What to Make With Gin: Top 10 Easy Cocktails to Try

When life gives you gin… You don’t waste it , you mix something great.

Gin is like one of those friends that doesn’t need a group, can just get along with anyone and anytime. One of the most versatile spirits in the liquor world, the question of what to make with gin has only one sole answer: “anything you like your way.” Whether you're keeping it simple with a two-ingredient pour or getting a little creative with other spirits and mixers, gin delivers every single time. It's classic, flavourful, and honestly one of the best spirits to have on your shelf if you are a cocktail lover setting up your own home bar.

Here is the list of 10 quick and easy gin cocktail ideas you can actually pull off without needing a professional setup or a mixology degree. Haven’t got a bottle yet? You can buy gin online in Australia, thanks to Liquor Loot bringing a wide selection of top-quality spirits that are perfect for starting out and building your own home bar with premium flavours.

And if you're curious to try different gin styles, exploring a curated gin tasting pack is a great way to find your favourites before committing to a full bottle.

Why Gin Is Perfect for Easy Cocktails

If you’re new to the mixing game or have ever tried making cocktails with vodka but fail as it can feel flat if the right ingredients are not used, then Gin is the ideal spirit to count on. Gin is different. It comes pre-loaded with personality. That's what makes it so easygoing and fun to work with. Here's why gin is perfect for making a wide range of delicious cocktails:

• It works with almost any mixer: Got a range of mixers or other drinks? Wine, sparkling water, tonic, soda, ginger beer, iced tea, and more, a bottle of gin can play well with all of them. Unlike other spirits, gin doesn’t need specific drinks to mix with.

• The botanicals create natural flavour complexity: The signature flavour of Juniper berries and botanicals are enough to get interesting and complex flavour profiles when mixed with tonics, sodas and other mixers.

• Perfect for every occasion: Gin doesn’t need any occasion or a specific time to drink; you can have a refreshing sip on a warm afternoon or make a bold and spirit-forward drink for an evening. With an exceptional range of unique styles, there’s a gin for every moment.

• Try different Gin Styles: Experiment and play along with different bottles, like instead of London Dry take a Shiraz gin or a floral flavoured gin, and you will be amazed with the results. That kind of flavour versatility keeps things exciting, and won’t bore.

• No special equipment required: Unlike some spirits that require specific technique or fancy tools, most easy gin cocktail recipes need nothing more than a glass, some ice, and a lot of fresh ingredients.

Basically, gin meets you where you are. Whether you're new to cocktails or you've been mixing for years, it rewards both simplicity and creativity.

The 10 Easy Gin Cocktails to Try

These cocktails are simple, require minimal ingredients, and are made for home mixing. Each one includes a proper how-to, exact measurements, and a tip to help you get it right the first time.

1. Gin & Tonic

The one that started it all and is still the most ordered gin drink in the world. Simple, endlessly refreshing, and almost impossible to get wrong.

What you need:

• 60ml gin

• 120ml tonic water

• 1 lime wedge

• Ice

How to make it: Fill a big glass, something like a balloon glass or a highball, with lots of ice. Pour in the gin, then top it off with tonic water. Give it a gentle stir, just enough to mix it. Squeeze your lime wedge right in, drop it into the glass, and you’re done.

Pro tip: Honestly, go heavy on the ice. Packing the glass keeps your drink colder and actually waters it down less than just a couple lonely cubes sinking at the bottom.

Best for: Everyday sipping, unwinding after work

2. Tom Collins

A classic highball that's been around since the 1800s and hasn't gone out of style for a reason. Light, citrusy, and seriously easy to drink.

What you need:

• 60ml gin

• 30ml fresh lemon juice

• 15ml sugar syrup

• Soda water to top

• Ice

• Lemon slice to garnish

How to make it: Pour the gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup into a shaker filled with ice. Shake it up for around 10 seconds. Strain everything into a tall glass with fresh ice, then top with soda water and stir gently. Add a lemon slice for the finishing touch.

Pro tip: Use fresh lemon juice if you can. Bottled juice never tastes as lively, it’s the brightness from a fresh lemon that really wakes up the cocktail.

Best for: Warm afternoons, casual get-togethers

3. Gin Spritz

Low effort, high reward. This is the cocktail you make when you want something cold in your hand within 60 seconds.

What you need:

• 45ml gin

• 90ml soda water

• A few slices of cucumber or citrus to garnish

• Ice

How to make it: Grab a wine glass or a big tumbler and fill it with ice. Pour the gin in, splash in some soda water, and stir briefly. Toss in whatever garnish grabs you, cucumber, lemon, orange, or any fruit you’ve got handy.

Pro tip: If you want more flavour, switch out the soda for a light tonic or elderflower tonic. Throw in a few mint leaves as a garnish, they’re great.

Best for: Casual drinks on the back deck, low-key entertaining

4. Gin Basil Smash

This one sounds more complicated than it is. It takes maybe five minutes, and the result is a fresh, herbal cocktail that genuinely impresses people.

What you need:

• 60ml gin

• 30ml fresh lemon juice

• 15ml sugar syrup

• 8-10 fresh basil leaves

• Ice

How to make it: Drop the basil leaves into your shaker and muddle them gently, just enough to bruise them and release those oils, no need to smash them to bits. Add the gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup, fill up with ice, and shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds. Double strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.

Pro tip: Don’t go nuts with the muddling. Too much force squeezes out bitter stuff from the stems. Just a few solid presses do the trick.

Best for: When you want something a bit different, dinner parties

5. Negroni

Equal parts gin, vermouth, and Campari. Three ingredients, zero compromise. The Negroni is one of the most balanced cocktails ever created, and it takes about two minutes to make.

What you need:

• 30ml gin

• 30ml sweet vermouth

• 30ml Campari

• Ice

• Orange peel to garnish

How to make it: Add all three ingredients to a rocks glass packed with ice. Stir for 20 or 30 seconds, just until it’s nice and cold. Grab an orange peel, hold it skin-side down, and give it a good squeeze over the drink, this releases those aromatic oils right onto the surface. Drop the peel into the glass or just perch it on the rim.

Pro tip: Go bold with your gin. A juniper-heavy gin stands up to the power of Campari and vermouth; lighter, more floral gins fade away in the mix. London Dry is always a smart choice.

Best for: Evening drinks, slow Sundays, people who think they don't like gin

6. Bee's Knees

Honey, lemon, and gin. This Prohibition-era cocktail is smooth, slightly sweet, and one of the most underrated drinks on this list.

What you need:

• 60ml gin

• 22ml fresh lemon juice

• 22ml honey syrup (mix equal parts honey and warm water, stir to combine)

• Ice

How to make it: Making it with egg white? Start by adding everything but the soda water to your shaker. Skip the ice for now, shake hard for about 15 seconds to whip up the foam. Then throw in the ice, shake again for 10 seconds, and strain into a tall glass with no ice. Top it slowly with soda water and watch the foam build.

Pro Tip: Don’t skip the dry shake if you’re using egg white. Shaking without ice is the trick for that creamy foam; ice too soon will just kill it.

Best for: Relaxed nights in, converting friends who claim they don't like gin

7. Gin Fizz

Light, foamy, and refreshing. The Gin Fizz is essentially a Tom Collins with a bit more technique ,  and optionally, a touch of egg white that gives it a beautiful, silky texture.

What you need:

• 60ml gin

• 30ml fresh lemon juice

• 15ml sugar syrup

• 1 egg white (optional but recommended)

• Soda water to top

• Ice

How to make it: If you’re using egg white, start by putting everything except the soda water into your shaker, no ice yet. Shake it hard for 15 seconds. This is the dry shake, and it’s what really gives your drink that foamy top. Now add some ice, shake again for about 10 seconds, and strain everything into a tall glass (skip the ice this time). Pour the soda water slowly on top and just watch the foam rise up.

Pro tip:  Don’t skip the dry shake when you use egg white. It’s the key to a thick, stable foam. If you drop in the ice too soon, it kills the foam before it starts.

Best for: Brunch, lazy weekend afternoons

8. Peach Gin Iced Tea

This one sounds summery because it is. Long, cold, and easy to batch up for a group.

What you need:

• 45ml gin

• 90ml cold-brewed black tea

• 30ml peach nectar (or muddle 2–3 slices of fresh peach)

• A squeeze of lemon

• Ice

• Peach slice to garnish

How to make it: Ready for a tea twist? Brew your tea ahead and let it cool off completely. Pour the gin, peach nectar, and lemon juice into a tall iced glass, then add the cold tea and give it a gentle stir. Garnish with a peach slice.

Pro tip: Try cold brewing your tea in the fridge overnight instead of making it hot and cooling it later. Cold brew gives you a smoother, less bitter tea and makes this cocktail taste even better.

Best for: Long afternoons, backyard gatherings, batching for a group

9. Watermelon Gin Cooler

Fresh watermelon juice and gin are one of those combinations that just make complete sense. Sweet, light, and ridiculously refreshing.

What you need:

• 60ml gin

• 90ml fresh watermelon juice (blend watermelon and strain)

• 15ml fresh lime juice

• Splash of soda water

• Ice

• Watermelon slice or mint to garnish

How to make it: For watermelon, toss a few chunks into the blender and blitz. Strain the juice through a fine sieve so you’re left with liquid only, no pulp. Pour gin, fresh watermelon juice, and lime juice into a shaker with ice. Give it a quick shake, then strain over fresh ice in your glass. Finish with a splash of soda and whatever garnish you like.

Pro Tip: Toss a tiny pinch of salt into the shaker with everything else. Not enough to taste salty, just a hint. It seriously boosts the watermelon flavour.

Best for: Hot days, summer entertaining

10. French 75

Gin, lemon, sugar, and sparkling wine. It's light, celebratory, and tastes considerably more impressive than the effort it requires.

What you need:

• 45ml gin

• 15ml fresh lemon juice

• 10ml sugar syrup

• 60ml Champagne or dry sparkling wine to top

• Ice

• Lemon twist to garnish

How to make it: For a bubbly cocktail, add gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup to a shaker with ice. Shake it up for 10 seconds, strain into a Champagne flute or coupe, then top off slowly with sparkling wine. Lemon twist on top, and you’re set.

Pro tip:  No need to spring for fancy Champagne. Any dry Prosecco or Cava is perfect, and way cheaper. Just make sure your bubbles aren’t too sweet, they’ll mess with the balance.

Best for: Special occasions, dinner party aperitifs, celebrations

Quick Guide: Choosing the Right Gin for Cocktails

Not all gins are built the same, and the style you choose can make a real difference to how your cocktail tastes.

• London Dry:  the classic, go-to style; works in almost everything, especially Gin & Tonics and Negronis.

• Floral gin: lighter and more delicate; great in spritzes and the Bee's Knees

• Citrus gin: bright and zesty; pairs beautifully with tonic, soda, and fresh fruit drinks

• Bold or spiced gin: more intense; best suited to stirred cocktails like the Negroni

Not sure which style is good for you? Experimenting is half the fun, and gin tasting packs from Liquor Loot make it easy to try a range of gins without committing to a full bottle of each and are also ideal as a gift for cocktail lovers. Order the best gin online right here at Liquor Loot and enjoy mixing like never before.

Tips for Making Better Gin Cocktails at Home

• Use fresh citrus: Bottled juice is dull and not that authentic; fresh lemon or lime gives your cocktail a crisp, refreshing taste that makes a real difference.

• Don't overdo it : Quick and easy gin cocktails are usually restrained; follow the recipe as it is first, then add your own final touches according to your own preferences.

• Learn to balance flavours : too sharp means adding a touch more sweetness; too flat means adding more citrus; taste as you go and adjust in small increments.

• Use good ice: large, heavy cubes melt slowly and keep your drink cold without over-diluting it; avoid small, thin ice for anything stirred.

• Match your gin to the drink: bold London Dry for Negronis, lighter floral gin for spritzes; the right gin makes the whole cocktail come out uniquely delicious.

FAQs

1. What is the easiest gin cocktail to make?

That’s the Gin & Tonic, hands down. You’re just pouring gin and tonic water over ice, giving it a squeeze of lime, and it’s good to go. No fuss, no fancy moves, just a solid drink that never disappoints.

2. What mixes best with gin?

Tonic is the go-to, obviously, but gin gets along great with citrus juices like lemon or lime. Fresh herbs, think basil or mint, bring out a nice brightness, and soda water keeps things light. If you have a floral or cucumber mixer, that pairs nicely with the lighter, more botanical gins.

3. Can I make cocktails without fancy equipment?

Definitely. The easiest gin drinks only need a glass, something to stir with, and ice. If you want to shake things up, like with a Bee’s Knees or Gin Fizz, even a jam jar with a lid works if you don’t have a shaker.

4. Which gin is best for cocktails?

For most cocktails, London Dry gin is your safest bet. It’s classic, clean, and works in almost everything. If you’re leaning toward cocktails with a floral or fruity twist, then a lighter, botanical gin brings those flavours forward.

5. Are gin cocktails strong?

Well, that depends on what you make and how you pour. Drinks like the French 75 or Gin Fizz taste lighter thanks to the bubbles. Something like a Negroni packs a punch. For most home bartenders, the strength lands somewhere in the middle; it really comes down to your personal pour style.

Find the Best Gin Online in Australia

There’s a reason gin is a staple at bars, whether it’s a fancy spot or your own home setup. You can create countless delicious, refreshing, and bold cocktails that suit every moment, season, and palate. From a quick Gin & Tonic after work to a French 75 for a celebratory occasion, the best part is that none of them requires much more than a glass and a handful of quality ingredients.

One more thing worth noting: the more you experiment, the better you get at understanding what you like. If you're ready to buy gin online, Liquor Loot’s curated selection of the best gin bottles and exclusive tasting packs is a great place to start. Here’s to new gins, new cocktails, and a lot less guesswork.