Need some inspiration on how to spruce up everyone’s favourite party drink? Whilst a gin on the rocks can make for a smooth, aromatic drink, sometimes we need something that really just makes us go, wow.
Check out this list of 10 classic gin cocktails you can make at home to impress all your friends. Feel free to use your favourite gin for these recipes, but for something truly special give Stableviews Distillery Abrolhos Gin a try, which we will be using for every recipe here. Now, get ready to build your Dutch Courage with these amazing gin cocktails. Visit Garden Street for quality glassware.
Gin Martini
Perhaps the most famous cocktail in the world that no one seems to have tried. It may be associated with a higher class of drink, thanks to a certain British spy, but that doesn’t mean it’s hard to make or drink. Despite the quote, we recommend stirring it, as the botanicals in the gin break down and become flat. You can easily customise this cocktail and change the amount according to your taste.
Ingredients:
- 60ml Stableviews Distillery Abrolhos Gin
- 30ml vermouth
- Ice cubes
- Lemon peel or olives for garnish
Directions:
- Fill a pouring or mixing glass to halfway with ice cubes.
- Pour in the gin and vermouth.
- Stir for around 30 seconds, don’t be too rough, and agitate the flavourful botanicals.
- Strain into a chilled Martini glass.
- Garnish with lemon peel or olives on a skewer, and serve.
Negroni
This is a sweet, yet bitter drink that’s also quite easy to put together. The bitter flavour of the Campari is beautifully complemented by the sweetness of the vermouth, which gives flavours of cherry, citrus and wine and the background notes of the herbal gin set everything together. This is perfect to have with a meal, so if you have some guests over, spoil them with a Negroni cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 30ml Stableviews Distillery Abrolhos Gin
- 30ml sweet vermouth
- 30ml Campari
- Orange wedge for garnish
- Ice cubes
Directions:
- Pour the Gin, sweet vermouth and Campari into an old fashioned cocktail glass.
- Add a few ice cubes.
- Stir for 30 seconds.
- Garnish with wedge slice and serve.
Gin and Tonic
We couldn’t forget this one! If ever there was a crowd pleaser, this is it. Chances are you’ve probably had a gin and tonic. It’s as easy to make as it is to say. This refreshing, crisp and zesty drink is perfect for any friendly gathering and will keep them coming for more. Be careful though, or your guests will be crashing on the couch or any soft piece of furniture they can find.
Ingredients:
- 30ml Stableviews Distillery Abrolhos Gin
- 60ml tonic water
- Ice cubes
- Lime, or orange wedge for garnish
Directions:
- Fill a tall glass halfway with ice cubes.
- Pour in gin, then top with tonic water.
- Stir gently for a few seconds.
- Garnish with lime or orange wedge and serve.
Bramble
Inspired by the deep reds of bramble fruits, blackberries and raspberries. This is a punchy and sweet drink that goes down easy. To make this you will need a blackberry liqueur such as Crème de Mûre, but you can substitute it easily enough with Crème de Cassis, which is a blackcurrant liqueur that will still give that wonderful berry taste. For something extra special, garnish with blackberries or raspberries.
Ingredients:
- 50ml Stableviews Distillery Abrolhos Gin
- 30ml lemon juice
- 3/4 tbsp simple syrup
- 3/4 tbsp crème de mûre
- Ice cubes
- Crushed ice
- Blackberries for garnish
Directions:
- Fill cocktail shaker with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and ice cubes.
- Shake until chilled.
- Fill an old fashioned cocktail glass or tumbler with crushed ice.
- Gently pour the shaken mixture into cocktail glass leaving full ice cubes behind in the shaker.
- Pour Crème de Mûre over the top to let the red liqueur bleed through the drink giving it an exciting look.
- Garnish with blackberries and serve.
Aviation
Want a drink that’s beautiful to drink and to look at? The aviation cocktail is for you. This has a strong floral gin flavour that is enhanced by the Crème de Violette, which gives it its signature violet look. This floral taste is complemented by a sweet and sour taste offered by the lemon and the Maraschino liqueur. If you can’t find any Maraschino liqueur anywhere you can supplement it with a cherry liqueur, but the colour won’t be right. If you need that enchanting violet colour, try and find the Maraschino liqueur.
Ingredients:
- 60ml Stableviews Distillery Abrolhos Gin
- 15ml maraschino liqueur
- 15ml crème de violette liqueur
- 30ml lemon juice
- Ice cubes
- Cherry for garnish
Directions:
- Pour ice cubes, gin, Crème de Violette, Maraschino liqueur and lemon juice into shaker.
- Shake until chilled.
- Strain into your favourite chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a cherry on a skewer.
Gimlet
The gimlet classic cocktail is one that many may not have heard of before, but it equally tastes as good the rest of the classics. Gimlet is, fortunately, an easy enough cocktail to make and won’t have you hunting for too many ingredients. This is the perfect cocktail to entertain guests with or even a nice side to a casual dinner at home. The sweet and sour flavours are addictive as they are tasty, and will be going down faster than you can make them.
Ingredients:
- 60ml Stableviews Distillery Abrolhos Gin
- 45ml simple syrup
- 45ml lime juice
- Ice cubes
- Lemon slice for garnish
Directions:
- Pour ice cubes, gin, simple syrup and lime juice into a shaker.
- Shake until chilled.
- Strain mixture into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with a lemon slice and serve.
French 75
For those needing a zesty and crisp sparkling cocktail, a French 75 is for them. This is perfect for those big nights with all your closest friends, keep them coming for more by serving them this special drink. The special ingredient in this one is, besides the gin of course, is champagne. It complements the floral taste of the gin and goes superbly with the lemon juice, making it perhaps the more addictive drink here.
Ingredients:
- 30ml Stableviews Distillery Abrolhos Gin
- 15ml lemon juice
- 15ml simple syrup
- 90ml champagne of your choice
- Ice cubes
- Lemon wedge for garnish
Directions:
- Pour ice cubes, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup into a shaker.
- Shake until chilled.
- Strain into a champagne glass.
- Gently top with champagne, careful to not let it fizz out too much.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Southside
The Southside is another fresh cocktail that has a hint of mint. It has a similar flavour to a mojito, with floral notes of a gin in place of the spiciness offered by rum. You and your friends are going to love this cocktail, it’s tasty and easy to make.
Ingredients:
- 60ml Stableviews Distillery Abrolhos Gin
- 6 – 8 mint leaves
- 15ml simple syrup
- 30ml lime juice
- Ice cubes
- An extra mint leaf for garnish
Directions:
- Pour ice, mint leaves, gin, lime juice, gin and simple syrup into a shaker.
- Shake well until chilled.
- Strain into a martini glass.
- Garnish with a mint leaf and serve.
Greyhound
This greyhound cocktail is a tart and refreshing drink, plus it’s also easy to make. Usually, this is made with vodka, but we think the floral notes complement the grapefruit juice perfectly. This is another looker, it has a peachy pink colourisation to it, and anyone who doesn’t have this in front of them is quickly going to ask for one. We like it extra tart, but if you find it a little too much for your taste, reduce the grapefruit juice amount to 105ml and add in 15ml of simple syrup.
Ingredients:
- 60ml Stableviews Distillery Abrolhos Gin
- 120ml grapefruit juice
- Ice cubes
- Lime wedge for garnish
Directions:
- Pour ice cubes, gin, and grapefruit juice into a glass.
- Stir for around 30 seconds.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.
House Special
Of course, we leave the best for last. This is a special cocktail, it’s another one that’s rich in colour in flavour. The floral notes we all love from gin are there but are complemented by the spices of a rum, mixed in with a sweet pomegranate flavour from the grenadine. When it comes to the rum, we recommend the best WA rum by Illegal Tender Rum Co. The myriad of flavours within this cocktail is going to dance on your tongue, leaving you wanting more.
Ingredients:
- 60ml Distillers Cut Rum by Illegal Tender Rum Co.
- 45ml Stableviews Distillery Abrolhos Gin
- 15ml grenadine
- 15ml simple syrup
- 15ml lime juice
- Ice cubes
- Cherry for garnish
Directions:
- Pour ice, gin, rum, grenadine, simple syrup, and lime juice into a shaker.
- Shake until chilled.
- Pour into a martini glass.
- Garnish with a cherry on a skewer and serve.
