Spirits & Liqueurs Gin

10 Refreshing Gin Cocktails to Try Right Now

Keep cool with one of these refreshing cocktails.

Boat House Punch

 Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

Gin is the reigning champion of summer: It’s light, it’s botanical, and it blends with all manner of juices, sodas and, well, pretty much anything else you can think of. But the it makes for fantastic cocktails all year 'round, as well. The versatile spirit can add bracing refreshment to sours and highballs, such as the Gimlet or Gin & Tonic, or it can provide structure to boozier stirred drinks like Martinis. It’s a real workhorse that deserves a spot on every home bar.

From the sweet and simple to the sublime and complex, any of the following 10 easy-drinking libations will refresh both body and spirit.

  • Gimlet

    Gimlet cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    The only thing better than one Gimlet is two Gimlets. That’s basic math. An exercise in simplicity, this three-ingredient classic comprises lime juice, simple syrup and, of course, gin. Pro tip: Add a bit of basil and muddled cucumber to your shaker for an even more refreshing flavor.

    Get the recipe.

  • New New York Sour

    New New York Sour cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    A clever spin on the classic New York Sour, Allen Katz’s creation skips the red wine floater in favor of orange liqueur and cherry cordial. The result is perfect for sunset lounging at the end of a long day. Go ahead: Treat yourself.

    Get the recipe.

  • 50/50 Martini

    50-50 martini

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    The British refer to this class of drink as a “sharpener” because it’s a great starter drink that “sharpens” you for the rest of the evening. As the name suggests, the 50/50 Martini tones down the gin, balancing it with lower-proof dry vermouth. It’s especially handy for when you want to enjoy a great Martini with fewer stupefying effects.

    Get the recipe.

  • El Chapo

    El Chapo cocktail

    Ben Clemons

    Gin, strawberries, Aperol and grapefruit beer? Yes, please. This inspired and inspiring recipe is worth exploring. By simply infusing fresh strawberries in Aperol, you assemble a unique modifier that adds a complementary fruitiness to the botanical gin and tart beer.

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below.
  • Tom Collins

    Tom Collins cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    A summertime staple, the Tom Collins is so popular they named a glass after it! The cocktail is light, refreshing and a breeze to make. What more could you want? Okay, maybe a porch swing and a shade tree.

    Get the recipe.

  • Bee’s Knees

    Bee’s Knees cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog 

    The Bee’s Knees is a buzzworthy sour perfect for relaxing with. Sweetening a standard sour recipe with (criminally underutilized) honey, this drink is an easy, tasty cocktail. Shake yourself one to sweeten up your day.

    Get the recipe.

  • Gin Rickey

    Gin Rickey cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    The Gin Rickey is a refreshing highball with roots dating to the late 19th century. It’s named for Joe Rickey, a Democratic lobbyist living in Washington, D.C., during that time. Favoring zero-sugar drinks, Rickey instructed a local bartender to build a Bourbon Rickey, which led to the line of Rickeys we know today. The gin-laced version became the most popular of all Rickeys, one you’ll want to hoist repeatedly.

    Get the recipe.

  • Singapore Sling

    Singapore Sling cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Arguably the most famous classic cocktail hailing from Asia, the Singapore Sling was first served at the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. Yes, the Sling is a semi-complex drink to make, but the result is worth the small-scale struggle.

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 9 of 10 below.
  • Rosie Lee

    Rosie Lee cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    The Rosie Lee melds delicate flavors (rose petals and lychee) with gin, putting a fun spin on your typical cup of tea. The result is ice-cold perfection in a tea cup, and a cocktail you can enjoy all year long.

    Get the recipe.

  • Boat House Punch

    Boat House Punch

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Mmmm. Citrusy, bubbly and as attractive as it is delicious, the Boat House Punch is an ideal large-format drink. Gin is offered a helping hand from multiple citrus fruits—lemon, orange and grapefruit—plus two liqueurs (Aperol and St-Germain) and, finally, a topper of rosé.

    Get the recipe.