We’re excited to make drinks with juniper, citrus, and elderflower when spring comes. After the cold winter, enjoying a drink full of spring’s fresh flavors is the best! This article presents our top ideas for spring gin cocktails that bring out the best of the season. Plus, we pay attention to non-alcoholic gin substitutes for those preferring non-alcoholic versions, ensuring everyone can enjoy the taste of spring.
At DrinksWorld, we have a special affection for Empress Gin as base spirit, and we have good reasons for this choice:
- Color: Empress Gin has a beautiful indigo color that changes to pink when mixed with citrus or tonic. This fun color change reminds you of the bright and colorful spring season.
- Floral Notes: Ingredients like butterfly pea blossom give it its cool color and add a flower-like taste. Drinking it makes you think of spring flowers.
- Freshness: The mix of botanicals, like juniper and citrus, makes it taste fresh and new. This matches the fresh feeling of starting anew in springtime.
Tom Collins
People first enjoyed the Tom Collins in the late 19th century. It mixes gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and carbonated water. The drink’s name comes from a practical joke widespread in New York in 1874, where people would tell friends that a man named Tom Collins was speaking ill of them, leading them on a wild goose chase. This cocktail is perfect for spring because its mix of lemon and fizz is refreshing and light.
Check out our Collins Collection page.
Negroni
The cocktail started in Florence, Italy, around 1920. Count Camillo Negroni asked a bartender to strengthen his favorite Americano cocktail by adding gin instead of soda water. The result was the Negroni. It’s one of the best cocktails and great for the cooler evenings of early spring.
Top Negroni Variations: Negroni Sbagliato and Boulevardier.
Gin Fizz
This drink has been popular since the late 19th century. It combines gin, lemon juice, sugar, and soda water. The fizz became a symbol of American cocktail culture, celebrated for its simplicity and elegance. Check out our best recipe for this drink.
French 75
The French 75 dates back to World War I, named after the powerful French 75mm field gun. It mixes lemon juice, sugar syrup, and Champagne. It’s a celebratory drink, perfect for spring festivities because of its light, refreshing, and bubbly nature. The cocktail’s combination of sparkling wine and citrus makes it both luxurious and refreshing.
Cucumber Collins
This drink brings the garden into your glass. Mix gin with fresh cucumber slices, add lemon juice and simple syrup, then top it off with soda water. The cucumber makes it super fresh and perfect for a warm spring day.
Elderflower Collins
You shake the base spirit with elderflower liqueur and lemon juice, then add a splash of sparkling water. The elderflower’s floral taste reminds you of blooming spring flowers, making it a sweet and refreshing choice.
Strawberry Gin Smash
You muddle (smash) fresh strawberries with a little sugar, pour in gin, a dash of lemon juice, and top with soda water. Using fresh strawberries makes this drink taste like a sunny afternoon.
Raspberry Gin Rickey
This mix of gin, fresh lime juice, and raspberry syrup is topped with club soda. The raspberries add a fresh, fruity kick that’s just right for enjoying the springtime vibe.
Gin and Tonic
No doubt, this is one of the most popular gin cocktails. Mix gin with tonic water and garnish it with a slice of lime. It’s a classic cocktail for a reason – refreshing, straightforward, and perfect for a sunny day.
Limoncello Gin Fizz
Mix the base spirit with limoncello, add a little fresh lemon juice and simple syrup, then top it with soda water. Adding fizzy soda water makes this drink a refreshing spring burst. It’s perfect for enjoying the warm, sunny days of the season.
Tip: Although traditionally served fresh, you can mix the gin, limoncello, and lemon juice in a batch. Add the soda water just before serving to maintain its lively fizz.
Non-alcoholic Gin Cocktail Variations for Spring
You can replace gin with a non-alcoholic spirit to make non-alcoholic versions of gin cocktails or simply adjust the recipes to exclude alcoholic ingredients. Several brands do a great job mimicking the botanical complexity without the alcohol. Here are a few recommended options:
- Seedlip Garden 108: This is one of the first non-alcoholic spirits to hit the market, known for its herbal profile that includes peas, hay, spearmint, rosemary, and thyme. It’s great for making a non-alcoholic version of a drink that requires a fresh, green, garden-like flavor.
- Ritual Zero Proof Gin Alternative: Ritual’s version is designed to mimic the taste with botanicals like juniper, angelica root, and citrus. It’s a good choice for those looking to recreate gin-based cocktails without the alcohol.
- Monday Zero Alcohol Gin: Monday offers a zero-alcohol alternative with classic botanicals such as juniper, citrus, and spices.
- Lyre’s Dry London Spirit: This non-alcoholic spirit captures the essence of a classic gin with its rich juniper, citrus, and pepperberry scents.
- Ceder’s Classic Non-Alcoholic: Ceder’s is a distilled non-alcoholic alternative to gin, blending classic gin botanicals like juniper with exotic South African ingredients. It’s crisp, aromatic, and ideal for a non-alcoholic G&T.
Check out more Gin Cocktail Varieties and Spring Drinks.
