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23 Gin Cocktails for a Proper Toast

Warning: This list might make your bottle of gin disappear.
Bright orange cocktail in coupe glasses garnished with lime twist.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Taneka Morris

Many gin cocktails barely require a recipe—we’d bet you can assemble a pretty good gin and tonic, Greyhound, or Tom Collins in your sleep. But the crisp and bracing drinks below are worth staying up for. Some, like the century-old Hanky Panky, lean into gin’s botanical personality, layering on even more herbal or vegetal flavors, while others use the spirit to bring out the best in seasonal fruit or sparkling wine. You’ll find a few beloved pre-Prohibition classics on this list, but also see how bar pros have played with these templates over the years, finding newer, bolder gin cocktail recipes along the way.

Read more: 11 Types of Gin (Yes, 11) and How to Use Each One

  • Two champagne glasses filled with French 75 cocktails clinking.
    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman
    1/23

    French 75

    Some of the best gin cocktails will never go out of style. As long as you always have a bottle of gin, some lemons, sparkling wine, and sugar to make simple syrup, this fizzy number can be your signature for the holiday season (or any season).

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones
    2/23

    Negroni

    It’s the original 1:1:1 Italian cocktail (equal parts gin, red vermouth, and Campari), but Chiltern Firehouse in London tweaked the ratio for a negroni that’s less sweet. Garnish with fanned orange slices and serve with Hurricane Chips or a bowl of olives.

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  • Jeff Luker
    3/23

    Cucumber Gin Cocktail

    Step aside, tonic water. Muddling cucumber with lime leaves infuses this afternoon gin sipper with cooling, thirst-quenching power. Top it off with fresh lime juice and club soda.

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  • Photograph by Emma Fishman, Food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Martha Bernabe
    4/23

    Extra-Dry Martini

    If you really came here because you were wondering how Stanley Tucci takes his martini, none of our other recipes for gin drinks will do you much good. So here you are: Our man’s take on the classic dry gin martini, stirred not shaken.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    5/23

    Rosy Gin-Kombucha Cocktail

    Fresh ginger gives this easy beverage its snap.

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  • 6/23

    White Negroni

    What if the negroni went golden, light, and floral? To make this variation on the classic gin cocktail, you’ll keep the gin, but pour in a gentian liqueur like Suze or Salers instead of bold, red Campari, and swap out the sweet vermouth for Lillet Blanc (or Cocchi Americano).

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Styling by Sue Li
    7/23

    Arugula Gimlet

    Who needs salad? The peppery kick of arugula fits right in with the herb-scented spirit in this simple gin sour.

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley, Food Styling by Kendra Vaculin
    8/23

    Frozen Negroni

    The bitter cocktail might be (shhhhh!) even better in slushy form. Fresh orange juice rounds out the drink’s flavors and brings out the fruity side of both gin and Campari. More importantly, it lowers the proof enough for the make-ahead drink to freeze before its trip to the blender.

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  • Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott
    9/23

    Fifty-Fifty Martini

    If you want to be a martini-drinker but aren’t quite there yet, this mellower martini might be for you. Just make sure your bottle of dry vermouth is fresh—if it’s been sitting on your bar cart since last Christmas, it’s time to get a new one.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    10/23

    Yellow Tomato Bloody Mary

    You can dish up biscuits and gravy or French toast with blackberries on top and bacon on the side. You can offer fresh OJ or grapefruit juice. But if you’re hosting in the daylight hours, don’t skip this sunny spin on the classic Bloody.

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  • Alex Lau
    11/23

    Sparkling Grapefruit Cocktail

    Bring out the best in your gin by pairing it with tangy grapefruit and a sprig of fragrant tarragon. A splash of fizzy wine doesn’t hurt either. Gentle Hendrick’s is nice in this brunch drink, but if you only have London dry gin or something from a local distillery, the recipe can adapt.

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  • Alex Lau
    12/23

    The Gibson

    The ultimate Gibson showcases homemade cocktail onions, brined in a mix of pretty much every type of vinegar you keep in the pantry, plus peppercorns, coriander seeds, juniper berries, and a bay leaf.

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  • Christopher Testani
    13/23

    Saint-Florent Cocktail

    Angostura adds warm spice to this honey-sweetened aperitif. Chilling your coupes before you get started will help the drinks stay cooler longer.

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  • Ted Cavanaugh
    14/23

    Cucumber-Gin Spritz

    Like spa water, but with gin. You’ll use your cocktail shaker on the gin and cucumber combo before splitting the mix between four ice-filled glasses and topping off with Prosecco and soda water.

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  • Alex Lau
    15/23

    Barbados Gin Punch

    Yes, you can serve this refreshing cocktail in a punch bowl if you don’t feel like hacking the tops off of a bunch of coconut shells.

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  • Zach DeSart
    16/23

    Celery Tonic

    No juicer required—just grab a muddler and take all of your frustration out on some chopped celery before shaking it up with fresh lemon juice, sugar, and gin.

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  • Photograph by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, Food Styling by Alison Roman, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski
    17/23

    Martini Bar

    Hosting is easier when you mix the drinks in advance and let each of your guests do their own garnishing. Even if that means making a pickle martini.

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  • Matt Duckor
    18/23

    South Side

    Gin may be known for its herbal flavors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bump them up with fresh mint leaves from your garden.

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  • Laura Murray
    19/23

    Grapefruit Radler

    Here’s a recipe for refreshment: Pour wheat beer over ice, add just a touch of gin, then top with a long pour of grapefruit soda and a splash of fresh lemon juice. You may never go back to that gin & tonic.

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Taneka Morris
    20/23

    Summery Sour

    Learn this recipe, and you’re set for the season—this drink works well whether you use tequila, rum, or gin.

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  • 21/23

    Ramos Gin Fizz

    Ready for a workout? To get the luxurious foam on this old-school drink, you’ll need heavy cream, egg white, and upper body strength.

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  • Hans Gissinger
    22/23

    Raspberry-Rose Gin Rickey

    A touch—just a touch!—of rosewater graces this raspberry and gin cocktail. If you are a fan of drinks with elderflower or crème de violette, you’ll adore this one.

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  • Bobbi Lin
    23/23

    Gin and Mint Tea Cocktail

    Green tea can add savory depth to gin cocktails. Orange zest, mint, and ginger fill out the flavor of this make-ahead punch. Looking for even more gin recipes? If you can find a bottle of green Chartreuse and some maraschino liqueur, don’t miss the Last Word.

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