mixing gin and Vermouth, typically served in a chilled, stemmed glass.
The ingredients are typically mixed and chilled in a shaker or stirring glass, then strained into the glass. The drink is usually garnished with an olive or a twist of lemon peel.
The traditional ratio is two parts gin to one part vermouth. Still, over the years, the ratio of gin steadily increased. There are many variations of the Martini, such as a Churchill martini that removes Vermouth from the drink. There is also the “vodka martini” that substitutes vodka for gin.
Tom Collins
Also a timeless American classic, Tom Collins originated from a fictional namesake who was the subject of a popular hoax in 1874. This cocktail recipe usually includes gin, lemon juice, sugar, and carbonated water.
It is then served in a Collins glass and garnished with a maraschino cherry and an orange slice. Some variations of Tom Collins use syrup to sweeten the drink instead of sugar, and some added cherries for garnishing.
What To Mix With London Dry Gin?
London dry gin tends to do well with many sweet, acidic, and fresh flavors. These include citrus fruits and herbs. Some cocktails mix gin with sodas such as ginger beer and coke.
| Types | Mixer Examples |
|---|---|
| Citrus Fruits & Juices | Lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit |
| Soda & Carbonated Beverages | Coke, soda water, tonic water, ginger beer |
| Other Fruits & Vegetables | Apple, pineapple, cucumber, olives, strawberries |
| Other Alcoholic Beverages | Champagne, Vermouth |
London dry gin carries a neutral and clean taste but with a punch of botanical flavors. This makes it excellent as a mixer. Common additions tend to add mixers that enhance the taste while allowing the botanical flavor to embellish the overall drinking experience.
Standard mixers added into London dry gin include citrus fruits, soda beverages, and other fruits and vegetables. Other alcoholic beverages are also commonly added to London dry gin.
Citrus Fruits & Juices
Lemon: Lemon is citrus and acidic, which helps to bring in zest and tanginess to your gin. All sorts of lemon should work well with gin, be it lemon cuts, juices, syrup, or cordial. Feel free to mix them with gin, soda water, and some ice for a refreshing drink.
Orange: Orange works similarly to lemon, bringing in zest and refreshing acidity to a glass of gin. However, orange brings a different color, as well as a slightly different taste. If lemon and gin are boring, experiment with oranges. As a start, mix with ice and soda water.
Lime: Lime is more tropical citrus and goes extremely well with London dry gin. In most cases, feel free to experiment with lime juice and syrup or use it as garnish. If you have a lime cordial, consider making a glass of Gimlet for yourself.
Grapefruit: Grapefruit presents a different dimension of flavors and tastes. Aside from some tartness and acidity, grapefruit is also slightly bitter. Use grapefruit to spice up your glass of gin. Slide up some grapefruit, throw it into your gin, add some ice and throw in some rosemary for a comforting summer drink.
Soda & Carbonated Beverages
Coke: Who doesn’t like coke with liquor? Aside from whisky, rum, and vodka, Coka also goes well with gin. If you are making this for the first time, start experimenting with less coke. This is because coke has a strong flavor and may overpower gin. Adjust accordingly to find the right taste.
Tonic Water: Tonic water was invented to make quinine more drinkable for British colonial officers in the tropics. Some officers mixed it with gin to create this popular concoction.
Soda Water: Soda water helps to cut into the intensity of the alcohol and also provides the bubbles that make the drink fizzy on the tongue. Mix soda water with gin, and add some citrus for a refreshing summer drink.
Ginger Beer: Mixing gin with warm beverages such as ginger beer helps bring some spice and sweetness to the drink, making it a great way to warm up on cold winter nights. If sugar is an issue, you can always switch to ginger ale, which should be less sweet.
Other Fruits & Vegetables
Apple Juice: Apple juice has sweetness and some zest, which should add some taste to your gin. Gin and apple juice should make your drink sweet, slightly tangy, but full of botanical flavor.
Pineapple Juice: If you want to have a stronger taste of the tropics, try some pineapple juice. The sweetness and acidity will remind you of topical paradise too. Add gin to pineapple juice and a bit of bubbly wine for a refreshing, sweet drink.
Cranberry Juice: Cranberry brings in the sweetness gin lacks and introduces more color to your drink. Mix gin with cranberry juice, then squeeze a bit of fresh lemon for some zing and to cut into some sweetness.
Cucumber: A simple garden plant with a lot of watery goodness. It will also introduce some green, garden-ish goodness to your drink. Feel free to add a few slices of cucumber to your gin and soda water mix to make a refreshing drink.
Olives: Who can forget olives? Olives are instant classics with gin, thanks to its association with Martini. Feel free to make your own glass of Martini at home, and slap in one of two olives to make the drink.
Strawberries: Strawberries work well with gin, as it introduces some color to the gin and some sweetness to cut into the dryness of the gin. The fruit seems to taste better after being soaked in some alcohol too. Cut some strawberries, and add them to your gin and tonic for a new taste.
Other Alcoholic Beverages
Vermouth: This list would not be complete without Vermouth. This is because the world-famous Martini is made by mixing gin and Vermouth. The botanical and herbal taste of Vermouth goes very well with gin. You can always adjust the mixing ratio, depending on if you prefer more gin taste or Vermouth.
Bubbly Wine: Ever wish your glass of champagne or bubbly wine could be less sweet and a little boozier? Add in some gin and see if that suits your taste. Aside from giving your champagne a stronger alcoholic taste, the botanicals in gin should add some extra taste to your drink.
Final Thoughts
London dry gin is a specific type of gin and one of the most popular gins in the world. It is commonly used in mixes and cocktails, as it has a neutral taste yet a strong botanical flavor.
Standard mixers into Londy dry gin include citrus fruits and juices, soda, and carbonated beverages. Some fruits and vegetables, and also other alcoholic beverages, mix well with gin too.
You may want to experiment with these combinations to find your own twist to enjoying your London dry gin.
