Classic British Cocktails To Try with Lots of Gin
I’m a craft beer girl. But from time to time I like to switch things up with a classy cocktail. Last weekend I flipped the script and tried something different. I traded my ripped jeans and beanie for a sleek dress and pumps. Instead of heading to a brewery, I met a friend at a cocktail bar in New Haven, Connecticut. Not only was this a great excuse to enjoy an upscale venue but I also tried a few signature drinks. With an impressive menu of British cocktails, we ended up reminiscing about our recent trips to England the entire night.
This inspired me to dust off my cocktail recipe book and add a few British cocktails to the list.
No more second guessing when the bartender asks, “What would you like to drink?”. Also, since I plan to host a few house parties this summer, I’ll impress my guests with these delicious concoctions.
Focusing on easy recipes, here are a few British cocktails that you can easily make at home. Most of these only need a few ingredients.
4 Very British Cocktails To Make At Home
Dubonnet Cocktail
Let’s start with a cocktail fit for a queen. Dubonnet Cocktail is Queen Elizabeth II’s (and her mother’s) favorite cocktail!
This potent cocktail is a harmonious blend of Dubonnet Rouge’s mildly sweet flavor and bold gin.
It’s an excellent wine-based apéritif cocktail. Enjoy at happy hour or serve at your next dinner party.
Ingredients
- 1 oz Dubonnet Rouge
- 1.5 oz Dry Gin
- Ice cubes
- Lemon twist or orange bitters
How To Make It
- Add ice cubes to a chilled martini glass
- Pour in Dubonnet Rouge and gin
- Stir and strain
- Garnish with lemon twist or orange bitters
Martin Miller’s Gin and Tonic
What’s more British than gin and tonic?
Here’s a fun fact about G&T. Gin isn’t a native British drink. It’s from Holland.
Moreover, did you know that tonic was used to treat malaria? British officers in colonial India invented gin and tonic to mask the bitter taste of quinine. Brilliant!
Distilled in England (blended in Iceland), Martin Miller’s Gin and Tonic is a quintessential British cocktail. With strong citrus and juniper flavors, it’s perfectly balanced. It has a crisp taste and smooth finish.
Whether you’re standing by the bar or at a company holiday party, this simple cocktail is always a fine choice.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Martin Miller’s Gin
- Fevertree tonic water
- 3 juniper berries
- Ice
- Fresh twist of lime peel
How To Make It
- Fill a large balloon glass with ice cubes and 1.5 oz Martin Miller’s Gin
- Drop in juniper berries, a twist of lime peel and top it off with Fevertree tonic water
- Wait 30 seconds for ingredients to mix together
I loved Anglophenia’s video so much that I had to share! She goes through how to make other popular British cocktails like the Bramble and the English Country Garden.
Read Next: Where To Go For the Best Views of London
White Lady
This cocktail is named after an irresistible woman Harry MacElhone met while working at the Ciro’s Club in 1919. This simple cocktail has a complex profile. It captures the essence of that mysterious encounter.
White Lady is a gin sour with a twist. Unlike other gin sours, it has egg whites. This makes it creamy with a smooth and silky finish.
This cocktail is ideal for anyone looking to indulge in a more daring drink.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Gin
- 1 oz Cointreau
- Teaspoon of lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon of egg whites (optional)
- Lemon twist
How To Make It
- Pour gin, Cointreau, lemon juice and egg whites into a shaker without ice
- Create a thick foam by shaking
- Add ice and shake again
- Strain into a pre-chilled martini glass
- Garnish with lemon twist
Sidecar
Sidecar is a sweet and sour British cocktail. It combines the bitter taste of Cognac with citrus high notes.
Although Sidecar’s origins are unclear, it’s a product of World War I. It gets its name from a motorcycle sidecar that an American army captain used during the war.
Sidecar is perfect for dinner parties and cocktail parties. You can also add it to the menu for fundraisers and galas. It’s also the staple drink to celebrate Repeal Day on December 5th!
Since Sidecar is approachable, even if you don’t drink cocktails, you’ll enjoy its taste and golden color.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz of chilled VSOP Cognac
- 0.75 oz of Grand Marnier
- 0.75 oz of fresh lemon juice
- Sugar
- Ice cubes
- Orange peel
How To Make It
- Chill cocktail glass and rub the rim with lemon juice and coat with sugar
- Add ingredients to shaker
- Shake well with cracked ice
- Strain into cocktail glass
- Garnish with orange peel
Cocktail Events Around the World
With World Gin Day on June 10th, celebrate with one of these classy British cocktails. Or head to the NY Craft Cocktail Expo in New York City. Try new cocktails made by up and coming mixology stars. Based in Texas? Save the date for the San Antonio Cocktail Conference. If you’re in London during London Cocktail Week, check out the cocktail scene during the week-long festival.
Better yet, if you want to host your own event, check out One Events in London. They’ll help you pick out a perfect party venue for your birthday party, wedding, corporate event and more. They even have in-house catering.
What’s YOUR favorite (easy to make) British cocktail?
Danielle Desir Corbett paid off $63,000 of student loan debt in 4 years, bought a house at 27, and has traveled to 27 countries, including her favorites, Iceland, China, and Bermuda. Go here to learn Danielle’s incredible story, from struggling financially and in debt to finding creative ways to earn more and live on her terms. Listen to The Thought Card Podcast, where Danielle shares how you can creatively travel more and build wealth regardless of your current financial situation. Reach out to Danielle by contacting: thethoughtcard (at) gmail (dot) com.
I love a good Sidecar! I don’t care for gin personally, but I know it’s very popular with the Brits.
Ooh, these look so tasty. It must be 5:00 somewhere, right?!
Agreed! I’m ready to indulge!
I have to admit that I’m not a huge fan of cocktail in general, but I’d try a sidecar. Love those names!
Sidecar seems to be a winner!
Will try White Lady and Sidecar!
I love me a good cocktail, but honestly, gin is my kryptonite. Even if there is just a hint of gin involved, I can’t get it down. I agree with Terri and have a Sidecar as well ;-)
Tequila is mines. I completely understand!
Cocktail names are so interesting. The egg whites makes it a turnoff to me, but I can’t get over the name White Lady for some reason. It reminds me of Pink lady and the rose called White Girl Rose. I Just might have to try that Sidecar though.
I love when drinks look just like how they sound. I agree, egg whites are questionable, but I’ll try anything once =).