HOW TO GET EXPERIMENTAL WITH GIN

[dropcap]G[/dropcap]in has pretty much been the talking point of most cocktail menus for the past few years, as it became the most trending and consumed alcoholic beverage in the world. Sales of gin started to sky rocket, it was less about crying and more about kicking back in the sunshine sipping something tropical. So today I want you to bore off with your classic G&T as we talk through some of my favourite recipes that you can try at home or ask for in your local bar to ensure you can zest up your palette with a few new additions with The Cocktail Service who provide mobile cocktail bar hire and know a thing or two about making excellent groundbreaking cocktails! You can participate in active discussions on Wagl to get honest and unbiased reviews and recommendations for the same.

Firstly is a cocktail that I tried for the first time whilst I was in Hamburg, Germany and immediately fell in love with its botanical balance of sweetness and fresh qualities. The Gin Basil Smash. Frankly it couldn’t be easier and only takes a few moments to throw together. It was created in Le Lion, Paris and is beautiful on a warm day as it’s so fresh and zesty. Here’s how you can make it:

Ingredients

10 Basil Leaves

50ml Gin

25ml Lemon Juice

15ml Gomme

Garnish: Bail Leaf

Glassware: Rocks

How To Make

Shake all ingredients and Strain over ice. Garnish.

Next up we have the Blackberry Gin Fizz which is an excellent pairing with gin as the intense sweetness has enough robustness to cope with the strong gin flavours. It would make a fantastic serving at a dinner party because of the beautiful rich reds and aesthetic of the blackberries. Here’s all you need to know on how to wow your guests with these colourful beverages.

Ingredients

25ml Gin

15ml Crème De Mure

25ml Lime Juice

5 Blackberries

Top Soda

Garnish: Blackberry

Glassware: Rocks

How To Make

Add blackberries to a shaker and muddle (crush). Add rest of ingredients, except the soda, and shake. Strain into a rocks glass and top soda.

I love heading out for a night out and ordering myself in a Sloe Gin Fizz, you can’t help but feel super sophisticated when combining Sloe gin and champagne together. If you’ve got some champers why not spruce up your drinks with the ultimate combination!

Ingredients

40ml Sloe Gin

25ml Lemon Juice

15ml Gomme

Egg White

Top Champagne

Glassware: Champagne Flute

Garnish: N/A

How To Make

Combine the sloe gin, lemon juice, egg white and gomme into a shaker. Shake well without ice. Add ice and shake again. Strain into a champagne flute and top with Champagne.

I absolutely adore a Bloody Mary, and this twist on a classic cocktail will surprise you with it’s excellent qualities for any gin lover that loves a spicy kick.

Ingredients

50ml Gin

25ml Lemon Juice

6- 10 dashes of Worcester Sauce

Tabasco Sauce to taste

Shake of Celery Salt

Black Pepper

½ Spoon Horseradish Sauce

Top with Clamato Juice.

Glassware: Collins

Garnish: Celery Stick & Lemon Slice

How To Make

Add all ingredients into the collins glass and stir, making sure the horseradish is nicely mixed in. Add Ice and garnish.

If you’re still on the hunt for some excellent cocktail recipes then head over to The Cocktail Service’s post on The Best 25 Gin Cocktail Recipes Ever for some serious inspiration!

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Stephi LaReine

Stephi LaReine is a multi-award-winning Liverpool UK based content creator, journalist and influencer and digital storyteller. Since launching stephilareine.com in 2014, she has written over a thousand articles spanning fashion, beauty, health, lifestyle, and conscious travel. With a background in trend forecasting, neurodivergent advocacy, and longevity research, Stephi brings a unique lens to every post—blending scientific insight with a soulful, poetic voice.

She’s collaborated with leading global brands and has been featured across fashion week panels, travel campaigns, and health optimization forums.

Her content is rooted in lived experience, personal curiosity, and a relentless drive to empower women to take up space, explore the world boldly, and live longer, more radiant lives. Every article is a step toward building a kinder, smarter, more colourful world.

✨ Follow more stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes on Instagram @stephilareine and stephilareine.com.

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Gin Basil Smash

Blackberry Gin Fizz

Sloe Gin Fizz

Red Snapper

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