Gin has had something of a renaissance over the past few years. Far from being an outdated and neglected liquor, it’s now become the latest drinking trend and hundreds of craft gin distilleries have popped up to cater to this growing demand.
As we see an uptick in demand for all things gin, let’s take a look at the best mixers to pair it with.
The Best Mixers for Gin
Tonic Water
Tonic water is the Romeo to Gin’s Juliet. The quinine in tonic water has a slightly sweet note to it, pairing effortlessly with gin’s herbal flavors. The G&T is a drink I’ve made - and consumed - hundreds of times over the years but each time is a different experience owing to the tonic’s ability to “get out of the way” and let the gin flavors lead the drink. It never overpowers so it’s the perfect accompaniment if you’re trying out miniatures of different gins.
Dry Vermouth
Where would we be without the Martini? Dry vermouth was made for gin. It brings out the gin's aromatic profile whilst retaining its own nuanced flavor. A sweeter vermouth can offer a delightful contrast.
Soda Water
If you prefer to let the gin do the talking, soda water is your best bet. It adds a fizzy lift to the spirit for an understated but satisfying drink. Some might say any old soda water will do as it’s essentially a “flavorless” liquid but using a high quality sparkling natural mineral water like San Pellegrino really makes a difference. Add in a squeeze of lemon or lime - perfection.
Lemonade
The citrusy bite of lemonade perfectly accentuates the gin’s botanicals. I like to use a 2:1 ratio of lemonade to gin, so the strong lemon flavors don’t overpower the liquor. Extra points if it’s a zesty homemade lemonade.
Earl Grey Tea
Not traditionally seen as a gin mixer but as a Brit I’d be remiss not to add tea somewhere on this list. It works surprisingly well. Serve it iced with a slice of lemon for a refined and refreshing concoction.
Grapefruit Juice
If you want to bring a little more flavor and personality to your gin mixed drink, grapefruit juice is a great choice. Its tartness pairs beautifully with gin, especially if you opt for one with more of a citrus profile. Something like a Brockmans mixes very nicely with grapefruit.
Cucumber Water
Cucumber water adds a crisp, mellow sweetness that blends seamlessly with gin’s herbal notes. It’s perfect for a light, hydrating cocktail as the cucumber has a much milder flavor than other fruit juices. Add a squeeze of lemon and garnish with a slice of cucumber for an extra nice touch.
Coconut Water
A tropical choice traditionally reserved for rum, coconut water’s subtle sweetness and refreshing qualities makes it an excellent accompaniment to a premium gin. I’d recommend a no added sugar, natural coconut water for this drink.
Elderflower
As a floral ingredient elderflower perfectly complements the herbal and juniper qualities of gin. You can get it as a syrup or liqueur, or simply pick up some elderflower cordial and combine it with soda water for a refreshing gin drink.
Apple Juice
If you want a crisp, more autumnal flavor to mix with your gin, apple juice is a great choice. Its natural sweetness and acidity bring out the botanicals in gin.
Ginger Beer
This might not be the first thing that jumps to mind when you think of mixers for gin, but if you’re bored of more mild flavors and want to try something with a spicy kick it’s worth experimenting with.
Pro tip: if you decide to try it out, you’ll want to go for an equally bold and full bodied gin to stop it from being overpowered by the ginger beer. Maybe you could even try a spice infused bottle like Opihr Oriental.
My favorite gin-ginger beer crossover is the Gin Gin Mule.
It’s All About the Gin
Something I touched on above is that certain gins go particularly well with a specific mixer. Let’s look at that in a bit more detail. Choosing the right gin for the right mixer means we need to think about the flavor notes.
A juniper-forward gin - the classic London Drys such as Beefeater or Tanqueray - pairs particularly well with a more neutral mixer like tonic or soda. A more floral libation like Hendricks or The Botanist goes really well with elderflower.
For a fruit forward spirit like Brockmans or Bombay Bramble I’d probably use a more fruity mixer like lemonade or grapefruit juice. You get the picture. Let the gin lead your choice of mixer.
Parting Words
Gin is a versatile spirit that makes up the base of many classic cocktails, as well as being throughly delicious to sip by itself. When paired with the correct mixer, a high quality artisan gin can be raised to a whole new level. Try out the various combinations outlined in this post with one of your favorite bottles and see which variations you enjoy the most.
