What Is Gin and How Can I Use It?

Wondering what to do with gin? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it — with 28 recipes to put it to work.

Nutrition

Food group

Gin is a member of the Beverages US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does gin weigh?

Related

Beverages

Recipes using gin

There are 28 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Stir-Fried Scallops in a Basket

Scallops stir-fried with bamboo shoots, carrots, and snow peas in a ginger-gin sauce, served inside a crispy deep-fried potato basket. A Chinese banquet showpiece you can pull off at home.

Maxine's Cranberry Liqueur

Homemade cranberry liqueur with just three ingredients: fresh cranberries, sugar, and gin. Steep for two weeks and strain for a ruby-red cordial that keeps indefinitely.

Bedroom Calling Shot

The Bedroom Calling Shot is a potent four-spirit cocktail mixing tequila, vodka, gin, and rum with cola and whiskey sour mix. One sip and you'll know how it got its name.

Ramona's Sloe Gin Fizz

A refreshing beverage. But remember sloe gin as the name states works slow.

Plum Brandy

Homemade plum brandy infused with fresh plums and sugar in gin. A 3-ingredient fruit liqueur that steeps for 3-4 days and strains into a smooth, sweet sipper.

Cabbage with Gin & Juniper

Steamed cabbage wedges finished in butter with shallots, juniper berries, savory, and gin. An elegant, aromatic side dish that turns humble cabbage into something extraordinary.

Roast Quail with Juniper Berries Iii (Quail)

Pan-roasted whole quail stuffed with pancetta, sage, and juniper berries, finished with a gin and white wine pan sauce. A masterchef-level wild game main course in 30 minutes.

Steamed Whole Fish

Chinese steamed whole fish with ginger, scallions, and a savory stock-gin sauce finished with sizzling peanut oil. A classic Cantonese technique for flaky, tender fish.

Pheasant Sauce

Restaurant-style pheasant sauce with caramelized sugar, juniper-forward gin, red wine, and a butter-mounted finish. Game bird gravy with serious depth.

Grilled Venison Chop with Chestnut Twice Baked Potato

Grilled Venison Chop with Chestnut Twice Baked Potato recipe

Sugar & Spice Salmon

Gin-marinated smoked salmon with brown sugar, pickling spices, and star anise. Bruised spices create complex flavor in this 2-hour cold-smoke recipe.

Smoked Beef Brisket with Red Wine Herb Marinade

Beef brisket marinated 48 hours in red wine vinegar with herbs, then smoked 6-7 hours at 225°F for tender, aromatic slices.

Singapore Sling

Classic Singapore Sling cocktail with gin, cherry brandy, fresh lemon juice, and powdered sugar topped with club soda. A simple, refreshing highball drink.

Long Island Ice Tea

Classic Long Island Iced Tea with equal parts rum, gin, vodka, Triple Sec, lemon juice, and orange juice topped with cola. Looks like iced tea, hits like five drinks in one.

Choucroute Garnie

Alsatian choucroute garnie: pork shoulder, knackwurst, Polish sausage, and bacon braised slow in sauerkraut, white wine, and juniper berries. Serve with boiled potatoes and sharp mustard.

Ma's Martini (Herring Cocktail)

Who would have thoughtyou could deliciously combine herring and gin? Well, we've done it...give it a try and tell us what you think!

Grilled Lemon-And-Gin Marinated Chicken

Grilled chicken marinated in gin, lemon juice, lemon zest, and fresh oregano. The juniper botanicals in the gin add a piney, herbal depth to the marinade.

A Different Steak Au Poivre

A succulent steak dinner made with hot pepper sauce and a bit of gin.

Beef Tournedos with Gin & Juniper Sauce

Pepper-crusted beef tenderloin tournedos with a bold pan sauce of gin, crushed juniper berries, and balsamic vinegar. An elegant 35-minute dinner for two.

Rhubarb Mousse with Strawberry-Gin Sauce

Rhubarb mousse with strawberry-gin sauce is a light, creamy spring dessert set with gelatin and folded with whipped cream and meringue. The tart rhubarb base pairs with a boozy strawberry-marmalade sauce.

Rhubarb Mousse with Strawberry-Gin Sauce

Rhubarb mousse with strawberry-gin sauce is a light, creamy spring dessert set with gelatin and folded with whipped cream and meringue. The tart rhubarb base pairs with a boozy strawberry-marmalade sauce.

Gin Marinated Chicken

Gin marinated chicken cubed and bathed overnight in dry gin, lime juice, and olive oil, then skewered, pan-fried, and finished with leeks, tomatoes, and cilantro.

Spiked Sangria

Spiked sangria built on bold Shiraz, a splash of gin, and a trio of fresh citrus, chilled overnight so the fruit and wine soak together. Topped with ginger ale and berries for a fizzy, crowd-ready pitcher.

Martini Steak

Grilled sirloin steak marinated in gin, dry vermouth, garlic, and herbs, garnished with pimento-stuffed olives. A cocktail-inspired steak with real martini flavor.

Grapefruit Mousse

Grapefruit mousse: light citrus mousse with grapefruit juice, gin-spiked gelatin, and whipped cream. Layered in parfait glasses with fresh strawberries.

All 28 recipes