4 classic gin drinks with recipes to recreate yourself
Gin is more popular than ever and the number of different manufacturers and brands is correspondingly large. This diversity is also reflected in the number of drink variations that can be created with the popular spirit. As exciting as it is to discover new cocktail recipes, it can sometimes be overwhelming having to choose a drink from the large selection of options on bar menus. And that’s when the classics gin drinks come into play – drinks that have been holding their own in bars around the world for what feels like an eternity. You can rely on them, because with classics you know what to expect: a timeless drink that has managed to become immortal thanks to its good taste.
One thing is clear: gin is best known and probably most drunk today in combination with tonic water. Gin & Tonic is undoubtedly the number one classic gin drink and is now so well known that we have deliberately refrained from listing it again in this blog. However, all gin newbies can read here how to mix a gin and tonic, including 5 tips for the perfect gin and tonic.
In the following we have compiled four classic gin recipes, some of which your parents might already know from their youth.
1. Negroni
The foundation for this classic gin drink, which we know today as a Negroni, was laid in Italy about 100 years ago. Prepared somewhat differently at that time, the current recipe has become established over time and is now served – in slight variations – in bars all over the world: Gin, vermouth and Campari in equal or similar proportions with an orange zest, or more rarely, orange slice in the glass. Traditionally mixed directly in the glass, nowadays the three ingredients are usually stirred cold in a mixing glass with ice cubes. This produces not only an ice-cold drink but also melted water, which somewhat defuses the high alcohol content of the cocktail.
2. Gin Fizz
Like sours, fizzes come in different variations and can be made with different spirits, as they are basically a sour infused with soda water. Accordingly, there are several different opinions on the recipe of the tangy cocktail, as well as on the name. For example, the Gin Fizz is often equated with a Collins, as the two drinks are very similar, almost identical in preparation. Ultimately, it’s the amount of soda water that makes the subtle difference. However, there is no doubt that the Gin Fizz has been around longer than you and can therefore rightly claim the title of a classic gin drink.
3. Aviation
When the drink Aviation was created, aeroplanes were far from being as ubiquitous as they are today. This is probably why today’s classic gin drink was named after aviation at the beginning of the 20th century, as its colour is also reminiscent of the sky. The reason why the drink is mostly drunk in selected cocktail bars rather than at home is probably due to two ingredients: Maraschino, a special cherry liqueur and Crème de Violette, a violet liqueur, which is also responsible for the special colour of the calssic gin cocktail. Whether at home or at your favourite bar, anyone who has ever had a well-mixed Aviation knows why the drink has not been forgotten for over a hundred years.
4. Gimlet
The Gimlet is a classic gin cocktail that does not require exotic ingredients, does not require several years of training as a bartender to prepare and has nevertheless been firmly anchored in bar menus for over a century. Of course, this drink has also undergone various variations over the course of time, which is why there is no such thing as an original recipe. To make this drink specially fresh, we like to use freshly squeezed lime juice and simple sugar syrup instead of Lime Juice Cordial in this recipe – but if you don’t mind the effort, you can also give the gimlet a very special touch with homemade Cordial.
Of course, this is by no means the end of the list of classic gin cocktail, and of course we don’t want to claim that one drink is any better than another one. In the end, everyone decides for themselves which cocktail deserves to be called a classic. For now, we hope you enjoy mixing your own and maybe there will be a second round of Gin Cocktail Classics with THE DUKE!
