This Thyme Gin Cocktail is light, refreshing, and it's made with easy homemade thyme syrup! You can make it any time of the year, but it's especially perfect for citrus season. You can also make it in a pitcher, and the recipe includes a mocktail version!
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What Makes this Gin Cocktail Special
Light and refreshing - Gin and lemon is a popular combination, but homemade thyme syrup adds a delicious flavor that's a little more unexpected. It works really well with gin and really makes it shine!
Easy and versatile - While I recommend making your own syrup, you can always use store-bought to save time. The actual cocktail comes together in just a couple of minutes, and it's so simple. I'm also including non-alcoholic and pitcher versions so everyone can enjoy this drink!
Ingredients
- Gin - You can use any gin you have on hand. Some of my favorites and most popular ones for cocktails are London Dry, Beefeater, Plymouth, and Hendricks gin.
- Thyme syrup - You can use store-bought syrup or make your own. There are simplified instructions in this post on how to make it at home, but you can check out my Thyme Simple Syrup post for more details and added tips! The syrup is made with cane sugar, but you could also make it using honey for a different flavor.
- Lemon juice - Use freshly squeezed lemon juice whenever possible for the best flavor.
- Ice - Always have more ice than you think you need. You'll need it for both the cocktail shaker and your glass.
Variations and Substitutions
- Store-bought syrup - I always like small local syrup brands the best, but Monin is always a safe choice for syrups, and they will last you a long time. Torani is another very popular brand.
- A different herbal syrup - If you want to change things up or don't have enough thyme, you can also make this drink with other herbal syrups like Mint Syrup (NOT peppermint), Rosemary Syrup, or even Sage Syrup!
- Make it fizzy - Top up the drink with some sparkling water, club soda, or a sugar-free lemon soda if you like your cocktails bubbly!
- Mocktail - The easiest way to turn it into a mocktail is to swap the gin for a zero-proof alternative with a similar flavor. You can also skip it and top up the drink with some ginger or grapefruit soda instead. I like LaCroix or simmilar ones.
Step-by-Step Instructions
If you're making your own syrup, I recommend doing this ahead of time to save time when making your cocktails. The syrup lasts for two weeks in the fridge, and you can freeze it as well. I have a separate post for a Thyme Simple Syrup with more detailed steps and tips.
Thyme Syrup
- Add cane sugar, water, and fresh thyme to a medium saucepan and bring it to a simmer.
- Simmer the syrup for 5 minutes.
- Take it off the heat and allow it to cool for 5 minutes before removing the thyme. The cooling time will depend on how strong you want the syrup to be. If you like your cocktails sweet, take it out earlier so the thyme isn't too overpowering.
- Store it in a jar in the refrigerator until ready to use.
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Thyme Gin Cocktail
- Into a cocktail shaker, add gin, lemon juice, and thyme simple syrup.
- Fill a short glass with ice and set it aside.
- Add a handful of ice into your cocktail shaker.
- Shake the cocktail vigorously for a few seconds until very cool to the touch.
- Strain it into your prepared glass over ice.
- Garnish the drink with thyme sprigs and a lemon slice and enjoy!
Tips & Tricks!
- Prepare your glass first - Fill your glass with ice first, before you make the cocktail. It's not a huge deal, but it's how it's done in bars to avoid the cocktail getting watered down as it sits in the shaker.
- Make the syrup ahead of time - If you're planning to use your own syrup, I highly recommend making it the day before so it's cool and ready when you're making your cocktails. You can also juice your lemons the night before if you're planning to make more servings.
FAQs
Yes, if you like stronger cocktails, you can strain it into a small coupe glass instead. I recommend cooling the glass in the fridge or freezer so the drink stays cold longer.
Yes! The recipe card notes have exact instructions, but you can either use a zero-proof "gin" or top it up with flavored soda.
Similar Cocktails
If you're looking for other cocktails with gin or herbs, try any of the four below! I only have one other gin cocktail, but the others are all made with various herbs and they're all amazing for different seasons!
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Have you tried this Thyme Gin Cocktail? Please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
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Print📖 Recipe
Thyme Gin Cocktail
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Thyme Gin Cocktail is light, refreshing, and it's made with easy homemade thyme syrup! You can make it any time of the year, but it's especially delicious made with fresh lemons during citrus season!
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice (see notes)
- 1 oz thyme simple syrup (see notes)
- Approx. 2 cups ice
- Garnish: fresh thyme sprigs, lemon slice
Instructions
- Into a cocktail shaker, add gin, lemon juice, and thyme simple syrup.
- Fill a short glass with ice and set aside. Add a handful of ice into your cocktail shaker.
- Shake the cocktail vigorously for a few seconds until very cool to the touch.
- Strain it into your prepared glass and garnish with thyme sprigs and a lemon slice. Enjoy!
Notes
Thyme syrup: 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 10-12 sprigs fresh thyme. Add everything to a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before straining the thyme out, or longer for a stronger flavor. Transfer the syrup to a glass jar and store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. For more tips, visit Thyme Syrup.
Mocktail: Use zero-proof gin for a mocktail with the same flavors or skip it altogether. If you skip it, top up the drink with sparkling water or a flavored soda. A ginger beer or citrus-flavored soda is great here! I like grapefruit LaCroix or similar.
Pitcher version (10 servings): 20 oz gin, 10 oz lemon juice, 10 oz thyme simple syrup, ice, garnish (sliced lemons, fresh thyme). Stir together gin, lemon juice, and thyme syrup in a large pitcher and add 1 cup ice. You want the ice to cool the drink and melt into it (as it would in a shaker). Serve it over ice in short glasses. You can also top it up with club soda for a longer drink.
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Veronika Sykorova says
I was never a huge fan of gin but with the right floral or herbal syrup, it tastes so good! This is my favorite for winter during citrus season and I hope you enjoy it as well!