Mixers · counted from the library
What to mix with gin
Barello is a home cellar and bar app that tells you what to open tonight, what to keep, and what you can mix from what you have. With gin, the five things that make the most drinks are lemons, sugar or sugar syrup, Lillet Blanc, limes and maraschino liqueur, counted from the 21 gin drinks in its library, not picked.
The mixers, ranked
| Mixer | Drinks | The simplest one |
|---|---|---|
| Lemons | 13 | Aviation |
| Sugar or sugar syrup | 7 | Gin Sour |
| Lillet Blanc | 2 | Vesper |
| Limes | 2 | Last Word |
| Maraschino liqueur | 2 | Aviation |
| Orange liqueur | 2 | White Lady |
| Soda water | 2 | Gin Fizz |
| Sweet vermouth | 2 | Gin & It (just these two) |
| Absinthe | 1 | Corpse Reviver #2 |
| Aromatic bitters | 1 | Suffering Bastard |
| Brandy or cognac | 1 | Suffering Bastard |
| Campari or red bitter | 1 | Negroni |
| Crème de mûre | 1 | Bramble |
| Dry vermouth | 1 | Dry Martini (just these two) |
| Eggs | 1 | Clover Club |
| Falernum | 1 | Saturn |
| Fresh basil | 1 | Gin Basil Smash |
| Fresh mint | 1 | Southside |
| Ginger beer | 1 | Suffering Bastard |
| Green Chartreuse | 1 | Last Word |
| Honey | 1 | Bee's Knees |
| Lime cordial | 1 | Gimlet (just these two) |
| Orgeat (almond syrup) | 1 | Saturn |
| Passionfruit | 1 | Saturn |
| Raspberries or raspberry syrup | 1 | Clover Club |
| Sparkling wine | 1 | French 75 |
| Tonic water | 1 | Gin & Tonic (just these two) |
| Vodka | 1 | Vesper |
"Drinks" is how many of the 21 gin drinks need it. A garnish never counts, and neither does a substitute.
Start with one mixer
These need only the gin and one other thing.
Add one more bottle
Lemons and one more: honey for a Bee's Knees, maraschino liqueur for an Aviation, orange liqueur for a White Lady and sugar or sugar syrup for a Gin Sour.
Sugar or sugar syrup and one more: lemons for a Gin Sour.
Lillet Blanc and one more: vodka for a Vesper.
What not to mix it with
A bottle you'd rather sip is wasted in a shaker. Barello works out what a recipe's pour costs from what you paid, and says so before it reaches for your best bottle.
Questions people ask
What is the best thing to mix with gin?
Counted from the 21 gin drinks in Barello's library, lemons goes into the most (13), then sugar or sugar syrup, Lillet Blanc, limes and maraschino liqueur.
What can I make with gin and one mixer?
Dry Martini, Gimlet, Gin & It and Gin & Tonic: each needs only the gin and one other thing.
Tick what else you have. The cocktail finder opens with the gin already ticked and lists every drink you can make.
See every drinkAll the gin cocktails, and what every home bar needs.