Mixing Drinks

“Bracing,” astringent,” “clean,” and “bitter” are words you’ve already heard to describe the taste of gin. But this sharp-toothed libation has some softer surprises in store. What follows is not your father’s “gin and…”

The Admirals

The Admirals is a hybrid cross between a gimlet and a martini.

Admiral Benbow

Serve straight-up in an old-fashioned or lowball glass.

2 oz. gin ½ oz. lime juice
1 oz. dry vermouth Maraschino cherry

Stir gin, vermouth, and lime juice vigorously with ice, strain into the serving glass, and garnish with a Maraschino cherry.

Admiral Cocktail

Serve straight-up in a chilled cocktail glass.

2 oz. gin
¾ lime juice
½ oz. Peter Heering or Cherry Marnier

Shake all ingredients vigorously with ice in a shaker or use blender, strain into the serving glass.
The Complete Idiot's Guide

Most of us are familiar with vodka and orange juice (the screwdriver) and with vodka and grapefruit juice. No law says you can’t substitute gin for vodka in these faithful standys.

Gin Screwdriver
Serve on the rocks in a highball glass.

1 ½ oz. gin
2-3 orange juice

Stir well. If you like, add a dash or two of Angostura bitters.

*The cocktail variation on the Gin Screwdriver is called the Orange Blossom.

Orange Blossom

Serve in a chilled cocktail glass.

1 ½ oz. gin
1 oz. orange juice

Combine all ingredients, except the orange slice, in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into the serving glass. Garnish with the orange slice.

Gin and Grapefruit Juice

Serve on the rocks in a highball glass.

1 ½ oz. gin
2-3 oz. grapefruit juice

Combined all ingredients in a serving glass filled with ice. Stir well.

Pretty easy, huh? The following are only a little more, challenging – and a lot more interesting. Begin with the Abbey. Which adds an extra dimension to the gin Screwdriver

Abbey

Serve on the rocks in a lowball glass.

1 ½ oz. gin Dash 2 orange bitters
1 ½ oz. orange juice Maraschino cherry

Combine all ingredients, except for the cherry, in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into the ice-filled serving glass. Garnish with the cherry.

Abbey Cocktail

Serve straight-up in a chilled cocktail glass.

1 ½ oz. gin Dash or 2 of Angostura bitters
¾ oz. orange juice Maraschino cherry
¼ oz. sweet vermouth
Combine all ingredients, except for the cherry, in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into the serving glass. Garnish with the cherry.

*Its name notwithstanding, the Bronx Cocktail is a product of upscale Manhattan, Johnnie Solon, legendary bartender at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, invented it. It’s simple and delicious.

Bronx Cocktail

Serve straight-up in a chilled cocktail glass.

1 ½ oz. gin Dash of dry vermouth
½ oz. orange juice Dash of sweet vermouth

Combine all ingredients, with ice, in a shaker. Shake vigorously. Strain into the serving glass. Some drinkers prefer more of the vermouths – ½ ounce each – and a full ounce of orange juice. If you want a dry cocktail, skip the sweet vermouth.

*A variation on the Bronx Cocktail is the Lone Tree, which omits the orange juice and adds orange bitters. If you like martinis, you’ll want to try this.

Lone Tree

Serve straight-up in a chilled cocktail glass.

¾ oz. gin Several dashes of orange bitters (optional)
¾ oz. dry vermouth (optional) Olive (optional)
¾ oz. sweet vermouth

To a shaker filled with cracked ice add all ingredients except for the olive. Shake vigorously. Strain into the serving glass and garnish with the olive.

Gin Sour

Serve straight-up in a whiskey sour glass or lowball glass.

2-3 oz. gin Orange or lemon slice
1 oz. lemon juice Maraschino cherry
1 tsp. Sugar syrup

The Complete Idiot's Guide