Pimm's Cup

Pimm's No. 1 is a gin-based apéritif from Britain. It's traditionally mixed with soda and served on ice, with a garnish of lemon and cucumber.

• 1-1/2 fl. oz. Pimm's No. 1
• Club soda
• 1 lemon wedge
• 1 cucumber slice

Pour the Pimm's into a highball glass. Add ice and top with soda. Garnish with the lemon wedge and slice of cucumber.

The Improved Gimlet

"A real gimlet is half gin and half Rose's lime juice and nothing else," said Terry Lennox in Raymond Chandler's book The Long Goodbye. If that's the case, I'll have a martini instead. Rose's is preserved lime juice, which came in handy in the days before refrigeration, but today we can buy fresh limes year-round. I think they taste much better.Visit the In Good Spirits blog to learn more about the Gimlet or visit our dedicated Drinks & Entertaining page for more cocktail recipes.

• 1-1/2 fl. oz. (3 Tbs.) gin
• 1/2 fl. oz. (1 Tbs.) simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, shaken until sugar dissolves)
• 1/2 fl. oz. (1 Tbs.) fresh lime juice 

Put all of the ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.

Negroni

This classic Italian cocktail combines Campari, gin, and dry vermouth. If you find it a little strong, try its lighter cousin, The Americano.

• 1 fl. oz. Campari
• 1 fl. oz. gin
• 1/2 fl. oz. sweet vermouth
• 1/2 fl. oz. dry vermouth
• 1 lemon twist, for garnish

In an ice-filled mixing glass, stir together Campari, gin, and sweet and dry vermouths. Strain into a cocktail glass or an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

The Martinez, Stirred

The original Martinez (from which the dry martini likely evolved) called for Old Tom Gin and Boker’s Bitters, neither of which has been available in the United States for decades. In 2007, I created this adaptation.Browse our Drinks and Entertaining Guide for more classic cocktails.

• 1-1/2 fl. oz. (3 Tbs.) gin
• 1-1/2 fl. oz. (3 Tbs.) sweet vermouth
• 1/4 fl. oz. (1-1/2 tsp.) maraschino liqueur
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• Lemon twist, for garnish

Combine the gin, vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters in a chilled mixing glass or cocktail shaker. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Hold the glass at the base with your index finger and thumb and insert a long spoon (such as an iced tea spoon) into the glass. Grip the spoon like a pencil and stir the drink for about10 seconds, pressing the back of the spoon against the glass as you rotate the spoon around the circumference of the glass. The idea is to stir quickly in a fluid motion that doesn’t agitate the liquid or create air bubbles. Strain the drink into a chilled martini glass or coupe, garnish with the lemon twist, and serve immediately.

Classic Negroni

This ruby-red classic Italian cocktail is pleasantly bitter with a hint of sweetness from the vermouth. Rubbing an orange twist around the rim gives the drink a lovely aromatic note. A dry gin with hints of citrus and not too much juniper is the perfect foil for all of these flavors.

• 1 fl. oz. (2 Tbs.) best-quality dry gin, such as Plymouth
• 1 fl. oz. (2 Tbs.) Campari
• 1 fl. oz. (2 Tbs.) best-quality sweet (rosso) vermouth, such as Carpano Antica
• 1 small navel orange

Fill a cocktail shaker or large glass halfway with ice and add the gin, Campari, and vermouth. Using a long-handled spoon, stir for 20 to 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled rocks glass over fresh ice (or a chilled martini glass if you prefer no ice).

Using a vegetable peeler, remove a 3 x 1/2-inch piece of peel from the orange, avoiding the white pith, to create a twist. Twist it over the drink to release a spray of citrus oil, run it around the rim of the glass, and then drop it into the drink. Serve.