How to Enjoy Gin: Straight, on the Rocks, & More

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Learn how to enjoy gin with (or without) other ingredients

Co-authored by Tom Blake and Cheyenne Main

Last Updated: August 22, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Best Ways to Drink Gin
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• Gin Cocktails
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• Gin Mixers
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• Terminology and Drink Recipes
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• Video
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• Tips

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Gin’s bold, botanical flavors like juniper and citrus give it a foresty, herbal taste that works well both on its own and in a cocktail. There are tons of ways to enjoy its flavor—including drinking it on its own, with ice, or with a well-paired mixer or garnish. Whether you’re new to the world of gin or you’re looking to enhance your drinking experience, we’ll teach you all of the basics: how to enjoy gin by itself, what flavors it pairs well with, and how to make a ton of tasty gin cocktails.

Drinking Gin on the Rocks

Fill a glass with ice and pour gin over the top. The ice dilutes the gin as it melts, cools down the temperature of the spirit, and helps the flavors develop in the glass. Sip the gin slowly to enjoy its flavors and aromas and gradually swallow more and more each time as you get comfortable with the taste.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Best Ways to Drink Gin

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1. 1
   Sip gin neat or straight to experience its natural flavors. One of the best ways to enjoy the flavor of gin is to sip it neat—which means you drink it without any additional preparation—no chilling, no ice, and no mixing. To enjoy gin this way, pour 1½ oz (44 ml) into a glass. Sip the gin slowly to experience all the subtle citrus or herbal notes that you might not pick up when its mixed with other drinks.

   • All gins are infused with juniper berries along with other botanicals like citrus, coriander, or cardamom. As you sip your gin, try to pick out the different florals, citrus, and herbal notes.
   • London Dry gin is the most popular type and has a crisp juniper and citrus flavor. Old Tom gin has the same aroma, but with added sugars or barrel-aging that adds a softer mouth feel.
   • Plymouth gin as a softer, more earthy citrus flavor. New Western or Contemporary gin describes any gin with a flavor that doesn’t fit into the other categories.
2. 
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   Test how temperature changes the flavor of your gin. When sampling gin for the first time, sip it at room temperature to get a feel for its natural flavors and aromas. Then, try it on the rocks (with ice) or have it up (chilled) to see how the notes change. You can also put it in the freezer to see how the extreme cold changes the texture and taste of the gin.

   • To drink it on the rocks, place 2 or 3 ice cubes in a glass and pour a shot of gin over the top. Before taking a sip, swirl the gin around in the glass a few times to help chill it.
   • To have your gin “up,” pour a shot of gin into a martini shaker filled with ice. Put on the lid and shake it thoroughly. Remove the lid, leaving the strainer on, and pour the gin into a glass.
   • You can also use chilled whiskey stones instead of ice cubes. These are special rocks that you freeze, and that cool your drink without watering it down.
   • While the alcohol won’t freeze, it will make the gin a little thicker. As the gin warms, it will become less viscous and the flavors will become more apparent.
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3. 3
   Make a delicious gin cocktail. Pair your gin with other mixers, like tonic water or lemonade, to create a yummy cocktail. Mix 1 part gin with 2 parts mixer and pour it into a glass with ice cubes. If your gin has a citrus aroma, compliment it with a lemon rind, lemon bitters, or a squeeze of citrus juice. If your alcohol tastes like herbs, serve with a sprig of mint or thyme.

   • Contrast gins with citrus aromas or floral hints (like Bloom, Hendrick’s, or Bombay Sapphire) with herbs to get a more complex flavor.
   • You can also contrast herbaceous gins, like Portobello Road and Broker’s London Dry Gin, with a citrus mixer or floral garnish to mix up the flavor pattern.
   • You can also garnish herbaceous gins with rosemary, basil, or sage, or add an herb-flavored mixer.
4. 
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   Infuse your gin with other flavors like tea. If you’re looking for a way to enhance your gin’s flavor profile, try infusing it with an herbal tea, fruits, or raw herbs and plants. Pour a whole bottle of a London Dry gin into an airtight mason jar or other sterile sealable container. Add 1 to 2 cups (about 200 to 400 g) of your ingredients, close the container, and leave it to infuse.

   • Fruits: Strawberries, blueberries, black currants, lemons, cucumbers, or blackberries. Let the mixture infuse for 3 to 4 weeks, then strain and enjoy.
   • Herbs and plants: Rosemary, thyme, lavender, mint, elderflower, or rose. Infuse for 5 to 7 days before you strain and drink it.
   • Teas: Ear Grey, green tea, or chamomile. Steep for at least 2 hours, then serve immediately.
5. 5
   Try vintage gins or gins with unusual flavors. If you’re really into the collector’s side of spirits, try to find popular gins from years gone by or unexpected ones, like AMASS Dry Gin, which is made with 29 different botanicals, including lion’s mane and Reishi mushrooms. Unlike whiskey, gin doesn’t always get better with age—so try not to drink the ones older than 10 years.

   • When tasting a vintage or new gin, take a sip and roll the liquid around in your mouth to coat it before swallowing.
   • Other unique gins include Bimini Coconut Flavored Gin, Bombay Bramble (raspberry-favored gin), Hendrick’s Lunar Gin, Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin, and Magellan Iris Flavored Gin.
   • Sample gins from other countries while you’re traveling or ship them overseas to experience different gin flavors from around the world.
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Section 2 of 3:

Mixing Gin-Based Cocktails

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1. 
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   Gin Rickey Adding club soda can be a refreshing and simple way to compliment the flavor of your gin. If you’re out of club soda, try adding a citrus-flavored soda like lemon, lemon lime, grapefruit, or blood orange. To make it, combine the ingredients below in a glass, then stir and serve.

   • 2 oz (60 mL) of gin
   • ½ lime
   • 6 oz (177 mL) club soda to top it off
2. 
   2
   Gin and tonic Tonic water is similar to soda water, except that it also has quinine, sugar, and a few other ingredients that give tonic a distinctive and slightly bitter flavor. To make a gin and tonic, combine the ingredients below in a tall glass.

   • 4 ice cubes
   • 2 oz (60 mL) of gin
   • 4 oz (118 mL) of chilled tonic water
   • 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of fresh lime juice
   • 1 lime wedge for garnish
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   Gin Buck Gin and ginger is a delicious combination, and the easiest way to pair the two flavors is with ginger ale. Mix the gin with the lemon juice, then pour it over ice in a glass. Top the rest of your drink off with some delicious ginger ale, and enjoy!

   • 4 to 5 ice cubes
   • 1 ½ oz (44 mL) of gin
   • 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of lemon juice
   • Ginger ale (about 6 oz (177 mL))
   • A piece of candied ginger for garnish (optional)
4. 4
   Gin martini A gin martini is a great way to sample different gins, and the trick is to make a relatively neutral martini that allows its flavors to shine. Simply shake the gin, vermouth, bitters, and ice in a mixing vessel for 20 to 30 seconds. Fine-strain the mixture in a chilled martini glass and garnish it with a lemon twist and 3 skewered olives.

   • 2 ¼ oz (71 mL) of gin
   • 1 oz (29.6 mL) of dry vermouth
   • A dash of orange bitters (optional)
   • Ice
   • Skewer, cut and twisted lemon peel, and 3 olives for garnish
5. 5
   Long Island iced tea This is a classic cocktail that features gin and a variety of other alcohols. To make this delicious drink, fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the vodka, gin, white rum, white tequila, Triple Sec, and lemon juice. Cover and shake vigorously, then pour into 2 glasses and top it off with cola. Garnish with a lemon wedge and serve!

   • 1 oz (29.6 ml) of vodka
   • 1 oz (29.6 ml) of gin
   • 1 oz (29.6 ml) of white rum
   • 1 oz (29.6 ml) of white tequila
   • ½ oz (14.8 ml) of Triple Sec
   • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of lemon juice
   • Optionally, add ½ oz (14.8 ml) simple syrup. To make it, combine ¼ cup (56 g) of sugar and ¼ cup (59 ml) of water in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and set it aside to cool.
6. 6
   Gin Caesar A Caesar is a spicy tomato-based cocktail that can be made with either gin or vodka. To make this drink, start by coating the rim of a tall glass with celery salt or steak seasoning. Add a few ice cubes to the glass, and then pour in:

   • 2 oz (59 ml) of gin
   • 6 oz (177 ml) of Caesar mix or clamato juice
   • 3 dashes each of Worcestershire and hot sauce
   • 1 dash of olive brine
   • Juice from half a lime
   • Salt and pepper
   • Olives and a celery stick for garnish
7. 7
   Negroni A negroni is a classic, dark orange drink that’s bitter and sweet all at the same time. To make it, all you need to do is add one part gin with one part Campari and one part sweet vermouth. Add ice, and twist an orange peel before adding it into the glass for garnish. Cheers!

   • 1 oz (29.6 ml) of any bold-tasting gin
   • 1 oz (29.6 ml) of Campari
   • 1 oz (29.6 ml) of sweet vermouth
   • Ice
   • An orange peel for garnish
8. 8
   French 75 The French 75 cocktail is perfect for celebrations, parties, brunches, or even just for happy hour at home. To make this bubbly and delicious drink, fill a glass with ice, then pour in the gin and lemon juice. Gently stir in the sugar and top it all off with your favorite champagne.

   • Crushed ice
   • 1 ½ oz (44 mL) of dry gin
   • 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of lemon juice
   • 1 teaspoon (4.2 g) of superfine (caster) sugar
   • 6 oz (177 ml) of chilled champagne
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Section 3 of 3:

Best Gin Mixers

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1. Soda and fruit juices tend to pair best with gin. If you’re looking for something new or just searching for something in your cabinet that you can quickly mix with gin, any kind of juice or soda works well. If you have a couple of options, try to go with a mixer that adds a little bit of citrus or fruity flavor—this can help bring out the natural flavors in your gin.

   • Pineapple juice
   • Lemonade or pink lemonade
   • Orange juice
   • Lime juice
   • Grapefruit juice
   • Apple juice
   • Cola
   • Tomato juice
   • Cranberry juice
   • Ginger beer
   • Bitter lemon
   • Carbonated elderflower
   • Coffee (if you’re feeling adventurous)

Terminology and Drink Recipes

Gin Terminology to Know

Classic Martini Gin Cocktail Recipe

Singapore Sling Gin Cocktail Recipe

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Tips

• Gin was invented by Franciscus Sylvius, a 17th-century professor of medicine at the University of Leiden in Holland.
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• Traditional Dutch gins are typically not combined with other drinks. Instead, they’re served unmixed or with water.
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