The UK has - in recent years - started producing exceptional, internationally award-winning sparkling wines that more than live up to the equivalent French champagnes and Italian prosecco drinks available. Happily, sparkling wine marries wonderfully with gin!

Try substituting the champagne for an English sparkling wine in your next French 75 - perhaps the most classic sparkling gin cocktail - or, if you’d like to be a little more adventurous and try something new, try your hand at one of these cocktails below!

From a modern, gin-laced take on the classic Aperol Spritz, to a few deliciously refreshing creations starring some of our favourite summer ingredients - grapefruit, elderflower, lemon, honey and even rosé wine, here are four of our favourite sparkling gin cocktails to sip on this season. Chin chin!

GINNY APEROL SPRITZ

It’s been THE drink of the last five summers and its popularity shows no sign of waning, presumably because it’s absolutely flipping delicious. The addition of gin simply elevates this classic to a whole new level of fabulousness.

INGREDIENTS:

50ml Aperol
75ml sparkling wine
25ml gin
Soda water
1 slice of orange

METHOD:

Add lots of ice to a large copa or wine glass and pour in the Aperol, sparkling wine and gin. Stir gently, then top up with a splash of soda (if desired). Garnish with a slice of orange.

---

FRENCH 77

This variation on the French 75 replaces sugar syrup with elderflower liqueur for a delicately floral sip.

INGREDIENTS:

60ml sparkling wine or sparkling rosé wine
30ml gin
15ml elderflower liqueur, such as St-Germain
15ml lemon juice
Lemon twist garnish

METHOD:

Combine gin, elderflower liqueur and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled flute or coupe. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with a lemon twist. 

---

SPARKLING BEE’S KNEES

This celebration-worthy twist on the classic Bee’s Knees cocktail simply adds sparkling wine to the traditional recipe for a deliciously light and refreshing summer drink.

INGREDIENTS:

35ml gin
20ml honey
20ml lemon juice
70ml sparkling wine

METHOD:

Combine the gin, honey and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake for 20 seconds. Strain into a coupe and top up with sparkling wine.

---

GRAPEFRUIT GIN SPRITZ

This sensational summer drink will prove popular at every garden party.

INGREDIENTS:

50ml gin
30ml grapefruit juice (ideally freshly squeezed)
Sparkling wine
Plain tonic or soda water for topping up (optional)
25ml sugar syrup (optional)
Fresh grapefruit, as garnish

METHOD:

Fill your glasses with ice then add gin, grapefruit juice, sparkling wine and tonic or soda (as much or little as you like), then stir gently. Taste and add sugar syrup if desired. Serve with a slice of fresh grapefruit and/or a sprig of thyme to garnish.

---

For more cocktail inspiration, browse our cocktail hub for dozens of gin-spiring recipes!