I’ll be honest with you, folks — I’m not always a paragon of decision-making efficiency. Sometimes when I’m out for drinks, my eyes glaze over as I look up at the wall of bottles behind the bar. I’m only human.
So many choices, so much variety. Each bottle filled with alcohol and promise. There’s the inherent worry that the cocktail lists are full of fancy names specific to each bar, so what I order in one might not be the same in another.
So I inevitably end up ordering the same G&T every single time. It’s simple but delicious and frankly, it’s prettier than most of its brown counterparts.
And sure, it’s partly because I’m too short to see over some bars, and my eyesight is less than top notch. But for the most part, it’s because I just don’t really know how to make my order more interesting without getting overwhelmed or confused.
But mates, there’s a world of variations out there. Here are a few lil’ gin cocktails that are universal enough that you can order ’em anywhere — and they’re really bloody good.
1. Monkey Gland
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Does it sound appetising? No. Does it make you think about Proboscis monkeys and then giggle a little? It will now. Does it taste damn good? Yes, yes it does.
This sweet little concoction is super easy to make and consists of ingredients you’ll be able to source at any bar worth its salt — just know that it tastes way better than the name suggests.
Ingredients:
- 60 mLs Edinburgh gin
- 30 mLs orange juice
- 10 mLs grenadine
- Garnish with orange slice
Method:
This one’s simple — pour all the ingredients into your glass and pop some garnish on top. Couldn’t possibly get any easier than that, seriously.
2. Elderflower Collins
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A classic pairing, if you ask me. Elderflower and gin — they go together like popcorn and butter, Blake Lively and power suits, Jimmy Fallon and fake laughter, fast food and instant regret. It’s an enduring match for good reason. Why mess with a good thing?
Ordering or making yourself an Elderflower Collins is a simple alternative to a regular G&T. Extra points if you use a gin that’s already imbued with elderflower as well, like Edinburgh Gin’s Elderflower liqueur.
Ingredients:
- 50ml Edinburgh Gin
- 20ml Edinburgh Gin’s Elderflower Liqueur
- 25ml lemon juice
- Soda water
- Lemon twist and cocktail cherries (to garnish)
Method:
First, mix the gin, liqueur and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Pour it all into an ice-filled Collins glass and top it up with soda water — and garnish to your liking.
3. Plum Sour
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Take it nice and slow, pal. I will be the first to admit that this little beverage eluded me for some time (largely because I remained unsold on the untold benefits of egg whites).
This eggy boi is super easy to get a hold of while out, but it’s especially good if you’ve got a coupla googy eggs at home that you haven’t got much use for. Why? Because you can work out your own very personal consistency preference for those whippy whites.
Ingredients:
- 25ml Edinburgh Gin
- 25ml lemon juice
- 25ml Edinburgh Gin’s Plum & Vanilla Liqueur
- 1 egg white
- Plum wedge (to garnish)
Method:
Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker (without ice) until blended, then add ice and shake again. Strain the mixture into a rocks glass, then garnish with a big plum wedge.
4. Negroni
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It seems like this is a drink that is having a Moment™ . Big ol’ capital ‘M’ Moment. You’d be hard pressed to go anywhere and not see at least one person clutching their Negroni in hand while they chat up a storm on a barstool.
But that’s not at all to say that it’s overdone — and in fact, how dare you even think it. Give the East Coast Negroni a go because its days are far from over, and you’ll want to give it a lil’ taster sip sooner rather than later so you’re not the last one to the party.
Ingredients:
- 25ml Seaside Edinburgh Gin
- 25ml Suze
- 25ml Campari
- 3 dashes grapefruit bitters
- Sea salt and rosemary (to garnish)
Method:
Frost the rim of the glass with rock salt and rosemary and pop some ice in your glass. Pour the ingredients on top and stir until it’s all mixed. Whack on a sprig of rosemary to garnish and you’re set.
5. French 75
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There are very few occasions where I will look at a beverage and think to myself, “needs more fizz”. I’m just not a fizzy type of gal, usually — and that’s not a bad thing. Nothing against fizzy types.
But there’s one beverage where I am not entirely opposed to a dash of fizz. In the case of a French 75, you might even find me encouraging the fizz. Barracking for the fizz, even. It’s a rare and momentous occasion but I will stand by its worthiness, for always.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp sugar syrup
- 50 mLs Edinburgh gin
- Champagne
- Lemon zest (for garnish)
Method:
Combine sugar syrup, lemon juice and gin in a cocktail shaker (with ice). Give it a good ol’ shake, then pour into a champagne flute. Let it settle for a sec, then fill the rest of the glass with some bubbly and pop a garnish on top.
It’s simple, folks. While I would never disrespect the nobility and reliability of the good ol’ gin and tonic, you shouldn’t feel confined to its tang. There’s a world of options.
The fact that they’re all easy to make at home too? Not a bad garnish, if you ask me.
