Gin is quite special. Amongst all the spirits out there, the herb-infused gin is the one that carries the craft distillery movement with more passion, and we love it for that. Without further ado, here are five gin cocktails that will show you why the spirit is one of the best drinks in its category.

1. Classic Gin Martini

Without a doubt, the classic Gin Martini is the queen of cocktails. Dry, strong and aromatic, the combination of gin and dry vermouth, stirred and never shaken (sorry James Bond!) results in a crystal-clear drink that served in a tall glass is an absolute beauty, garnish with an olive for an authentic feel and enjoy!

2. Gin & Tonic

Cocktails shouldn’t be hard to make, and more often than not, the simplest concoctions are the tastiest. Proof of that is the Gin & Tonic, a shot of gin topped with tonic water. Bittersweet deliciousness with a kick.

Interestingly enough, it was British officers in India who developed this simple drink mixing their own London dry gin with the cinchona bark-infused tonic water that was given to the troops to fight malaria.

A lemon peel gives the finishing touch with a lovely layer of aromas making the drink so thirst-quenching it’s hard to put down.

3. Negroni

This famous cocktail is one hundred years old and was dreamed up in the Caffe Casoni in Florence when the count Negroni ordered a splash of gin instead of sparkling water in his Americano cocktail (a blend of Campari liqueur, red vermouth and soda).

The new drink became a legend, and the good news is that it’s insanely easy to make at home given the right ingredients – equal parts Campari, red vermouth and gin.

This bittersweet, ruby-red cocktail is better with an orange peel, and it’s the best way of cleansing your palate after a long day tasting wine after your private winery tour in Yarra Valley.

4. New Orleans Fizz

The last three cocktails are tasty and easy to make, but the New Orleans Fizz is known for being time-consuming and labour-intensive.

Henry C. Ramos created this drink in 1888 at his bar in New Orleans. To conquer this drink, you need gin, lemon juice, lime juice, egg white, sugar, cream, orange flower water and soda water. Even with the right ingredients, you must shake the egg whites for over ten minutes to achieve the frothy, foamy texture that has made this cocktail so memorable.

5. French 75

This elegant cocktail is as easy to make as its tasty. A shot of gin with a splash of lemon juice and a pinch of sugar, all topped with Champagne is perfect for a toast, or dining al fresco.

The French 75 was invented in 1915 at the New York bar in Paris, and they named it after the French 75-millimetre light field gun used in WWI.

Try them all!

We’d love to know how many of these cocktails have you tried or drink often.

We can tell with certainty they’re widely ordered by many guests during their private Yarra Valley Winery tours with Chauffeur Drive Melbourne, Yarra Valley.

Grab a cocktail, have some great beer or be delighted by the fantastic wines in the Yarra Valley; a proper drink is always guaranteed during our Private Chauffeured Winery Tours.