Creative Gin Cocktails With Recipes

Besides tonic, what does one add to gin? Well, here are some ideas for creative gin cocktails, with recipes, to make them at home or at parties.

These recipes use Gray Whale Gin with sustainably sourced and wild harvested botanicals foraged along the migratory path of the California Gray Whale, including Juniper (Big Sur), Limes (Temecula Valley), Fir Trees (Sonoma), Sea Kelp (Mendocino Coast), Mint (Santa Cruz) and Almonds (Central Valley).

The bottle itself is designed with organic paint and a biodegradable cork and contains “Easter eggs,” including the map where the botanicals are sourced hidden within the whale fluke logo, which represents each whale’s unique “thumbprint.” The brand also collects as many empty bottles of Gray Whale Gin as possible and up-cycles them into candles scented with the gin’s botanicals, with 100% profits going to Oceana.

Oceanside

Ingredients:

•   2oz Gray Whale Gin
• 0.75oz salted simple syrup
•  0.75oz lime juice
• 6 mint leaves
•  Soda water
•  Garnish: mint sprig

• Method:

To make Salted Simple Syrup, combine 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, and 1 tsp. salt in a saucepan. Heat until sugar and salt are fully dissolved.

 To make the Oceanside, add all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake for 3-4 seconds. Strain into a collins glass over fresh ice. Top with soda water and garnish with mint sprig and fresh mint.

Beachside

Ingredients:

• 1.5oz Gray Whale Gin
• 1.5oz pineapple
• 1oz Cream of Coconut squeeze
• 0.5oz fresh lemon juice
• Handful of mint
• Garnish: mint sprig

Method:

Shake all ingredients together with ice. Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice and garnish with mint.

Coastal Tides

Ingredients:

• 2oz Gray Whale Gin
• 1.5oz coconut water
• 1oz lavender syrup
• 0.75oz fresh lemon juice
• Garnish: lemon wheel

Method:

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake for 3-4 seconds and strain over fresh ice. Top with lemon wheel.

Gray Whale Gin is available at retailers nationwide, online via Reserve Bar, Caskers and Drizly and GrayWhaleGin.com. It’s 43% ABV / 86 proof / SRP: $40.