Ross Salchow’s Barrel Gin Highball, Evan Knutson’s Gin & Tonic...

Ross Salchow’s Barrel Gin Highball

The highball is, in its purest historic iteration: spirit, mixer, and garnish. When you’re working with quality ingredients that complement each other, simple is truly king.

Be sure to check out our Q&A with Ross and follow Great Lakes Distillery on Instagram for the latest distillery news.

Image credit: Ross Salchow

Ross Salchow’s Barrel Gin Highball Recipe:

2 oz Rehorst Barrel Reserve Gin

2 oz Top Note Club Soda No. 1

Garnish: twist of lemon

Stir gin and soda together in an ice-filled old fashioned glass and garnish.

Classic | Gin | Tonic

Evan Knutson’s Gin & Tonic

Sage and citrus are married together with a host of complimentary botanicals in this creative take on the classic Gin & Tonic.

Be sure to check out our Q&A with Evan and follow him on Instagram for more cocktail inspiration.

Image credit: Evan Knutson

Evan Knutson’s Gin & Tonic Recipe:

1.5 oz sage-infused Death’s Door Gin

2 dashes Bittercube orange bitters

Top Note Indian Tonic, to top

Garnish: expressed orange peel (flamed, if desired)

Stir all ingredients together in an ice-filled rocks glass and garnish.

Amaro | Bitter Lemon | Gin | Vermouth

Emily Vikre’s Negroni Highball

“All this thinking about Negroni’s led me to want to make a Negroni highball!” - Emily Vikre

Read our Q&A with Emily to learn more about her journey into the world of cocktails, distilling, and - you guessed it - Negroni’s!

Image credit: Emily Vikre

Emily Vikre’s Negroni Highball Recipe:

1 oz Vikre Distillery Gin

3/4 oz Vikre Distillery Amaro (or Campari)

3/4 oz sweet vermouth

Top Note Bitter Lemon Tonic Water, to top

Garnish: orange twist, optional

Combine the spirits in a highball glass with ice, top with Bitter Lemon, and stir gently. Garnish if desired.

Gin | Summer Cocktails | Tonic

Alyssa Hughes’ Pineapple Gin & Tonic

Add some flair to the classic gin & tonic with a splash of tropical citrus! Enjoy this lower-ABV refresher on the rocks or straight-up like Alyssa. She uses a small mason jar, but a coupe or champagne glass would work just as well.

Be sure to check out our Q&A with Alyssa and follow her on Instagram for the latest updates on her distilling adventures.

Image credit: Alyssa Hughes

Alyssa Hughes' Pineapple Gin & Tonic Recipe:

1.5 oz gin

1.5 oz pineapple juice

1 dash Bittercube orange bitters

Top Note Classic Tonic, to top

Garnish: Manderin orange peel

Stir all ingredients together in a glass with ice (or skip the ice as per Alyssa’s preference!) and garnish.

Classic | Gin | Tonic

Rachel Miller's Gin & Tonic

"The classic Champagne Cocktail (bitters, sugar, sparkling wine) is one of my favorite drinks. It's delicious, celebratory, and so easy. Often it's finished with an expression of lemon over the top, and I like mine with just a drop of absinthe on top as well. This highball uses the tonic water to achieve the sparkle and the light bitter-sweet flavor of a Champagne Cocktail, along with tonic's best friend gin, a lemon cordial to amplify the lemon accent, and a touch of absinthe (optional), my preferred finish to the drink." - Rachel Miller

Rachel Miller's Gin & Tonic Recipe:

1 oz gin

.5 oz lemon cordial*

4 oz Top Note Classic Tonic Water

2-3 drops absinthe

Garnish: expressed lemon peel

Stir gin, cordial and tonic together in an ice-filled highball glass, finish with absinthe, and garnish.

*Lemon Cordial: Zest two lemons and set the zest aside. Juice the lemons and heat the juice in a pan with an equal amount, by volume, of white sugar. Bring the lemon juice and sugar to a boil, then immediately remove from heat and pour over the zest. Allow to cool and steep at least ten minutes, then strain well. Yields ~4oz cordial (multiply the recipe as needed for more cordial). Stored in the fridge, it will last for weeks.

Club Soda | Gin | Winter Cocktails

Gin Pear Collins

Celebrate the bounty of fall produce with this delicately refreshing highball.

Gin Pear Collins Recipe:

1.5 oz gin

2 oz pear juice (or pear purée)

.5 oz lemon juice

3 oz Top Note Club Soda No. 1

Garnish: fresh rosemary and citrus peel

Add all ingredients except Club Soda to a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into an ice-filled glass and top with Club Soda. Stir and garnish.

Fall Cocktails | Gin | Tonic

Spiced Vodka Tonic

Infusing spirits is a fun and easy way to elevate your cocktails. This time of year, we gravitate towards warming spices to add a cozy depth to our at-home happy hours. Play around with what you have on hand (cinnamon sticks, whole allspice, juniper berries, etc.) to create your ideal spirit-spicing mix!

Spiced Vodka Tonic Recipe:

2 oz spiced vodka*

4 oz Top Note Classic Tonic

Optional: simple syrup, to taste

Garnish: fresh orange peel

Stir ingredients together in a glass with ice and garnish.

*Spiced Vodka: add 2 crushed cardamom pods and 2 tsp whole cloves to a jar and top with 8 oz vodka. Let steep for 2 days, then strain out the spices and enjoy.

Club Soda | Gin | Tonic

Gin Sonic

Enter: the Gin Sonic. Nope, not a typo. It’s what you get when you mix Japanese Roku Gin with equal parts tonic water and club soda. We love the simple elegance and balance of this cocktail and we’re betting you will, too.

Gin Sonic Recipe:

1.5 oz Suntory Roku Gin

2.25 oz Top Note Club Soda No. 1

2.25 oz Top Note Classic Tonic

Garnish: expressed lemon twist

Stir all ingredients together in an ice-filled highball glass and garnish.

Amaro | Gin | Grapefruit | Vermouth

Sparkling Grapefruit Negroni

If you've been stirring up Negroni's at home and are looking for something with a bit of pizzazz, look no further. Our Sparkling Grapefruit Soda plays nicely with this classic cocktail's bittersweet profile, highlighting its silky mouthfeel and adding a touch of effervescence for a simple spin that's refreshingly modern.