6 refreshing gin cocktails to enjoy this summer

As summer is just around the corner, why not cool down with a refreshing gin cocktail?

Published 7th May 2023
Updated 21 st Sep 2023

These easy to make gin cocktails all include Scottish gin, and are a welcome accompaniment to a warm day or as a weekend treat.

From a gin slushie to a tropical fizz, there's something for all tastes.

Kintyre Gin Eastside

Keep it simple with a Kintyre Gin Eastside. This cocktail recipe puts a new spin on the vintage Southside.

A seriously refreshing cocktail that’s perfect for get-togethers or lazy summer afternoons.

Ingredients:

  • 50ml Kintyre Gin
  • 25ml Lime juice
  • 12.5 Sugar syrup
  • 6 mint leaves

Method:

Shake over ice and strain into a glass.

Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

Gleneagles Tropical Gin Fizz

Ingredients

  • 50ml Tanqueray No. Ten Gin
  • 20ml Muyu Jasmine Verte
  • 75ml fresh grapefruit juice
  • 15ml lime
  • 5ml pink peppercorn and tomato vine syrup (sugar syrup is an alternative)
  • Soda water

Method

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Fill shaker with ingredients (apart from soda).

Add ice and shake well.

Strain into a tropical mug over ice.

Add soda water and crushed ice.

Garnish with pineapple leaves, two slices of banana and grapefruit zest. Arrange garnish to resemble a face on top of the mug.

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Kintyre Pink Slushie

A sure way to keep cool this summer is with a refreshing frozen cocktail.

Strictly for grown-ups the Kintyre Pink Slushie is the perfect way to chill out in the summer sun.

Ingredients:

  • 35ml Kintyre Pink Gin
  • 100ml Lemonade or tonic

Method:

Freeze in a tub overnight. Serve in a glass, top up with a bit more mixer and garnish with fresh raspberries.

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This delicious fruity cooler can be made in bulk which makes it the perfect crowd pleaser and the blush-coloured hue makes it an Instagram worthy tipple.

Celtic Remedy

A celebration of one of Britain’s best-loved summer berries, this cocktail has a bittersweet character and a refreshing, fruity finish.

Light and amble, this drink is perfect for a sunny afternoon tipple.

Ingredients

  • 30ml Caorunn Gin
  • 10ml Campari
  • 2.5ml cider vinegar
  • ¼ apple
  • 1 blackberry
  • 10ml sugar syrup

Method

In a shaker, muddle the apple and the blackberry together.

Add the rest of ingredients and shake.

Double strain over ice and garnish with a blackberry.

Cocktail Tip: If you don’t have a shaker, a clean, empty jar will do the job, just remember to seal it before you start shaking – and be sure to strain all the fruit out before serving.

Indian summer cup

This vegan cocktail is ideal for sharing with friends in the garden.

Ingredients

  • 1 litre bottle London dry gin
  • 1 litre bottle of vegan-friendly sweet vermouth
  • 240ml elderflower liqueur
  • 240ml peach liqueur
  • 710ml lemon syrup
  • 460ml apple juice
  • 1000ml chilled Fentimans tonic water
  • 460ml chilled sparkling water
  • Ice
  • 1 sliced green apple
  • 2 sliced peaches
  • 6 long and thin cucumber slices
  • 30g torn mint leaves

Method

In a large bowl, combine the gin, vermouth, elderflower, peach liqueurs, lemon syrup, and apple juice. Refrigerate for about four hours until it is chilled.

When chilled, stir in the tonic water and sparkling water.

Add ice and garnish with the apple, peaches, cucumber, and mint leaves.

Watermelon Spritz

With spritzes taking the nation by storm, Aldi Scotland has developed a bespoke recipe, the Watermelon Gin Spritz.

Using Toradh Original Scottish Gin (£14.99, 70cl) as the base, the spritz is a fruity twist on the classic Aperol summer staple.

Watermelon Gin Spritz ingredients

  • 25ml Toradh Original Scottish Gin 
  • 90ml sparkling Rosé
  • 100g watermelon chunks
  • 20ml sugar syrup 
  • Half a lime, juiced 
  • Sparkling water 
  • 3-4 mint leaves, plus extra for garnish 
  • Watermelon slice and mint for garnish 

For the sugar syrup: 

  • 230g water 
  • 230g sugar 

Sugar syrup method

Place the water and sugar in a pan over medium heat. 

Bring it to boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. 

Simmer for couple of minutes, remove from heat, cool to room temperature and store airtight in the fridge.

Watermelon Gin Spritz method

Place the chopped watermelon and mint leaves in a cocktail shaker and muddle them together well

Add in the Toradh Original Scottish Gin, lime juice, and sugar syrup

Fill the shaker with ice

Place the lid on top and shake

Strain the drink into a large glass filled with ice

Top with sparkling rosé and sparkling water

Strain the drink into a large glass filled with ice

Add a sprig of mint and a slice of watermelon as a garnish

Enjoy!

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Known for cake making, experimental jam recipes, Champagne, whisky and gin drinking (and the inability to cook Gnocchi), Rosalind is the Food and Drink Editor and whisky writer for The Scotsman, as well as hosting Scran, The Scotsman's food and drink podcast.
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