Here at Craft Gin Club, we often get asked what are our favourite easy ways to drink gin - that aren’t a gin and tonic - and our answer is usually: with the classics! Olden but golden, these drinks have stood the test of time for a reason: they’re flipping brilliant.

So here they are: five classic gin cocktails that are super easy to make, and that you’ll return to time after time.

Classic Gin Cocktail #1: Negroni

25ml dry gin
25ml Campari
25ml sweet vermouth
Orange peel, to garnish

Fill a short rocks glass with ice and pour all the ingredients over the ice. Stir gently for a good minute, until the drink is well chilled. Garnish with a slice or twist of orange peel.

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Classic Gin Cocktail #2: French 75

30ml gin
15ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
15ml simple syrup*
Champagne (or sparkling wine)

Add the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake for about five seconds. Strain into a champagne flute and top with ice cold Champagne or sparkling wine.

*Simple Syrup: gently heat equal parts of sugar and water for about 5 minutes, stirring throughout, until the sugar dissolves and the liquid reduces to a syrupy texture, then leave to cool before adding to your drink.

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Classic Gin Cocktail #3: Gin Fizz

50ml gin
20 ml freshly squeezed lemon
20 ml of simple syrup*
1 egg white
Soda water, to top up

Add the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white into a cocktail shaker without ice and dry shake for about 10 seconds. Now add 4-5 ice cubes and shake well for a further 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled glass without ice. Top up with soda water and garnish with lemon. Note: Some would say that the addition of egg white makes this a Silver Fizz (a Gin Fizz being made as listed above without the egg white). However, we love the frothy texture that the egg white adds to this delicious cocktail.

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Classic Gin Cocktail #4: Aviation

35ml gin
10ml maraschino liqueur
5ml crème de violette
15ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed

Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice. Fine strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

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Classic Cocktail #5: Clover Club

50 ml gin
25 ml dry vermouth (optional)
1 egg white
15 ml fresh lemon juice
15 ml raspberry syrup* or raspberry jam

*To make the raspberry syrup, gently heat a handful of fresh raspberries with 250g caster sugar and 250 ml until a syrup forms, then strain and leave to cool.

Add all the cocktail ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with three speared raspberries.

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