Spirits
Gin
- Spirit
- 40% ABV
- 263 drinks
Is this for me?
Choose this if…
- ✓You enjoy botanical, herbal or floral flavours in cocktails.
- ✓There are 263 drinks on WhatDrink using this.
Skip if…
- ✗You prefer neutral spirits or sweeter liqueurs.
At a Glance
Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.
What is Gin?
Gin is a juniper-led spirit used in classic cocktails, Martinis, sours, fizzes, highballs and aromatic aperitif drinks. Its botanical profile makes it one of the most versatile bases for citrus, herbal, bitter and sparkling cocktails.
What does Gin taste like?
Botanical, juniper-forward and often citrusy or herbal, with styles ranging from dry and crisp to floral, spicy or earthy. Gin pairs strongly with lemon, lime, dry vermouth, tonic water, bitters, cucumber, mint and herbal liqueurs.
Gin profile
Best used for: martinis, gin & tonics, sours, refreshing drinks
- Appears in 263+ recipes
- Has 3 common substitutes
- High-strength spirit (40% ABV)
Ways to use gin
- Aromatic aperitif drinks — Use gin with vermouth, bitters or herbal liqueurs in aromatic aperitif-style drinks.
- Gin and tonic or other highballs — Lengthen gin with tonic water or another carbonated mixer for a botanical highball.
- Martini and spirit-forward drinks — Use gin in Martinis and other short, spirit-forward cocktails where its juniper and botanical profile remains prominent.
- Sours and fizzes — Combine gin with citrus and, for a fizz, carbonation; this format balances botanical aroma with acidity and lift.
What it is
What is gin?
Gin is a botanical spirit where juniper is the defining flavor. Depending on the style, it can also show citrus, spice, floral or herbal notes.
How it's used
How gin is used in drinks
Gin works well in martinis, highballs, sours and bitter cocktails because its dry botanical profile can handle citrus, tonic, vermouth and bitters. It is one of the most flexible base spirits for refreshing drinks.
Serving tips
Serving tips
Choose gin when you want a drink to feel dry, aromatic or herbal. If a cocktail tastes too sharp, a small amount of sweetness or a softer mixer can make the botanical notes easier to drink.
About this drink
Gin grew from juniper-flavored European spirits, especially Dutch genever, before developing its own identity in Britain. That history explains why gin cocktails often highlight botanicals, citrus, vermouth and tonic rather than treating gin as a neutral base.
Drink counts and recipe data are based on published WhatDrink recipes. Figures may vary as new recipes are added.
Gin — common questions
- How many cocktails are made with Gin?
- There are 263 cocktail recipes featuring Gin in the WhatDrink database.
- What are the most popular cocktails made with Gin?
- Top-ranked cocktails made with Gin include Creme de Gin Cocktail, Gin and It, Gin and Soda. Rankings are based on recipe quality and data completeness.
- What is the ABV of Gin?
- Gin has an ABV of approximately 40%. The exact strength varies by brand and expression.
- What do the sensory profile dimensions mean?
- Sensory profile dimensions describe key flavour characteristics: Intensity (light to bold), Sweetness (dry to sweet), Mixability (how versatile it is in cocktails) and Beginner-Friendly (acquired taste to easy intro). Each scale helps you compare Gin with similar ingredients at a glance.
- How do I use the Gin sensory profile to find drinks I like?
- If you enjoy the intensity and flavour profile of Gin, look for other ingredients or cocktails with a similar profile. Compare Intensity, Sweetness and Mixability to find substitutes or discover new cocktails in the same flavour family.