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Aromatic and potent, gin is also versatile, which makes it one of the great spirits for building cocktails. Gin is a grain-based liquor flavored with botanicals, including juniper berries, which explains both the name (gin comes from the Dutch word for juniper, jenever) and the fact that gin often tastes vaguely of a conifer forest. Here we look at some of the classic gin cocktails.
Shaggy's Perfect Martini
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If the martini is the king of cocktails, then gin is the crown of juniper it wears upon its head. The martini is simple, in theory. Just three ingredients: a whisper of vermouth, some gin, and an olive (or twist of lemon). But there are many subtle variations on this basic theme. Shaggy's martini is a classic approach. And here are a few variations on the theme:
Gin and Tonic
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Of course, there's more to gin than martinis. Consider the gin and tonic. It's a classic summer drink — so refreshing. But that wasn't the only reason that the colonial English drank G and T's in sunny, hot India: quinine in the tonic water kept malaria at bay. And the gin helped the medicine go down in the most delightful way.
Negroni Cocktail II
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Gin, bitter Campari, and sweet vermouth combine to be far more than the sum of their parts. The negroni is a complex cocktail with an Italian accent and a solid kick. MikeyChaz rates it 5 stars: "I spent 7 years in Rome, for graduate study. My new Italian friends were anxious to get me to try one of their native drinks, but the unusual combination of ingredients put me off at first. I eventually tried it and have loved Negronis ever since!"
Salty Dog II
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Shake up gin, grapefruit juice, and a little salt for this refreshing cocktail, which is on the dry side of the spectrum. Some folks skip the salt, which makes it a Greyhound. And PatsyK adds a splash of triple sec to smooth out the bitterness of the grapefruit juice.
Gimlet
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The gimlet takes the gin and lime concept and sweetens it up. Shake up gin, sweetened lime juice, and a little sugar over ice to make this classic. Fondukes rates this 5 stars: “mmm, another reviewer said it best — “Nothing goes better with gin than lime.” Amen to that. I used 2:1:1 lime infused gin, unsweetened lime juice, white sugar and gave it good shaking with about a cup of ice in my cocktail shaker. Now I want to go out and buy more gin and lime juice!” Compare the gimlet cocktail with another classic gin-and-lime-juice cocktail, the Gin Rickey.
Juli's Bee's Knees
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"The classic Bee's Knees cocktail dates back to Prohibition, when the phrase became slang for the best," says Juliana Hale, who submitted this updated version with pineapple juice, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, and, of course, honey. "It proves that the best can get better."
Aviation Cocktail
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This pre-prohibition cocktail first took flight when aviation was in its infancy. It's a thoroughly grown up cocktail, which combines gin, maraschino liqueur, and lemon juice. Shake it up vigorously and serve, up, in a martini glass. Recipe reviewer Pete, who also snapped the featured photo, has one note about the recipe, "It's missing one important ingredient: Creme de Violette. It is what gave it the sky blue look. It's from Austria, so it wasn't available during the war. People learned to make it without. It's my wife's favorite drink. My recipe is ½ oz lemon juice, ½ oz Creme de Violette, 1 tsp Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, 2 ½ oz good quality gin. Shaken and served up with a twist of lemon."
The REAL Long Island Iced Tea
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Is the Long Island iced tea a gin drink? Yes, it is. It's also a vodka drink, a rum drink, and a tequila drink. And yet, somehow, through a miracle of chemistry, alchemy, and the dark arts of mixology, this extremely spirited combo comes out super tasty, almost too tasty. So watch out! "This was plenty strong, and tasted WAY better than what you pick up in a normal bar," says LazyFoodieGirl. "If you want it a little less strong, you can double the cola."
Tom Collins
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A classic tall cocktail with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, a dash of bitters, shaken up, strained into a highball glass and topped off with club soda. "This is a great warm weather cocktail with or without the splash of bitters," says c-biskit.
Singapore Sling Cocktail
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Potent and sweet, the Singapore sling is often mistaken as a rum drink. But you're slinging gin with this one, along with cherry-flavored brandy, triple sec, Benedictine, pineapple juice, lime juice, and grenadine. Shake it up and garnish with a slice of pineapple and a cherry. Cat rates this recipe 5 stars: "Your mouth will do the jitterbug with this nicely chilled drink in it! The fresh pineapple is a great touch to it!"
French 75
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Boom! Created in Paris at the New York Bar in 1915, this combination of gin, lemon juice, Champagne, and sugar was meant to kick like the French 75mm artillery piece. "Don't skimp on the ice or skip the chilling," says JBK. "This drink was meant to be served COLD."
Ramos Gin Fizz
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"When you suspect you're done shaking this creamy gin drink, think again," says Lorem Ipsum. "You've only just begin. Keep shaking. Then shake some more. It's a beautiful cocktail, but you have to shake that juice and cream and egg white like crazy to get the right silky texture. Don't give up, it's worth it!"
Clover Club
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This stunning cocktail gets its color from fresh raspberries, which are muddled with thyme and shaken with gin, egg white (which yields a rich, foamy topping), simple syrup, and lemon juice. Garnish with additional thyme or a lemon zest curl.
Vesper Cocktail
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James Bond, or rather, Ian Fleming, gets the credit for this potent and delicious cocktail: gin, vodka, Lillet blanc, and an orange twist to garnish.
Monkey Gland Cocktail
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“Not the most appetizing of names, but a refreshing gin cocktail just the same,” says recipe creator Lorem Ipsum. Gin, orange juice, absinthe, grenadine, and an orange peel to garnish make for a sweet, fruity combination with kick.
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