A great bottle of gin is usually an essential part of many of our celebrations. The amazing drink deserves to be appreciated and that’s exactly what happens on International Scottish Gin Day. Celebrated on the first Saturday of every October, it’s an international celebration of Scottish gins.
Scottish gin makers and brands come together to tell the story of Scottish gin with great music, events, and food! If you aren’t in Scotland, don’t worry because you can bring the festivities to your home. All you need to do is read our picks of 5 Scottish gin cocktails and by the end, you’ll be able to begin creating your own celebratory Scottish cocktail.
5 Scottish Gin Cocktails To Try This International Scottish Gin Day
- Bee’s Knees
- Strawberry Negroni
- Raspberry Tom Collins
- Alaska
- Pineapple Basil Smash
Bee’s Knees
A drink with an interesting name and taste, Bee’s Knees definitely is a top Scottish gin cocktail. This interesting name comes from a popular old slang which means excellent or of top quality.
So, when Frank Meier (an Austrian-born bartender) came up with this cocktail during the 1920s, the name seemed like a perfect fit. It’s a pretty simple recipe to make and hardly takes any time. Here’s how you can make this outstanding cocktail.
Ingredients
- Gin (2 ounces)
- Honey syrup (½ ounce)
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice (3/4 ounce)
- Lemon twist (for garnishing)
How To Make Bee’s Knees
- Take a shaker and add gin, honey syrup, and lemon juice to it.
- Add ice into the mix.
- Shake the ingredients well until the shaker is frosty.
- Now, strain your drink into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish your cocktail with a lemon twist or wedge and say cheers!
Also Read: Boozy Basics: What One Needs To Know About Drinking Scotch
Strawberry Negroni
A Classic Negroni is not a strange name to any cocktail lover. It’s a well-renowned cocktail and Strawberry Negroni is just a more fruity and summery version of it. With the freshness of strawberries and strong flavors of gin, Strawberry Negroni can easily become your favorite summer cocktail. Check out the recipe to make this tasty cocktail.
Ingredients
- Gin (1 ounce)
- Campari (1 ounce)
- Orange juice (¾ ounce)
- Sweet vermouth (1 ounce)
- Simple syrup (½ ounce)
- Strawberry (1 chopped)
- Orange slices (for garnishing)
How To Make Strawberry Negroni
- Take a blender and add all the ingredients to it.
- Now, add some ice and start blending.
- Blend till all the ingredients are mixed well together.
- Pour your gorgeous drink into a cocktail glass.
- Garnish it with a sliced orange and enjoy!
Also Read: 5 Scotch Cocktails That’ll Have You Begging For More
Raspberry Tom Collins
Tom Collins is easily one of the most famous gin cocktails. Created in the 19th century, it’s always been a perfectly balanced cocktail because of its ingredients which include gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda.
Raspberry Tom Collins is a vitamin-packed fruity twist to this classic cocktail recipe. Below is a list of all you need to gather to make this mouth-watering cocktail.
Ingredients
- Gin (1½ ounces)
- Lemon juice (1 tablespoon)
- Lime juice (1 tablespoon)
- Honey (2 teaspoons)
- Raspberries (6 pieces)
- Club soda
- Lemon wheel (for garnishing)
How To Make Raspberry Tom Collins
- Take a tall glass and muddle the raspberries and honey in the bottom of it.
- Now, add some ice cubes.
- Top it with gin, lemon juice, and lime juice.
- Pour club soda into the mix and stir gently.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel.
- Voila! your cocktail is all ready to be served.
Also Read: Must-Have Cocktail Tools For Your Home Bar
Alaska
A close relative to the Martini, Alaska cocktail can be suitable for the ones who enjoy a botanical and crispy drink. Unlike other cocktails on our list, this isn’t a fruity or sweet cocktail.
It’ll take you to the Scottish bars where you’re sipping this cocktail to on a ginuinely difficult day. It only needs a few ingredients and a little time so if you can gather those, definitely try this out. Get the ingredients listed below and make this unique cocktail for yourself.
Ingredients
- Gin (1½ ounces)
- Yellow chartreuse (1/2 ounce)
- Orange bitters (1 dash)
- Lemon twist (for garnishing)
How To Make Alaska
- Take a mixing glass and add gin, yellow chartreuse, and orange bitters to it.
- Now, add some ice to it and stir it well.
- After your drink is properly cooled, strain it into a Coupe glass.
- Garnish your drink with a lemon twist and enjoy!
Also Read: Top Gin Brands In India
Pineapple Basil Smash
A fresh summer cocktail using pineapple and gin, this is a perfect recipe for a fun and fruity drink. It has all the ingredients that are staples in a Scottish cocktail, so you’ll truly be celebrating International Scottish Gin Day. It just needs 3 ingredients and a few steps. Here’s how you can make it.
Ingredients
- Gin (1½ ounces)
- Lemon juice (¾ ounce)
- Pineapple syrup (½ ounce)
- Fresh basil (for garnishing)
How To Make Pineapple Basil Smash
- Take a shaker and mix all the ingredients in it.
- Now, fill it with ice.
- Shake it well until the shaker is frosty.
- Double strain the drink into a cocktail glass.
- Garnish it with fresh basil and enjoy!
Also Read: World’s First Naturally Black Gin
Summing Up
We hope that our 5 Scottish gin cocktails made you feel closer to the country that’s given us some of the greatest gins. So, try our Scottish gin cocktail recipes and celebrate this International Scottish Gin Day in your own way!
Want to enjoy these cocktails in the quirkiest barware ever? Check out The Baystore.
FAQs
What Is The Most Popular Cocktail In Scotland?
Scotch is the most popular alcoholic drink in Scotland so, obviously, the scots prefer scotch-based cocktails. Blue Blazer, Highland Cordial, and Scotch Old-Fashioned are some of the popular cocktails in Scotland.
How Do The Scots Drink Gin?
Scots take their gins very seriously. You’ll find many enjoy drinking it straight while the majority swear by the ever-so-reliable Gin and Tonic. G&T includes gin, water, sugar, and lime which helps to mask the bitterness of gin while giving the drink a delicious flavor.
What Is The National Drink Of Scotland?
Whisky is known as the national drink of Scotland, Scotch to be precise.
What Is The Most Popular Gin In Scotland?
Scots love their alcohol. Be it their whisky or gin, Scotland is a leading producer in the entire United Kingdom. Over 70% of the UK’s gin is being produced in the UK which involves some of the most popular gins like Gordon’s, Hendrick’s, and Tanqueray.
Is Tanqueray Gin Scottish?
Yes, Tanqueray is a Scottish gin produced by Diageo Cameronbridge Distillery.
What Is The Most Expensive Gin?
The most expensive gin comes from England. Jam Jar Gin Morus LXIV is an English gin that takes 2 years to be produced. Its distillation process involves leaves from an ancient Mulberry tree and one bottle of this gin can cost you anywhere between $5000 to $7,400.
Is Gin Good For Health?
As compared to other types of alcohol, gin definitely has health benefits. It’s made with berries and is generally low in calories. Do you know another great part of having gin? It’ll keep your skin fresh and healthy looking because of its antioxidant properties and berry goodness.
What Is The Healthiest Mixer For Gin?
Fresh lemon juice is the healthiest and most accessible mixer for gin. It adds flavor to your gin and tames its bitterness. It’s low in calories and sugar so you can relax.
