FOR some of us, every day or any day is Gin Day. However, there is a World Gin Day, celebrated in more than 30 countries, on the second Saturday in June. That means, this coming weekend, on June 13, you can join the festivities with gin every which way – neat, in a cocktail, or with a mixer. Here are some recipes from Angostura bitters to get you started.
DRY MARTINI
Ingredients:
90ml gin
30ml dry vermouth
2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
Olives or a lemon twist
Method:
Stir all ingredients in mixing glass with ice, then strain into chilled martini glass and garnish with your choice of olives or a lemon twist.
GIN SOUR (pictured at the top of this article)
Ingredients:
60ml gin
22ml lemon juice
22ml simple syrup
2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
Lemon peel
Method:
Combine all ingredients with plenty of ice in a shaker. Shake and strain into a chilled coupe glass, and garnish with lemon peel.
GIN SLING

Ingredients:
45ml gin
22ml fresh lemon juice
22ml simple syrup
15ml sweet vermouth
3 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
Soda water
Lemon peel spiral
Method:
In a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice, combine gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, vermouth and bitters. Strain into a highball glass filled halfway with ice, top with soda and garnish with lemon peel.
PINK GIN & TONIC
Ingredients:
60ml gin
15ml lime juice
2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
Indian tonic water
Lime twist
Method:
Add gin, lime juice and bitters to an old fashioned glass with ice. Give it a good stir, then top with tonic and stir again. Add a lime twist as garnish.
For more information on the Angostura range and delicious food and cocktail recipes click here. Follow Angostura South Africa on Facebook and Instagram for fun facts, recipes and brand updates. #KeepYourSpiritsUp
- Note from editor: recipes supplied by Angostura. Personally, I would use way less vermouth in the dry martini #learnedfromexperience