Brooklyn Gin Cocktails: Exploring Styles, Recipes, and Variations

Brooklyn gin cocktail in a coupe glass with lemon twist

Gin-based cocktails have found a permanent place in the craft drink movement, especially in neighborhoods like Brooklyn where creativity and locality are celebrated. Brooklyn bartenders often use local gins to create distinctive cocktails that reflect both tradition and innovation. Understanding how different types of gin—London Dry, Old Tom, New Western—shape flavor profiles can help any home or pro bartender design drinks that highlight botanicals, complexity, and crispness.

What Makes a Brooklyn Gin Cocktail Unique?

A "Brooklyn Gin cocktail" doesn't refer to one historic drink, but rather to a vibrant culture of gin mixology shaped by the neighborhood's energy and local producers. Brooklyn Gin, a craft gin brand made with hand-cracked juniper berries and fresh citrus, leads the movement—though many bars carry globally recognized bottles as well. What sets these cocktails apart?

Emphasis on local and artisanal gins, such as Brooklyn Gin or New York Distilling Company products.
Fresh, seasonal ingredients—think house-made syrups, local produce, bespoke bitters.
Creative riffs on classics: gin twists on the Brooklyn, Martinez or even the Manhattan.
Focus on aromatic complexity—juniper, citrus peel, herbs, and florals.

Brooklyn Gin-Based Cocktails: Popular Styles & Their Profiles

While the classic Brooklyn cocktail (made with whiskey, vermouth, maraschino, and bitters) is not gin-based, Brooklyn bars have created gin-forward riffs and a range of inventive recipes. Here's how the main styles compare:

Gin Martini: Crisp, botanical, showcases gin style. Dry vermouth, lemon twist or olive.
Gin Negroni: Bitter and herbaceous. Equal parts gin, Campari, sweet vermouth.
Brooklyn Gin Sour: A local favorite—fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white for a silky foam.
Borough Riff: Gin variation on the Manhattan or the Brooklyn, substituting rye with botanical gin, adding dry vermouth, and perhaps a touch of maraschino liqueur.
Garden Fizz: Gin, muddled fresh herbs (basil, mint), citrus, topped with soda—ultra-refreshing.

How Gin Type Impacts Cocktail Flavor

The gin chosen in any Brooklyn cocktail recipe transforms the aroma, flavor, and experience. Here's a quick guide to the main styles found behind Brooklyn bars:

London Dry Gin: Classic piney juniper, crisp citrus. Builds the backbone of martinis and gin & tonics.
Old Tom Gin: Slightly sweeter, softer juniper. Excellent in sours or Tom Collins-style recipes.
New American (Contemporary): Bursts of unique botanicals—lavender, cucumber, rosemary. Brooklyn Gin fits here, adding fresh citrus and rounded mouthfeel to cocktails.

Swapping one gin for another in the same recipe can intensify citrus, highlight savory notes, or soften bitter edges—which is why bartenders often pick gins to match seasonal or featured ingredients.

Three gin bottles side by side for cocktail making

Brooklyn Gin Cocktail Recipes and Variations

Below are a few standout Brooklyn-style gin cocktails, featuring recipes that can be easily adapted depending on your ingredients or the gin you have at home.

Brooklyn Gin Martini (Modern Classic)

60 ml Brooklyn Gin or preferred craft gin
10 ml dry vermouth
1 ml orange bitters (optional)

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
Stir until well chilled, about 20 seconds.
Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist or two olives.

Brooklyn gin martini with lemon twist in coupe glass

Brooklyn Gin Sour (Frothy Riff)

60 ml Brooklyn Gin
22.5 ml fresh lemon juice
15 ml simple syrup
15 ml egg white (optional for texture)

Add gin, lemon juice, syrup, and egg white to a shaker (no ice).
Dry shake hard for about 10 seconds to build foam.
Add ice, shake again until well chilled and very frothy.
Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Garnish with a lemon wheel or a few drops of bitters swirled on top of the foam.

Botanical Brooklyn Fizz

60 ml Brooklyn Gin or other botanical gin
15 ml fresh lime juice
10 ml elderflower liqueur or simple syrup
Fresh mint (about 5 leaves)
Soda water to top (about 60 ml)

Gently muddle mint with gin, lime juice, and elderflower liqueur in a shaker.
Add ice and shake lightly.
Strain into an ice-filled highball glass.
Top with soda water, stir to combine.
Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Tips for Experimenting With Gin Cocktails at Home

Taste your gin on its own first—the aromatics will point to good flavor pairings.
Adjust citrus and syrup to taste and based on the gin’s dryness or sweetness.
Try local bitters, seasonal herbs, or a splash of flavored tonic for extra complexity.
Always measure ingredients in milliliters for consistency.

The Brooklyn gin cocktail scene is all about personalization, local spirit, and creative twists on classics. Whether you use Brooklyn Gin or another favorite bottle, the keys are fresh ingredients, proper proportions, and thoughtful garnish. Experiment with styles—stirred, shaken, fizzy, or sour—to find your signature serve.