What to Mix with Gin (The Best Gin Mixers in 2025): Recipes & Tips

If you’re wondering what to mix with gin, you can sit back and relax—The Mixer’s got you, boo. From classics like tonic water and bitter lemon to niche options like Earl Grey tea, there is a gin mixer out there with your name on it. Now go forth and find your favorite! 

1. Tonic water (Gin & Tonic)

Tonic water has a fascinating history with medicinal origins. Several centuries ago, quinine, a bitter compound derived from the bark of the cinchona tree, was discovered by indigenous people in South America and used to treat fevers. Europeans later adopted it as a remedy for malaria.  

In the early 19th century, British officers stationed in India began mixing quinine with water, sugar, and citrus to make the bitter taste more palatable. This eventually evolved into the type of tonic water we know today. The botanical complexity of gin blends harmoniously with this mixer’s mild bitterness, while its carbonation adds vibrancy, resulting in a well-rounded, refreshing drink. 

DID YOU KNOW? For gin to be legally classified as gin, juniper must be its dominant flavor. This berry gives gin its signature piney, aromatic taste. Other botanicals are added for complexity, but juniper is the star of the show, especially in London Dry Gin, like Bulldog Gin (opens in new window). However, each brand has its unique recipe, offering subtle differences in aroma and flavor.

Gin inspo for all seasons: Summer | Winter | Christmas  

2. Bitter lemon

Okay, so let’s get to the bit about what is good to mix with gin other than tonic water. Bitter lemon is a carbonated beverage featuring the zesty tang of lemon and a pleasant bitterness.  When paired with a dry gin like Bulldog Gin (opens in new window), the bitterness of this lemon drink harmonizes with the gin’s botanicals, enhancing the overall taste. The citrusy undertones also complement the juniper-forward nature of dry gin, resulting in a satisfying and complex drink. 

Ingredients

• 2 oz Bulldog Gin

• 4–6 oz Bitter lemon soda (to taste)

• Ice

• Garnish: Lemon wheel

Method

1. Fill a highball glass with ice

2. Add gin

3. Top with bitter lemon soda

4. Stir gently to combine

5. Garnish with a lemon wheel

6. Serve immediately

Is bitter better? Why Bitters for Cocktails Are on Everyone’s Lips 

3. Vermouth (Gin Martini)

There are two different types of vermouth, namely sweet vermouth and dry vermouth. Each of these fortified wines has a very distinct flavor profile. Generally clear or pale yellow in color, dry vermouth (opens in new window) is light and airy, with well-integrated floral, fruity, and herbal notes. It is a popular choice for drinks like the classic Gin Martini because it enhances the flavors of the spirit while imparting a very subtle nuance of its own.     

Learn more: Everything You Need to Know About Vermouth 

4. Ginger beer  

Drinks made with ginger beer are the ultimate thirst quencher for hot days, but the fiery flavors are also great to warm you up on colder evenings. This mixer’s bold spiciness and hints of sweetness complement the botanical complexity of dry gin. The contrast of flavors creates a lively and balanced cocktail, where the juniper notes of gin blend harmoniously with the ginger beer’s kick, resulting in a refreshing and enticing drink. 

Ingredients

• 2 oz Bulldog Gin

• 4–6 oz Ginger beer (to taste)

• Ice

• Garnish: Lime wedge

Method

1. Fill a highball glass with ice

2. Add gin

3. Top with ginger beer

4. Stir gently to combine

5. Garnish with a lime wedge

6. Serve immediately

5. Cranberry juice  

Cranberry juice typically tastes tart and slightly tangy, with a natural acidity that’s balanced by a touch of sweetness. It has a distinct fruitiness that’s often described as both refreshing and slightly astringent. The flavor can vary depending on the type of cranberries used and any added sweeteners, but overall, cranberry juice tends to have a bold, bright taste that’s both invigorating and uniquely characteristic, making it a great mixer for gin. 

Ingredients

• 2 oz Bulldog Gin

• 4–6 oz Cranberry juice (to taste)

• Ice

• Garnish: Lime wedge

Method

1. Fill a highball glass with ice

2. Add gin

3. Top with cranberry juice

4. Stir gently to combine

5. Garnish with a lime wedge

6. Serve immediately

More cranberry goodness: 13 Cranberry Cocktails for Christmas 

6. Club soda (Gin Rickey)

Club soda, also known as carbonated water or sparkling water, has a clean and neutral taste with a subtle effervescence. It’s essentially water that has been carbonated, creating tiny bubbles that give it a pleasant fizziness. Its flavor is very mild, making it a versatile mixer for gin cocktails like the Gin Rickey, in which it is often used to add carbonation without altering the taste of other ingredients. 

7. Orange juice (Gin & Juice)

Orange juice has a bright and refreshing taste with a sweet and tangy flavor profile. It’s characterized by its natural citrusy sweetness and pleasant acidity. The taste can vary depending on factors like the type of oranges used (e.g., navel, Valencia), their ripeness, and whether the juice includes pulp. Overall, orange juice offers a delightful combination of sweetness and acidity, making it a popular and invigorating choice for a morning drink, as well as a versatile mixer in cocktails like Snoop Dogg’s Gin & Juice. 

Zest with the best: 22 Orange Juice Cocktails for Every Occasion & Season 

8. Lime juice

Lime juice has a distinct and zesty taste, characterized by its bright acidity and pronounced citrus flavor. It’s tangy with a hint of bitterness, and its flavor is more intense compared to other citrus fruits. Lime juice can vary in taste depending on the type of lime used (e.g., Persian limes, Key limes) and its ripeness. It’s commonly used to add a vibrant and refreshing kick to a wide range of dishes, cocktails, and beverages, contributing a zesty and slightly tart element that balances and enhances flavors in gin cocktails. 

Ingredients

• 2 oz Bulldog Gin

• 1 oz Fresh lime juice

• Ice

• Optional: 3–4 oz Sparkling water or lemonade

• Garnish: Lime wheel or wedge

Method

1. Fill a rocks or highball glass with ice

2. Add gin and lime juice

3. Stir gently to combine

4. For a taller drink, top with sparkling water or lemonade

5. Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge

6. Serve immediately

Love lime? 15 Sublime Lime Cocktails You Gotta Try 

9. Grapefruit juice

If you are pondering what to mix with gin instead of tonic and happen to enjoy a bit of subtle bitterness in a drink, may we suggest fresh grapefruit juice? Grapefruit juice has a unique and complex taste profile, characterized by its refreshing tartness, slightly bitter undertone, and natural sweetness. The flavor can vary based on the variety of grapefruit used (e.g., white, pink, or red) and its ripeness.  

Some people might find it more sour or bitter than other citrus juices, but this bitterness can be tempered with the right balance of sweetness. Overall, grapefruit juice offers a distinct combination of tanginess and subtle bittersweetness, making it a refreshing and versatile ingredient to pair with spirits like gin. 

Ingredients

• 2 oz Bulldog Gin

• 4 oz Fresh grapefruit juice

• Ice

• Garnish: Grapefruit wedge or wheel

Method

1. Fill a highball or rocks glass with ice

2. Add gin

3. Top with grapefruit juice

4. Stir gently to combine

5. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge or wheel

6. Serve immediately

Go, go, grapefruit! 12 Easy Grapefruit Cocktails Recipe to Try 

10. Pink lemonade

Pink lemonade typically has a sweet and fruity flavor that’s similar to regular lemonade but with a subtle twist. It’s often a bit sweeter and can have hints of berry or fruit flavors, which give it its pink color. The exact taste can vary depending on the recipe, but generally, pink lemonade offers a pleasant balance of sweet and tart. It’s a popular and refreshing beverage that’s perfect for hot days or as a playful twist on classic lemonade, making it a great option to pair with gin. 

Ingredients

• 2 oz Bulldog Gin

• 4–6 oz Pink lemonade (to taste)

• Ice

• Garnish: Lemon wheel or fresh berries

Method

1. Fill a highball glass with ice

2. Add gin

3. Top with pink lemonade

4. Stir gently to combine

5. Garnish with a lemon wheel or fresh berries

6. Serve immediately

Pretty in pink: 16 Best Pink Cocktails to Try This Year 

11. Pineapple juice

Pineapple juice has a tasty tropical flavor that’s both sweet and tangy. It’s characterized by its rich sweetness, which comes from the natural sugars in the fruit. The tanginess of pineapple adds a pleasant acidic note that balances this bright sweetness. The taste can vary slightly depending on the ripeness and variety of pineapple used, but overall, pineapple juice offers a refreshing and vibrant profile that pairs very well with the herbaceous notes in gin.  

Ingredients

• 2 oz Bulldog Gin

• 4 oz Pineapple juice

• Ice

• Garnish: Pineapple wedge or leaf

Method

1. Fill a highball glass with ice

2. Add gin

3. Top with pineapple juice

4. Stir gently to combine

5. Garnish with a pineapple wedge or leaf

6. Serve immediately

Stay tropical! Gin Mango Cocktail | Watermelon Gin Cocktail | Passionfruit Gin Cocktail 

12. Apple juice

Apple juice has a naturally sweet and fruity taste, characterized by the pleasant sweetness of ripe apples. Depending on the variety of apples used and any additional processing, the taste can range from mild and slightly tart to rich and intensely sweet. It often carries a refreshing and crisp quality reminiscent of the fruit itself, making it a popular and enjoyable mixer for juniper-tinged gin. 

Ingredients

• 2 oz Bulldog Gin

• 4 oz Apple juice

• Ice

• Garnish: Apple slice or cinnamon stick (optional)

Method

1. Fill a highball or rocks glass with ice

2. Add gin

3. Top with apple juice

4. Stir gently to combine

5. Garnish with an apple slice or a cinnamon stick

6. Serve immediately

An apple a day! 6 Perfect Apple Cocktails to Make This Fall 

13. Cola (Coke)

Coca-Cola, often referred to as “Coke”, has a distinct and complex flavor profile. It’s characterized by a combination of sweetness, caramel notes, a hint of acidity, and a touch of spiciness. The specific formula of Coca-Cola is a closely guarded secret, but its flavor is a mix of various ingredients, including carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup (or sugar), caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, and caffeine. 

The result is a unique taste that balances sweetness with a slightly tangy and almost earthy quality from the caramel and spices. The carbonation adds a lively fizziness, enhancing the overall drinking experience. Coca-Cola’s flavor is iconic and has become recognizable worldwide, making it a popular and classic mixer for all kinds of different spirits. 

Ingredients

• 2 oz Bulldog Gin

• 4–6 oz Cola (to taste)

• Ice

• Garnish: Lime wedge (optional)

Method

1. Fill a highball glass with ice

2. Add gin

3. Top with cola

4. Stir gently to combine

5. Garnish with a lime wedge if desired

6. Serve immediately

14. Earl Grey tea

Tea cocktails are very popular at the moment, and we love the combination of Earl Grey and dry gin in particular. The Earl Grey MarTEAni is a unique variation on the classic Gin Sour Cocktail. 

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Earl Grey tea–infused gin*

• 0.75 oz Fresh lemon juice

• 1 oz Simple syrup

• 1 Egg white

• Ice

• Garnish: Lemon twist (optional)

*To make Earl Grey–infused gin: Steep a quarter cup of Earl Grey tea leaves in gin for 2 hours. Strain before use.

Method

1. Add infused gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white, and ice to a shaker

2. Shake vigorously until frothy and well chilled

3. Fine strain into a chilled cocktail glass

4. Garnish with a lemon twist if desired

5. Serve immediately

15. Cucumber (Cucumber Martini (opens in new window))

Cucumber juice has a light and refreshing taste that’s mild, clean, and slightly watery. It has a subtle sweetness and a mild cucumber flavor and frequently has a cooling, refreshing sensation. The taste is delicate and less intense compared to other fruit juices, making it a popular choice for creating light and hydrating beverages.  

Gin cocktails like the Cucumber Martini also often incorporate muddled cucumber. Muddling is a gentle method to crush fruits and herbs to release their flavor, whereas blending or crushing would be too harsh. The easiest way to muddle a cucumber is to partially peel it first. Cut it into manageable chunks, place the chunks into a cocktail shaker or mason jar, and crush gently with the back of a rolling pin or muddler. 

There are so many options to play with! And, if you like playing around with cocktails and inspiring drinks as much as we do, sign up for our newsletter to join the fun!