Gin lovers and cocktail connoisseurs know that garnishes can instantly elevate a G&T or gin cocktail - it’s become second nature for us to top up our ginny tipple with spices, herbs, fresh fruit and more. And, here at Craft Gin Club, we say the more adventurous - the better!

So this summer, it’s only right to decorate your drinks with some fun, fruity tropical garnishes.

Inspired by the exotic flavours of our August 2021 Gin of the Month, here’s how to up your drinks garnish game with everything from dragon fruit to kiwi stars, to lychees. Of course, it’s vital that your G&T tastes good, but who doesn’t enjoy admiring a beautiful cocktail at the same time?

Whether you’re sprucing up your Friday night G&T or hosting a full-blown summer party, these garnishes are gorgeous. Trust us when we say these showstoppers will impress your garden-party guests. We’ve got all the inspo you need!

The best bit? You don’t need to be a fancy bartender with 10 years’ experience, you can give these a go in your own kitchen or with the help of a local supermarket. It’s easy peasy…

Here are 9 examples of the best exotic garnish ideas for G&Ts and gin cocktails:

Dragon Fruit balls

Similar in taste to kiwi and pears, dragon fruits have pretty pink skins that give way to white flesh speckled with pips. These dragon fruit balls make the perfect fragrant garnish for your summertime tipple. To create, cut a dragon fruit in half and use a melon baller to scoop out round balls of dragon fruit flesh. Pop these onto a cocktail stick or, if you’re making a long drink, why not add one or two along with ice?

Pineapple wedges

If you love pineapple, let us enlighten you with a hack we’ve found on TikTok. First, remove the pineapple top by twisting and pulling it. Next, you’ll need to bang the bottom of the pineapple on a hard surface a couple of times. Then, turn the pineapple on its side, and roll it back and forth a couple of times. You’ll then be able to pick out the pineapple wedges: simple as that! One top tip though – try to use a ripe and ready pineapple, so the sections separate easily.

Lychees on sticks

Lychees are deliciously fragrant and perfect for sitting atop a G&T or cocktail. You’ll find them in their shells in the fresh fruit section in supermarkets, so you’ll just need to peel them and remove the stone in the middle if you’d like to use them as a garnish – but they are also sold pre-prepared in tins, where they’ll often have their skins and stones removed. Simply pierce one or two and place them on your chosen beverage.

Mango cubes 

Whether you’re blitzing your mango (like in this Sparkling Mango Martini) or as a garnish, knowing how to cube a mango is key. It couldn’t be easier; just slice the mango vertically (just left or right of centre so you miss the pit) with a knife. Do this on both sides, so you have two fleshy mango ‘cheeks’. Place them skin-side-down on the chopping board, and cut into the flesh horizontally and vertically. Finally, flip the mango inside out, pushing the flesh into itself, and pick/scrape off the mango cubes. Yummy!

Melon balls


Colourful, eye-catching and ready in seconds, you can’t go wrong with melon balls. As melons are currently in season, it makes this fun idea a no-brainer. For something refreshing? Try watermelon. Fancy something sweeter? Go for Honeydew. We love the way the rich fruit sweetens up gin. This delicious watermelon gin and tonic is also a winner too, by the way!

Coconut chips

Transport yourself to the tropics with the help of coconut chips. You can bake your own or get them in the supermarket. We love how coconuts bring a fresh, flavourful, creamy taste to a cocktail. They also look great when served with a coconut water G&T. If you really want to impress, get creative by cutting fresh coconut meat - check out these coconut stars. How pretty?

Passion Fruit halves

When it comes to exotic garnishes, it’s hard to top a passion fruit half, but here’s the thing: they’re incredibly straightforward to prepare. All you need to do is simply slice the fruit in half, from top to bottom. You can then place this in your drink, or scoop out the delicious seeds to garnish your drink with. If you’re looking for a tasty ginny recipe, we’d recommend our thirst-quenching Passion Fruit Smash.

Kiwi stars

Kiwis might not spring to mind when you think of garnishes, but the juicy green flesh and tasty black seeds make a fun. fruity addition to your cocktails. These cute kiwi stars aren’t as complicated as they look, just get yourself a small star-shaped cutter from the baking aisle, et voila! Simply cut your kiwi into 1-2cm slices, use the cutter and thread them onto a cocktail stick. Oooer!

Physalis

These little beauties may not be the easiest to pronounce, but they certainly add a touch of sophistication to your cocktail. You can find these delicate berries in supermarkets - and you’ll often spy them perched on the side of a lush cocktail (most likely in a swanky bar!) They look like baby golden tomatoes with a flavour akin to a grape - just peel back the papery exterior and let the bright orange fruit do the talking. 10/10 for the tart citrus taste!