I've recently was given a bottle of gin. I don't have bottle with me, so unsure of brand right now. I've only ever used gin to make gin and tonics, but am interested in trying something else. So what are some other good gin drinks?
open to any and all suggestions

I like negronis, but it will require you to purchase a bottle of campari and a bottle of sweet vermouth. The recipe is basically equal parts of all three over ice with a slice or twist of orange.

I figured that I would have to go buy stuff, but I might just give that a try

Gimlet. 2 oz Gin, 1/2 oz Lime Juice, 1/4 oz Simple Syrup.
Shake over ice in a cocktail shaker. Serve in a chilled martini glass. For something different add 1/4 oz St Germaine to the mix.

Negroni is a good one.
Moscow Mule is good too. 2 ounces of gin, half of a lime, squeezed, and top with 4-6 ounces of a good ginger beer, not ginger ale.

would ginger beer be at a grocery store, say H.E.B. or a Kroger, or would I have to go to a liquor store for that?

Likely not. Best bet would be a Specs or Whole Foods.

if it's a good strong falvored gin like Beefeater, try just squeezing a slice of lime into it, and maybe adding an ice cube or two.

Dirty dry Martini.
Fill a shaker full of ice

Pour in:
2 shots of gin
just a couple of drops of dry vermouth
a little bit of Olive brine (which is what makes it dirty)

Stir it until it is icy cold! Not shaken (007 can be blamed for many a poor bartender error of shaking a martini - if it wasn't meant to be stirred, he wouldn't have had to order it shaken).

Pour in a pre-chilled (put ice and water in the glass before you prepare the drink) martini glass with 2 or three olives (variations of these olives can be stuffed with pimento, Almond, Blue Cheese or Jalepeno).

Love a Moscow mule.

World Market sells ginger beer, central market does as well. It isn't cheap.

Or you can make the good martini

Gin, stirred with ice, poured in a chilled martini glass.

Pour gin over ice. Throw ice away. Add 2 olives. Leave the vermouth in another county. Drink. Repeat as needed.

1) To make a true Gimlet you will need to use Rose's sweetened lime juice. (Yes, I realize to some it might seem the same as lime juice and simple syrup - it's not.) I prefer a five to one ratio of Gin to Rose's - but you can adjust depending on how sweet you like your Gimlet.

2) A true gin martini is made with dry vermouth. 7:1 is the preferred ratio. Those of you not using vermouth are not drinking a martini. Not using as much vermouth became popular when "vodka martinis" became the rage - as the vermouth overpowers a nice clean vodka. In a properly made gin martini, the vermouth will smooth the gin but not overpower it.

3) You should REALLY try making a Vesper (although it will require additional purchases on your part) - it is my favorite drink with gin. It is the original drink ordered by James Bond in Casino Royale.

3 parts gin, 1 part vodka, .5 part Lillet, with a large twist of lemon. The hard part in ordering this at a bar is so few now carry Lillet (French appertif wine - available at Spec's) - but if you are in a respectable bar that knows how to make cocktails you should have no problem.

Not knowing what type of Gin you have limits my other suggestions... If your gin is cheap?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Cxr1-b6Xkc

[This message has been edited by mwesson (edited 6/20/2012 8:46a).]

Pimm's Cup is a perfect summer beverage.


The big international Fiesta on Kirby and Old Spanish has a couple of different ginger beers, including a very affordable Goya offering.

Mwesson, thank you for linking to that clip. I couldn't help but notice that song came out in 1993. Then I couldn't help but feel old.

for the record, Mr. Bond prefers his martinis shaken because it bruises the gin. its pretty much the same as "going to 11". why would you do that, you might ask? because its got one more.

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3 parts gin, 1 part vodka, .5 part Lillet, with a large twist of lemon.

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Which Lillet? The white or the red?

Real Moscow Mules are made with Vodka, not Gin. However, since most everyone nowadays thinks Martinis are made with Vodka instead of Gin, I'm not surprised that this has gotten screwed up as well.

[This message has been edited by JFS61 (edited 6/20/2012 10:31a).]

My wife drinks French 75s. My recipe deviates a little from the traditional, but it works.

Combine gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice in shaker with ice. Stir until chilled. Pour into tulip or champagne flute. Top with champagne or sparking wine.

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Real Moscow Mules are made with Vodka, not Gin. However, since most everyone nowadays thinks Martinis are made with Vodka instead of Gin, I'm not surprised that this has gotten screwed up as well.

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True, but if you make it with gin, it's called a Gin Mule (at least that's what I call it). It still tastes good though.

quote:

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You should REALLY try making a Vesper (although it will require additional purchases on your part) - it is my favorite drink with gin. It is the original drink ordered by James Bond in Casino Royale.

3 parts gin, 1 part vodka, .5 part Lillet, with a large twist of lemon. The hard part in ordering this at a bar is so few now carry Lillet (French appertif wine - available at Spec's) - but if you are in a respectable bar that knows how to make cocktails you should have no problem

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I has a Vesper at a place in Boulder Colorado. Kicked like a mule!

A Tom Collins is an excellent summer drink. One of my all time favorites.

2 oz gin
1 oz lemon juice
1 tsp superfine sugar
3 oz club soda
1 maraschino cherry
1 slice orange

You can also be lazy like me and buy premixed Collins mix at Specs.

Thanks for the recomendations. I made a gimlet last night and it was delicious. I used rose's because I already had that on hand. I use that when I'm making margaritas.

[This message has been edited by woodford12 (edited 6/20/2012 4:35p).]

Glad to run across this thread. I have two bottles of Hendricks that I've got to go through and I'm getting tired of gin & tonics!

The problem with a really good martini is that once you've had a few and either have an immediate liking or grow to like them, few orher cocktails will do.

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Which Lillet? The white or the red?

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White. Technically, I believe Bond ordered a Kina Lillet - however, that would be the equivalent of the Lillet Blanc now.

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The problem with a really good martini is that once you've had a few and either have an immediate liking or grow to like them, few orher cocktails will do.

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Such a true statement.

Gonna make a martini tonight.

Tom Collins

negroni is where its at... but a bottle of Campari will set you back about $30. they are very bitter though so you should like bitter things before you go for it.

equal parts Gin (I like aviation), Campari, and a good sweet vermouth.
twist an orange or lemon twist over top for taste.

Ginger beer is pretty much everywhere these days.

If you can get it (HEB usually carries it) Goya makes one of my favorite because it is super spicy. It is also cheaper than a lot of other brands of ginger beer, but I am also partial to the brand from world market with the kangaroo on it.

I've always liked a pink gin.

Tumbler
Ice
Bitters to taste - I usually go pretty heavy with 7-8 dashes
Gin

tom collins

Awhile back I wanted a gin & tonic but didn't have lime for a garnish. I ended up muddling a strawberry in the bottom of the glass since it was the only garnishlike thing I had and madw the drink with Hendrick's. It was shockingly good, and now I can't stop drinking them.

Made a Moscow Mule tonight based on this thread. I think it'd probably be better with vodka but it was pretty darn tasty!

fyi, lots of kroger stores sell ginger beer in the "natural" food section.

I had a friend try to tell me martinis were girly drinks. I laughed at him and bought him the real thing. They were delicious.

Anvil in Houston makes the best pimms cup I've ever had. It's my favorite summer drink