Mixlio
10 Best Gin Cocktails Everyone Should Try
The best gin cocktails, from the Martini and Negroni to the French 75, Bramble and Last Word. What each tastes like and how to make it at home.
By Mixlio Team · 7 min read · 14 October 2026
Gin is one of the best spirits for cocktails. Its juniper and herb flavors work with citrus, bitter liqueurs, vermouth and bubbles alike. These 10 gin cocktails cover every style, from light and fizzy to strong and stirred.
1. Dry Martini
Gin, dry vermouth, a lemon twist or olive. Cold, clean and elegant. The most famous cocktail in the world. Stir 60 ml gin with 10 ml dry vermouth. Learn the lingo in how to order a martini.
2. Negroni
Equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth. Bitter, sweet and bold. Built over ice with an orange peel. Negroni recipe and twists.
3. French 75
Gin, lemon, sugar, topped with Champagne. Bright, bubbly and dangerously easy to drink. Shake 30 ml gin, 15 ml lemon and 15 ml syrup, strain into a flute and top with 60 ml Champagne. French 75 recipe.
4. Tom Collins
Gin, lemon, sugar and soda. A tall, fizzy gin lemonade for grown-ups. Perfect on a hot day. Tom Collins recipe.
5. Gin Basil Smash
Gin, lemon, sugar and a big handful of fresh basil. Bright green, herbal and fresh. A modern classic from Hamburg. Gin Basil Smash recipe.
6. Bramble
Gin, lemon, sugar and blackberry liqueur over crushed ice. Fruity, tart and pretty. Created in London in the 1980s. Bramble recipe.
7. Bee's Knees
Gin, lemon and honey. Soft, floral and easy to love. A Prohibition-era favorite. Bee's Knees recipe.
8. Clover Club
Gin, lemon, raspberry syrup and egg white. Pink, silky and tart with a foamy top. Much better than it looks. Clover Club recipe.
9. Aviation
Gin, lemon, maraschino and a touch of violet liqueur. Pale sky-blue, floral and a little bit tart. Aviation recipe.
10. Last Word
Equal parts gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino and lime. Herbal, sharp and complex. A bartender favorite. Last Word recipe.
Which Gin Should You Use?
- London Dry: juniper-forward and crisp. Works in almost everything on this list.
- Old Tom: a little sweeter. Classic in the Tom Collins and Martinez.
- Modern or "New Western" gins: more citrus, floral or herbal notes. Great in light, fresh drinks like the Gin Basil Smash.
Gin Cocktails by Taste
- Light and fizzy: French 75, Tom Collins
- Fresh and herbal: Gin Basil Smash, Last Word
- Fruity: Bramble, Clover Club
- Soft and sweet: Bee's Knees, Aviation
- Strong and stirred: Martini, Negroni
Gin Cocktails FAQ
What's the easiest gin cocktail to make? A Tom Collins or a gin and tonic. Pour, stir and serve.
What mixes well with gin? Lemon, lime, tonic, soda, vermouth, Campari, elderflower, cucumber and fresh herbs.
Should gin cocktails be shaken or stirred? Shaken if they contain citrus, stirred if they don't. See shaken vs stirred.
Find Your Gin Drink
Can't pick from a bar's gin list? Mixlio scans the menu and ranks every drink against your taste.
