Red gin

Ingredients

• 1/5sherry
• 4/5gin
• to tastecrushed ice
• 1maraschino cherry

Instructions

1. 1

   Fill the glass

   Half-fill a mixing glass with crushed ice.

2. 2

   Mix the drinks

   Pour in the gin and sherry, then stir well.

3. 3

   Pour the cocktail

   Strain or pour the mixture into a cocktail glass.

4. 4

   Garnish and serve

   Finish with a maraschino cherry and serve.

What is Red gin?

Red gin is a simple Italian-style cocktail built from gin and sherry, served chilled with a cherry garnish. Its short ingredient list puts the aromatic spirit first, while sherry brings a softer, rounded note.

This version relies on a four-to-one proportion of gin to sherry. Stirring the mixture with crushed ice chills it quickly before it is poured into a cocktail glass.

Nutrition and macros by portion

The nutrition label shows one serving as written: 128 calories, 0g protein, 2g carbs, 0g fat.

Most of the energy comes from the gin, with a smaller contribution from the sherry; the cherry adds a little carbohydrate. Serve it with a small savoury bite and water for a more balanced aperitif.

Choosing the spirits

Gin: Choose one whose botanical aroma you enjoy, since it makes up most of the drink. A strongly flavoured gin will remain prominent alongside the sherry.

Sherry: Use a style you like to drink on its own; its character will shape the cocktail's finish. Measure it in the stated one-to-four proportion relative to the gin.

Stirring with ice

Crushed ice: Half-fill the mixing glass as directed, leaving room to stir the spirits together. Ice chills the drink and can dilute it, so stir only until well mixed and cold.

Mixing: Stir the gin and sherry rather than shaking them. This keeps the preparation straightforward and avoids adding extra air to the drink.

Getting the serve right

Temperature: Serve as soon as the mixture has been stirred and poured. A chilled cocktail glass helps the drink stay refreshing.

Garnish: Add the maraschino cherry just before serving. It gives the drink a sweet, colourful finishing touch.

Timing and preparation

The recipe takes about five minutes and is best made just before serving. Have the mixing glass, cocktail glass and cherry ready so the drink can be poured promptly.

For four servings, prepare the drinks in succession or use a mixing glass large enough to stir the batch comfortably without overcrowding it with ice.

What to serve alongside

Serve Red gin as an aperitif with small savoury bites such as olives, salted nuts or crisp breadsticks. Their salty flavours work well alongside the cocktail's aromatic, slightly rounded profile.

Keep accompaniments modest so the drink remains the focus, and offer water alongside it.

Recipe notes & tips

• Chill the cocktail glass before pouring if you want the drink to stay cold for longer.
• Use fresh, clean-tasting ice for the best result.
• Stir thoroughly so the gin and sherry are evenly combined.
• Keep the gin-to-sherry proportion at four parts to one.
• Add the cherry at the end to keep the garnish neat.

Variations

• Drier finish: Choose a dry sherry for a less sweet profile.
• Softer flavour: Use a gentler, less assertive gin.
• Citrus accent: Express a strip of lemon peel over the glass, then remove it.
• Extra garnish: Add a small twist of orange peel alongside the cherry.
• Less dilution: Use larger pieces of ice in place of crushed ice while stirring.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Guessing the proportions: Measure the gin and sherry in a four-to-one ratio for a balanced drink.
• Over-stirring: Excessive stirring can dilute the cocktail; stop once it is well mixed and chilled.
• Using too little ice: Half-fill the mixing glass as directed so the drink chills properly.
• Pouring into a warm glass: Chill the cocktail glass first if possible.
• Adding the garnish too early: Place the cherry in the glass just before serving.

How to store

This cocktail is best made and served immediately, rather than stored after mixing with ice. Keep the gin and sherry sealed according to their labels, and refrigerate the opened maraschino cherries as directed on the jar.

Frequently asked questions