The captivating history of Gin Cocktails.
From their humble beginnings to their place in the spotlight today, gin has been the star of countless gin cocktail recipes. This post explores the history of Gin Cocktails. We also share some fun facts about them. Additionally, we provide classic recipes that have been popular for a long time.
It's worth experimenting to find your favourite!
1. The Martini
Martini History
The Martini is a famous gin cocktail made with gin, vermouth, and either an olive or lemon twist garnish. Many people consider it an iconic drink.
The Martini was invented in the 1860's in San Francisco by bartender Jerry Thomas.
"Shaken or Stirred?" We won't judge.
Sean Connery, as James Bond in the 1964 movie Goldfinger, popularized the debate on how to prepare a Martini. He used a famous phrase to do so. Some people argue whether a Martini should be shaken or stirred.
The difference is that shaking a martini over ice in a cocktail shaker creates a colder and slightly more diluted drink.
Some people think that lowering the temperature and adding water can make the cocktail less flavorful. They prefer to stir the gin cocktail over ice to make a full-bodied and rich-tasting Martini.
Martini Recipe
*Top Tip, Place the Gin in the freezer for 1 hour prior to making
*Use quality craft Australian Gin, the Martini is only as good as the Gin you use
The Dry Martini
60ml Lily Fields Distilling Co Juniper Dry Gin
10ml Vermouth
Twist or Peel of Lemon
Shake or Stir, Strain into Martini Glass
or
60ml Lily Fields Distilling Co Sydney Dry Gin
10ml Vermouth
Grapefruit Peel
Shake or Stir, Strain into Martini Glass
The Dirty Martini
60ml Lily Fields Distilling Co Juniper Dry Gin
10ml Vermouth
10ml Olive Brine
Garnish with Sicilian Green Olives
Shake or Stir, Strain into Martini Glass
2. The Gin and Tonic
Back in the day, British soldiers in India drank tonic water for its quinine content to fend off malaria. It tasted pretty bitter, so they added gin. And just like that, the Gin and Tonic was born.
Gin and Tonic Recipe's
We have a separate page dedicated to the G&T ! Click on the link to read!
3. The French 75
The French 75 is a boozy refreshing citrus gin cocktail made of gin, bubbles. lemon juice and sugar syrup.
This one has a fascinating history, as it was first created around 1915 in a Paris bar known as "New York Bar". The gin cocktail combines both gin and champagne and is named after the WW1 French 75 field gun.
They recognized the gun for its powerful kick, capable of quickly firing out an astounding 15 rounds per minute!
French 75 Recipe
30ml Lily Fields Distilling Co Juniper Dry Gin
30ml Lemon Juice, Freshly squeezed
15ml simple syrup (2 parts sugar to 1 part water)
60ml chilled champagne
Shake all ingredients over ice except champagne. Strain into champagne flute and top with champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist.
4. The Southside
The Southside is a simple gin cocktail recipe made with gin, fresh lime juice, simple syrup and mint. Its a refreshing alternative to a Mojito.
During the prohibition era in Chicago, a gangster created a cocktail recipe. He led a gang called the "South Side Saltis - McErlang gang." The gangster made and sold low-quality gin to bars in Chicago. He used the cocktail recipe to disguise the gin.
South Side Recipe
60ml Lily Fields Distilling Co Sydney Dry Gin
25ml Freshly squeezed Lime Juice
15ml simple syrup (2 parts sugar:1 part water)
6 mint leaves plus extra to garnish
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until the mint is well bruised. Strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice and garnish with fresh mint.
*Turn into a Gin Fizz by simply adding soda water !
5. The White Lady
The White Lady is a gin cocktail made with gin, Cointreau or Triple Sec, fresh lemon juice, and optional egg white or aqua foam.
The cocktail recipe was made in London in 1919 by bartender Harry Craddock. He is the author of the famous "Savoy Cocktail Book".
The "white lady" name came from Eveline Gorkiewicz, a woman who helped British prisoners escape Turkey in WW1. She would dress up in white clothing as a old Turkish wash lady and hide the prisoners in the washing trolley.
White Lady Recipe
40ml Lily Fields Distilling Co Sydney Dry Gin
30ml Cointreau or Triple Sec
20ml Lemon Juice, Freshly squeezed
Optional 1/2 egg White (To add a silky foam)
Shake over ice, strain into Martini Glass. Garnish with a lemon twist
6. The Gimlet
The gimlet is a gin cocktail composed of gin, lime juice and sugar syrup.
It was interestingly created by a doctor in the 19th century. Scurvy had hit the British Navy, a painful and sometimes deadly disease caused by Vitamin C deficiency.
The officers were "prescribed" with a daily ration of gin and lime juice to ward off the disease in a combination that resulted in the first creation of the Gimlet that we know today.
Gimlet Recipe
60ml Lily Fields Distilling Co Sydney Dry Gin
15ml Lime Juice, Freshly Squeezed.
15ml simple syrup (2 parts sugar:1 part water)
Combine all ingredients in a shaker over ice and shake well to combine. Strain into a cocktail glass filled with fresh ice and garnish with a lime wheel.
7. The Tom Collins
The Tom Collins gin cocktail recipe is made from gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar and carbonated water.
Another old one, the Tom Collins was created in the 1860s by bartender Joan Collins.
Classic Tom Collins Recipe
50ml Lily Fields Sydney Dry Gin
20ml Lemon Juice freshly squeezed
15ml simple syrup (2 parts sugar, 1 part water)
Combine in a tall high ball glass over ice and top with soda. Garnish with a orange slice.
Raspberry Collins - muddle a handful of raspberries in the glass before adding the other ingredients.
Elderflower Collins - Add a splash of Elderflower Liqueur to add floral notes :)
With all of these recipes its essential to use quality crafted Australian Gins.
Shop our range to obtain a delicious
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