Gin, undeniably the sweetest of the liquor family, is a subtly flavoured liquor that’s distilled from juniper berries. If you’ve never had a gin cocktail, you might find yourself wondering what reason anyone could possibly have to dedicate an entire day to celebrating one liquor. Well, Neil Houston and Emma Stokes (also known as blogger Gin Monkey) found that reason to be friendship and camaraderie. Since 2009, World Gin Day has been observed to celebrate gin history and the many gin cocktails that bring people together and encourage a good time.
Held annually on the second Saturday in June (that’s 8 June this year), World Gin Day is a global celebration of all things gin! So, Expat Explore’s resident gin lovers have rounded up our favourite gin cocktails from all around the world. This World Gin Day, celebrate with us by trying these gin cocktail recipes wherever you are. Or better yet, join us on an unmissable guided group tour to one or more of the must-see travel destinations on our list to try them in their home bars around the world. Either way, cheers to gin!
Related: Try some more of the top cocktails around the world!
Savour every sip of the best gin cocktails around the world:
The Manhattan Martini
Origin: New York City, USA
While there is certainly always a time and a place for vodka, many will agree that the classic gin martini from New York in the USA is simply the only option. This classic drink supposedly had its start in New York’s high society! The story goes that the New York Knickerbocker Hotel’s resident bartender of the time, Martini di Arma di Taggia, mixed this style of martini for John D. Rockefeller (whom the popular NYC attraction Rockefeller Centre was named after).
While there are many versions of the gin martini, from dry to wet and classic to dirty, here is a recipe for what some consider the perfect Manhattan Martini:
Combine 2 parts gin, 1 part dry vermouth, 1 part sweet vermouth, ½ a part maraschino liqueur, and 2 dashes Bitters by shaking or stirring (you pay the piper, you call the tune) and enjoy your Manhattan Martini served chilled!
Related: Check out the top US festivals and events worth toasting to!
Negroni (not “sbagliato with prosecco in it”)
Origin: Florence, Italy
Thanks to Emma D’Arcy from the hugely popular Game of Thrones spinoff series House of the Dragon, the Negroni is popular once more. When asked by a castmate in an interview what their favourite drink is, Emma famously replied, “A negroni… sbagliato… with prosecco in it.”
While this phrase went viral enough for the negroni to be a talking point once more, Emma got it all wrong, unfortunately. Firstly, a Negroni is a Negroni; any variations mean it’s no longer one. Secondly, there already exists a drink called a Negroni Sbagliato, which originated as a mistake. Instead of the gin, prosecco was added to the Campari and vermouth base. Sbagliato literally means “mistake”, so even the now-iconic Negroni Sbagliato isn’t actually a real Negroni. However; if not for Emma’s iconic yet inaccurate statement, the classic Negroni might not have been introduced to the next generations.
So, if you’d like to try a real negroni, made the way they do in Italy, simply combine equal parts of gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari. And let us know in the comments how the Sbagliato version compares when you inevitably try that one too…
Related: Learn how to order a Negroni in Italy with our Italian language guide!
Bitter British G&T
Origin: British Army station in India
While the classic combination of gin and tonic water is a treat to many gin lovers, its origins weren’t quite as pleasant. While stationed in India in the 19th century, the British Army took some interesting measures to avoid malaria by drinking quinine. To make the bitter taste more palatable, they would add gin, lime, sugar and water to create a tasty anti-malaria cocktail. In other words, the British G&T technically didn’t originate in the UK.
Today, tonic water contains quinine for that same bitterness and bars and restaurants around the world serve gin paired with tonic, either the classic way or with a variety of fancy and flavourful accoutrements. For example, try the classic G&T with a few slices of grapefruit and a handful of pink peppercorns added. Or, pop in a cucumber wedge and a sprig of mint for a refreshing spin on the original.
Related: Try an array of Gins & Tonics on one of our UK multi-country tours!
Secrets of the Singapore Sling
Origin: Downtown Core, Singapore
If you can look past the trolley full of ingredients you’d need to make it, sipping on a Singapore Sling is a real treat! This bright pink drink is not only delicious and a must-try when visiting Singapore, but it also has quite an interesting origin story. Like the Manhattan Martini, the Singapore Sling originated in a hotel bar.
Back in 1915 in Singapore, women weren’t allowed to drink in public. So, the bartenders at the Raffles Singapore bar came up with a clever idea – creating a vibrant alcoholic drink that women could buy under the guise of its smoothie-like colour and presentation. Today, anyone of age can order it at any cocktail bar that’s worth its salted rim.
To make a Singapore Sling at home, you’ll need (deep breath) one shot of gin, four shots of pineapple juice, half a shot of lime juice, quarter shots of both Cointreau and Bénédictine, a third shot of grenadine, half a shot cherry liqueur, and, finally, a dash of bitters. While that’s quite the mouthful, the Singapore Sling won’t disappoint once you indulge in a mouthful of this delicious drink!
The Quenching Soixante-Quinze
Origin: Paris, France
The classic French 75, though not entirely unique (there’s some controversy surrounding its similarity to a Tom Collins), is a must-try cocktail that packs a punch! In fact, that’s where the name came from. What started in a New York-inspired bar in Paris, France in 1915 was soon referred to as a Soixante Quinze (75) because those who drank it believed it had just about the same amount of kick as a French 75mm field gun.
To make this classic cocktail, mix gin, lemon juice and sugar and top it with some champagne. Serve it in a champagne flute to further differentiate it from a Tom Collins, and enjoy!
Related: Get a taste of real champagne by discovering the top wine regions in France!
And with that, we have to call last round on the best gin cocktails around the world! We hope you enjoyed taking a tour of the world of gin with us and learning more about the cocktails you know and love. Hopefully, it inspires you to make them yourself!
If you’d like to try some of these essential gin cocktails in their country of origin, Expat Explore has a range of single and multi-country tours to most of the must-see travel destinations on our list. Book a tour, and get ready to sip in style this World Gin Day!