What To Mix With Gin

 

Mixers are an important part of a great gin drinking experience. Whether you’re a fan of the classic Gin and Tonic or looking to get creative with your favourite spirit, there is no shortage of options!

Without doubt, the type of mixer you use can really take your taste experience to the next level. Conversely, certain mixers work better with different types of gins too. So let’s take a closer look at good mixers for gin!

 

Best Gin Mixers

Mixer	Advantages
Long Rays Pacific Tonic	Sits closer to a soda than a tonic in our view and really allows your gin to shine.
Soda Water	Lets the flavour of the gin shine through
Long Rays Dark Soda	Great way to throw in a different vibe to a gin and soda. Slightly smokey vibe.
Fever-Tree Blood Orange Soda	Gives just a hint of additional sweetness and taste that you don't get from regular soda
Lemonade	Fantastic mixer for beginners because it takes away any harshness from the gin.
Ginger Beer	Adds warmth and length to your G & T.
Coconut Water	Slightly sweet, subtly tropical flavour of coconut water pairs very well with gin
Coke	The sweetness of Coke pairs perfectly with the juniper notes in many gins.
Prosecco	Slightly sweet sparkling wine pairs perfectly with the herbal notes in gin.
Pineapple Juice	Makes for a tropical, summery vibe. Really good for extra sweetness and for something different!
Coffee	Flavour of gin pairs perfectly with the strong, bitter notes of coffee.
Mediterranean Tonic	Best mixer for Shiraz as it gives a slight herby note to compliment the shiraz gin flavour.
Cranberry Juice	Great mixer for pink gin. Compliments the fruity flavour of the spirit.
Tonic & Lime	Another best pink gin mixer. Citrus note works well with the pink gin flavours.

 

Tonic Water

Tonic is the obvious place to start for a gin mixer. Tonics have long been the mixer of choice for gin drinkers because the combination of quinine and carbonation give tonic water it’s characteristic flavour, which is perfect for balancing out the juniper notes in gin.

 

The explosion of gins on the Australian spirits scene has brought with it a huge number of new tonics on the market. Top brands to look for include Fever-Tree, Capi, Long Rays and Strangelove.

 

Soda Water

A simple, yet effective mixer for gin cocktails, soda water is a great way to give your drink some fizz , without the sweetness and bitterness of tonic water.

 

The main benefit of soda water is that it lets the flavour of the gin shine through. It’s also a better option if you’re watching calories, as it’s a no calorie option!

 

Recommended Sodas for Gin:

 

Long Rays Dark Soda

This one is made more as a rum and whisky mixer, but we’ve found it’s actually a great way to throw in a different vibe to a gin and tonic or gin and soda. You get a slightly smokey vibe from it, courtesy of the smoked vanilla and a hint of ginger and orange too. It’s exceptional just on it’s own, but makes a great alternative soda for gin.

 

Fever-Tree Blood Orange Soda

 

We recommend this one often – we love the hint of flavour it provides, whilst still allowing the gin to shine through. Blood orange naturally have a little more sweetness than normal orange, and so the soda gives just a hint of additional sweetness and taste that you don’t get from regular soda.

 

More Mixers For Gin…

 

Lemonade

If you’re looking for a sweeter, yet refreshing mixer, lemonade is a great choice. The tart and sweet flavour of lemonade can help brighten up a gin, surprisingly, without adding too much sugar or cutting through the spirit too much.

 

Lemonade is a fantastic option if you’re just starting out with gin and are still getting used to the flavour.

 

Ginger Beer

For a spicy kick to your gin, ginger beer is an option. The spicy, yet sweet flavour of ginger beer can be perfect for pairing with gin, providing an interesting contrast that makes for something very unique.

 

Ginger also tends to add a bit of warmth and so it has the effect of adding a bit more length to your gin and tonic. Try using Fever Tree Ginger Beer for an extra flavourful kick.

 

Coconut Water

For an unexpected twist on the classic Gin and Tonic, try mixing in some coconut water. The slightly sweet, subtly tropical flavour of coconut water pairs very well with gin and provides an interesting contrast that makes your drinks stand out from anything you might have tried in the past.

 

Coke

 

Coke may not be the first mixer you think of when it comes to gin, but it can actually make a surprisingly delicious combination. The sweetness of Coke pairs perfectly with the juniper notes in many gins.

 

If you’ve ever had a classic Gin and Coke, you know how well the two flavours work together. To make it even more interesting, try adding a twist of lime or some other citrus fruit to really bring out the best in your gin.

 

To reduce calories, try Coke No Sugar!

 

Not a fan of coke? Dark Soda works really well too. Long Rays have a great option.

 

Prosecco

Gin and Prosecco make a delightful combination too. The slightly sweet sparkling wine pairs perfectly with the herbal notes in gin, creating a drink that’s both light and refreshing.

 

You can try adding some elderflower tonic to your mix for added sweetness and floral undertones. With its light, bubbly flavour and zesty aromas, this mix is perfect for any occasion.

 

Pineapple Juice

Gin and pineapple juice makes for a tropical, summery vibe. The sweet, slightly tart flavour of pineapple juice helps to bring out the herbal notes in gin, creating a drink that’s both flavourful and refreshing.

 

Whether you’re looking for a poolside sipper or an interesting twist on the classic Gin and Tonic, this mix is sure to please. Enjoy!

 

Coffee

Gin and coffee make a surprisingly delicious combination. Coffee gin is becoming very popular indeed. The flavour of gin pairs perfectly with the strong, bitter notes of coffee, creating a drink that’s both flavourful and unique.

 

Try adding some cream or sugar to your mix for added sweetness and richness. To really bring out the best in this mix, try using a dark, rich espresso.

 

Best Mixers For Pink Gin

Cranberry Juice

Some of the best mixers for pink gins include cranberry juice, lime juice and soda water. Cranberry juice is a great accompaniment to pink gin, as it complements the fruity flavour of the spirit.

 

Tonic & Lime

 

A tonic with a squeeze of lime adds a hint of tartness which helps to balance the subtle sweetness of most pink gins.

 

Soda

 

Soda water is an extremely popular mixer for pink gin. It adds a bit of effervescence which helps to lift the flavours and make for a refreshing drink, without messing with the actual flavour of the gin too much.

 

Elderflower Tonic

 

A great tonic mixer for pink gin is elderflower tonic. Elderflower has a delicate, floral flavour that pairs perfectly with the fruity notes of pink gin. It also adds just the right amount of sweetness to balance out the natural tartness of the spirit. For an extra special twist, try adding some fresh berries or a slice of lime or other citrus fruit to your mix for added tartness.

 

Best Mixer For Shiraz Gin

 

Shiraz gin is very popular nowadays and to get the most out of your Shiraz Gin, here are a few tips on mixers for Shiraz Gin.

 

Because Shiraz Gin often gives off a great combination of hints of citrus and spice from the gin, along with sweetness and ripeness from the shiraz grapes, you actually don’t need to do very much at all by way of a mixer.

 

The best mixer option is a Mediterranean style tonic, as that gives a slight herby vibe to the drink. Soda is a fantastic option too as it allows the gin flavour to shine through.

 

In terms of garnish for gin, a nice wedge of lemon, lime or blood orange works really well too.

 

There you have it, a huge selection of the best tonic and mixer options for gin. Now it’s over to you – time to experiment!

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is the most popular mixer for gin?

Tonic is the most popular mixer for gin, closely followed by soda. The classic G & T obviously uses gin and tonic for the mix. An increasing number of people are turning to soda for their preferred mixer however for two reasons. 1) soda is tasteless and allows you to taste the flavours of the gin better and 2) it’s a lower calorie option compared to tonic.

 

What is the best way to drink gin?

Gin mixed with tonic is the most common way that gin is consumed. Other popular ways to drink gin include mixing it with soda, lemonade, ginger beer or just drinking it neat over ice.

 

How do beginners drink gin?

Gin can be quite a strong, overpowering spirit for beginners and so a great way to start drinking gin is by starting with a high volume of mixer, and then gradually lower the amount of mixer in the glass over time. For example, you could start with 1 x 30ml shot of gin to 4 x 30ml shots of tonic or soda in a glass with ice.

 

Is coke and gin good?

Gin mixed with coke is a surprisingly common way to drink gin. Coke obviously has a strong flavour, so mixing gin with coke will mean the gin flavour is somewhat hidden. But if you’re looking for a way to consume gin without getting the full gin flavour, mixing gin and Coke is perfectly fine!

 

Is soda and gin good?

Gin and soda is a very common and popular way to drink gin. Choosing soda as the mixer allows you to taste the full flavour of the gin, because soda is tasteless. Soda is also calorie-free, so many gin drinkers also enjoy it as a low calorie option compared to tonic, lemonade or coke.

 

Published Feb 10, 2023

Categorized as Blog