Product Reviews / Main Nibbles / Cocktails

Summer Gin Cocktail Recipes

Refreshing Summer Cocktails That Can Be Enjoyed In Any Season

Last summer, we enjoyed a series of gin cocktails that were a perfect switch from our winter forays into vodka. While they’re a part of this summer’s cocktail menu, we’ve discovered equally worthy new gin cocktails, thanks to the folks at New Amsterdam Gin—along with recommended food pairings, so that your cocktail lines your taste buds up for dinner.

Debuting in 2007, New Amsterdam Gin won back-to-back gold medals in 2007 and 2008 at the World Spirits Competition.  Although all gins start out with the same neutral spirit base and add juniper berries, the different botanicals used by each producer vary widely. New Amsterdam’s recipe includes a balance of citrus elements and a lighter emphasis on juniper berries. To those who haven’t enjoyed classic gins because of the heavy juniper flavor, it’s a gin worth revisiting.
 
New Amsterdam, the name of the original Dutch settlement that is today New York City, was selected as the name to pay homage to the Dutch origins of gin. The bottle design captures the modern, sophisticated New York City culture—where people enjoy a good gin cocktail year-round.

• “Electrolyte” Cocktail Recipe
• “Lemonade 485” Cocktail Recipe
• “Lower East Side” Cocktail Recipe
• “Spa” Cocktail Recipe
  

All of the cocktails require shaking with ice. We prefer miniature cubes or crushed ice; but regular cubes will do just fine.

Bottoms up!

Electrolyte

We love watermelon cocktails. This refreshing summer cooler is made with fresh watermelon and pineapple.
Food Pairing: Fish dishes, ceviche.

Ingredients Per Cocktail 2-1/2 ounces New Amsterdam Gin 2 slices of fresh watermelon -or- 2 ounces watermelon juice 1 teaspoon of sugar 1 ounce fresh pineapple juice Splash of lemon juice Watermelon wedge for garnish Preparation Muddle the watermelon slices in a shaker.   Add other ingredients with abundant ice and shake vigorously.   Pour all ingredients into a highball glass and garnish with a watermelon wedge.

Take advantage of summer’s fresh watermelon. In the winter, you can make this drink with watermelon juice, such as Sundia.

Lemonade 485 Cocktail

A delicious “pink lemonade” enhanced with exotic fruit flavors. There is no actual lemonade, but lemon juice muddled in the shaker.
Food Pairing: Chicken and lighter fare.

Ingredients Per Cocktail 2-1/2 ounces New Amsterdam Gin 1 ounce guava juice 1/2 ounce apple liqueur 1/2 ounce peach liqueur 1 lemon, cut into pieces Lemon spiral for garnish Ice Preparation Muddle lemons in a shaker until juice is extracted. Add all other ingredients and abundant ice, and shake vigorously. Pour all ingredients into a highball glass and garnish with a lemon spiral.

Two fruit liqueurs and guava juice make a delicious gin mixer.

Lower East Side Cocktail

This recipe is a variation of the Honeysuckle Martini. Serve it on the rocks or in a classic martini glass.
Food Pairing: Red meat (steak and lamb).

Ingredients Per Cocktail 2-1/2 ounces New Amsterdam Gin 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice 3/4 ounce of liquefied honey Lime wheel for garnish Ice Preparation Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain and pour all contents into a classic martini glass, or pour all ingredients into a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Honey and lime combine for a fresh summer taste that can be enjoyed year-round.

Spa Cocktail

A light cucumber martini, perfect for the summer or as a spa cocktail.
Food Pairing: Salads and vegetarian dishes.

Ingredients Per Cocktail 2-1/2 ounces New Amsterdam Gin 3 slices cucumber 2 ounces white cranberry juice Cucumber wheel for garnish (or, if you can carve, make a cucumber flower as shown in the photo) Ice Preparation Muddle the cucumber in a shaker until the juice is extracted.   Add all other ingredients, including ice, and shake vigorously.   Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a cucumber wheel.

Here’s another recipe with a summery flair that can be enjoyed long after the warm days have faded.