What Mixers Work Best With Gin?

Tonic water is the classic choice, but soda water, ginger ale/beer and citrus-forward mixers can all suit different gin styles depending on their dominant botanicals.

The right mixer depends heavily on the gin's own character — see "What tonic pairs best with different styles of gin?" for the tonic-specific breakdown. Beyond tonic, a few other mixers are worth knowing.

Soda water

A neutral, simple option that lets a gin's own botanicals do all the talking — ideal for a gin with a delicate or complex flavour profile you don't want a stronger mixer to compete with.

Ginger ale or ginger beer

Ginger's spice pairs particularly well with citrus-forward or classic juniper-led gins, giving a warmer, spicier long drink than tonic — this pairing (sometimes called a "gin buck" or similar) is a good change of pace from a standard G&T.

Fresh citrus (lemon or lime)

A splash of fresh citrus juice, or simply a well-chosen citrus garnish, brightens almost any gin serve and is especially effective with gins that already lean citrus-forward in their botanical bill.

Fruit juices (in moderation)

Cranberry, grapefruit and other juices work in specific classic cocktails, but as an everyday mixer they can easily overwhelm a gin's subtler botanicals — better suited to a full cocktail recipe than a simple long drink.

The general principle

Simpler, less sweet mixers (soda water, a good tonic) tend to showcase a gin's actual character better than sweet or heavily flavoured mixers, which are more likely to mask it. If you've paid for a distinctive craft gin — especially one built around specific native botanicals — a lighter-touch mixer is usually the better way to actually taste what you bought.