Gin cocktails

| 14. November 2023

No other spirit has been and continues to be used to create as many drinks as gin!

And that's no coincidence: gin is so individual in itself thanks to its various combinations of botanicals that it doesn't need many other ingredients and mixed drinks to make a fancy cocktail. One of Germany's most famous bartenders, Charles Schumann, who runs the internationally renowned Schumann's in Munich, once said: "If I had to choose just one spirit, it would definitely be gin."

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Gin is versatile

This is because gin can be combined in many ways, not only with tonic water, but also with other soft drinks, juices and syrups. Surprisingly, it even harmonises well with eggs and cream. Gin goes well with light alcohol in cocktails, such as the'Martini Dry': the so-called 'king of cocktails' consists of Vermouth Dry (usually 15-20%), gin and a green olive or a slice of lemon - depending on the flavour. The ratio between vermouth and gin also varies greatly depending on the flavour and recipe. The Dry Martini was a popular drink long before James Bond: shaken or stirred - opinions and tastes differ. While James Bond preferred his martini "shaken, not stirred", some bartenders favour stirring. This is because shaking can cause small pieces of ice to come loose, creating bubbles and making the drink appear cloudy.

Gin cocktail recipes

Gin is the cocktail spirit par excellence! Thanks to the many different flavours, from fruity and floral to strong and strong, the various types of gin complement each other harmoniously with a wide range of mixed drinks, garnishes and other spirits. Gin is not usually enjoyed neat. No other spirit has been and still is used to create as many drinks as gin!

Gin and tonic

One of the most popular long drinks is undoubtedly the gin & tonic. It has become increasingly popular over the course of the 2010s. At the end of the 20th century, there were only a handful of gin and tonic varieties to choose from for your mix, but in the years that followed, a wide range of different gin varieties with different botanicals and dozens of tonic water brands and varieties appeared on the market. Mixing what was once a simple long drink has become a science in itself. In addition to the 'classic' tonic water, there are now also differentiated flavours such as 'dry', 'floral & fruity' or 'spicy'. Gin and tonic is usually garnished with a slice of cucumber, citrus fruit or berries.

A little gin story!

Originally, tonic water - like gin itself - was a medicinal drink: during the colonial period in India, English soldiers were advised to drink the drink, which contained a high level of quinine, regularly to prevent malaria infection. Because the tonic water of the time tasted very bitter due to its high quinine content, the soldiers began to mix it with gin from their homeland to soften it. Fun fact: quinine is also responsible for the fact that tonic water glows in black light.

Gin Fizz

The gin fizz is both simple and unforgettably good, which is why it is one of the International Bartenders Association's 'Unforgettables'. It is a well-shaken sour made from gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup, topped up with a dash of sparkling soda water and served with a slice of fresh lemon.

Tom Collins

The list of ingredients for the refreshing afternoon drink Tom Collins is similar to that of the Gin Fizz: gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and soda water. The differences between the two gin cocktails are small but subtle and still divide the bar scene today. While the Gin Fizz is served without ice in a smaller tumbler or fizz glass, the Tom Collins is enjoyed from a slightly larger 'Collins glass' filled with ice cubes. The Tom Collins probably owes its name to the Old Tom gin often used for this purpose in the 19th century.

Gimlet

The gimlet is a world-famous before-dinner drink. The stirred cocktail made from gin, lime syrup and a slice of lime is as simple as it is effective. In the Gimlet, the proportion of gin is greater than the proportion of syrup, while the so-called Marlowe's Gin Gimlet contains equal parts gin and syrup. This variation is named after the novel character Philip Marlowe, who was portrayed by Humphrey Bogart in 'Dead Men Sleep Well', among others. The English naval surgeon Sir Thomas Desmond Gimmlette (1857-1943) allegedly invented the cocktail to make the daily ration of "navy strength gin at 57% vol" more pleasant, which was intended to ward off scurvy, among other things.

Gin Alexander

A creamy drink for the evening is the Gin Alexander: it is shaken from gin, white crème de cacao chocolate liqueur and cream. The digestif was first mentioned in 1916 in the notes of a New York bartender, but the now more well-known version with brandy or cognac instead of gin was created much later. In the 1920s, Prohibition in the USA banned the production, transport and sale of all alcoholic beverages, meaning that gin was illegally mixed in many private households. As a result, the quality of gin available in the United States also declined. Chocolate liqueur and cream were well suited to cover up the less convincing flavour of cheap gin in cocktails. Prohibition passed, gin improved and the Alexander cocktail remained popular. Today, it is still a classic and a sweet treat.

Singapore Sling

Although the Singapore Sling was invented in Singapore, it is now a world-famous classic in the international bar scene. The long drink consists of gin, cherry liqueur and Bénédictine herbal liqueur. Depending on the recipe, sweet and sour juices and syrups such as lemon or lime juice, pineapple juice, grenadine, Angostura bitters or soda water are also added. The drink was first served in a luxury hotel in Singapore at the beginning of the 20th century. The bartender Ngiam Tong Boon developed various recipes for the Singapore Slings and kept them in his safe, which can still be seen today in a museum along with a handwritten recipe note.

Our gin range

An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin
An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin
0,5/ l · incl.  VAT
Lussa Gin (Isle of Jura)
Lussa Gin (Isle of Jura)
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Nc'nean Botanical Spirit
Nc'nean Botanical Spirit
0,5/ l · incl.  VAT
Edinburgh Rhubarb & Ginger Gin
Edinburgh Rhubarb & Ginger Gin
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Brecon Special Reserve
Brecon Special Reserve
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Miniature Tobermory Gin
Miniature Tobermory Gin
0,05/ l · incl.  VAT
Amarula African Gin
Amarula African Gin
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
V-Sense Star Trek Stardust Gin
V-Sense Star Trek Stardust Gin
0,5/ l · incl.  VAT
Glendalough Wild Botanical Gin
Glendalough Wild Botanical Gin
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Brockmans Intensely Smooth Premium Gin
Brockmans Intensely Smooth Premium Gin
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Burleigh's Gin Marilyn Monroe Edition
Burleigh's Gin Marilyn Monroe Edition
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Humboldt Dry Gin
Humboldt Dry Gin
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Grace O`Malley Heather Infused Gin
Grace O`Malley Heather Infused Gin
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Mermaid Gin
Mermaid Gin
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Bombay Sapphire Gin Premier Cru - Murcian Lemon
Bombay Sapphire Gin Premier Cru - Murcian Lemon
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Hendrick's Grand Cabaret
Hendrick's Grand Cabaret
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Edinburgh Seaside Gin
Edinburgh Seaside Gin
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Raasay Hebridean Gin with 2 glasses
Raasay Hebridean Gin with 2 glasses
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
V-Senses Glüh Gin & Berry
V-Senses Glüh Gin & Berry
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Bombay Gin Sapphire Vapour Infused - 1 litre
Bombay Gin Sapphire Vapour Infused - 1 litre
1/ l · incl.  VAT
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