Summer is the perfect season to enjoy refreshing gin cocktails. So it seems like the neighbourly thing to do on our part to recommend some of our favourite cocktail recipes from over the years.
There are so many top serves here that you’ve got a gin cocktail for every summer occasion. Whether you’re hosting a garden party, relaxing by the pool, or enjoying a sunset, these drinks are sure to keep you cool and satisfied.
Summer gin cocktails – our favourites!
The Bee’s Knees
Bee’s Knees
Why It’s a Favourite: A Prohibition-era cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, and honey, designed to mask the harshness of subpar spirits. The drink’s name reflects 1920s slang for something excellent. The recipe highlights the use of Bathtub Gin, which adds a richer flavour due to post-distillation botanicals.
Ingredients:
60ml Bathtub Gin
30ml fresh lemon juice
15ml honey
Method:
Add all the ingredients to an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously and double strain into a chilled Coupette glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
The Bramble
The Bramble
Why It’s a Favourite: A modern classic from 1980s London, combining gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and blackberry liqueur. It’s a refreshing, fruit-forward cocktail, perfect for summer.
Ingredients:
50ml Chase Elegant Gin
25ml lemon juice
10ml sugar syrup*
10ml crème de mure
Method:
Shake the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup with ice in a shaker, and double-strain into a tumbler filled with crushed ice. Drizzle crème de mure on the top and garnish with a lemon slice and a bramble that you have foraged yourself (or more likely bought from a supermarket as it’s January).
*Easy sugar syrup recipe: in a saucepan add 2 parts sugar to 1 part water, heat gently (do not boil) until the sugar dissolves. Decant into a jam jar or bottle. It lasts for months in the fridge.
The Negroni
Negroni
Why It’s a Favourite: An iconic Italian cocktail, the Negroni is a simple yet sophisticated mix of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. It’s a bitter, balanced drink known for its bright red colour and is served with an orange twist. Think it’s not for summer? Think again. When do you think Italians are drinking them?
Ingredients:
35ml Bathtub Gin
35ml Campari
Method:
Fill a tumbler with a large cube of ice, add all the ingredients and stir until nice and cold. Express an orange twist over the top and drop it in. Could not be simpler.
The French 75
French 75
Why It’s a Favourite: A sophisticated cocktail combining gin, lemon juice, sugar, and Champagne. It’s named after a French field gun due to its potent kick, and it’s perfect for celebrations or a refined aperitif.
Ingredients:
35ml Bathtub Gin
15ml fresh lemon juice
5ml sugar syrup (or more to taste)
100ml Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label
Dash of Fee Brothers Orange Bitters
Method:
Shake the first three ingredients with ice and strain into a Champagne flute. Top up with chilled Champagne, stir, add a dash of bitters and garnish with a lemon twist.
The Aviation
Aviation
Why It’s a Favourite: A pre-Prohibition cocktail that combines gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and lemon juice. The drink is known for its pale sky-blue colour, a tribute to the golden age of aviation.
Ingredients:
60ml Aviation Gin
15ml Giffard crème de violette
15ml Luxardo maraschino liqueur
20ml freshly-squeezed lemon juice
Method:
Fill a shaker with ice, and add all ingredients. Shake vigorously until chilled. Strain into a chilled Martini glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.
The Southside
Southside
Why It’s a Favourite: A refreshing cocktail made with gin, mint, lime juice, and sugar syrup. It’s believed to be a favourite of Al Capone’s gang, offering a fresh, balanced drink ideal for warm weather.
Ingredients:
50ml 6 O’clock Gin
25ml fresh lemon juice
15ml simple syrup
1 handful of fresh mint leaves
Method:
In a cocktail shaker, gently muddle mint leaves with simple syrup. Add all other ingredients and then ice and give it a good firm shake until chilled. Double strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a sprig of mint.
