Gin, Explained: A Summer Cocktail Guide for South Florida

For years, gin was the spirit people thought they didn't like — usually because of one bad encounter with a harsh pour decades ago. Then came the gin renaissance: hundreds of new distilleries, softer citrus-forward styles, and a generation of drinkers discovering that gin is really just vodka with a personality. And no climate on earth suits a cold, botanical gin drink better than a South Florida summer.

The Gin Styles, Decoded

London Dry is the classic — juniper-forward, crisp, and bone dry. It's what a gin and tonic was invented for, and despite the name it can be made anywhere. Contemporary or 'New Western' gins dial the juniper back and push citrus, florals, or cucumber forward — the style that converts vodka drinkers on the first sip. Old Tom is the slightly sweeter historical style, great in a Tom Collins, and Plymouth sits in between, smooth and earthy.

Which to buy first? A solid London Dry is the workhorse — it makes every classic gin cocktail correctly. Add a citrus-forward contemporary gin as your second bottle and you've covered both ends of the spectrum.

The Perfect Gin and Tonic (You're Probably Rushing It)

The Spanish treat the gin-tonic as a ritual, and they're right. Use a big glass with lots of ice — more ice melts slower, not faster. Pour two ounces of gin, top with a quality tonic (the tonic is half the drink; the cheap flat stuff sabotages good gin), and garnish generously: lime is classic, but try grapefruit peel, cucumber ribbons, or a sprig of rosemary. It's a two-minute drink that feels like a vacation.

Three More Summer Gin Cocktails

The Tom Collins: two ounces of gin, one ounce of fresh lemon juice, half an ounce of simple syrup, topped with soda in a tall glass — basically sparkling lemonade for adults. The Gimlet: two ounces of gin shaken with three-quarters of an ounce each of fresh lime juice and simple syrup — tart, cold, and dangerously easy to drink. And the Negroni for the adventurous: equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari, stirred over ice with an orange peel — bitter, complex, and the drink of choice on every hot evening patio in Italy.

Explore Gin in Broward County

Discount Liquor King stocks everything from the classic London Dry standards to small-batch botanical gins — at discount prices that make it easy to explore a second or third bottle. Visit us at 2462 Sheridan St in Hollywood, (954) 544-2521, or 2160 W Oakland Park Blvd in Oakland Park, (954) 533-7695. Tell us what you usually drink, and we'll point you to the gin that will win you over.