Pink Gin Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/7/22
Tested by
Sean Michael Johnson
Photo of Sean Michael Johnson
Tested by Sean Michael Johnson
Sean is an award-winning bartender with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the head bartender at the two-Michelin-star restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther, crafting cocktail menus that have caught international attention. To date, he has made over 1 million cocktails, and counting.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

Pink gin is also known as gin and bitters and it is, quite simply, those two ingredients. Specifically, it uses Angostura Bitters, which gives the entire drink a slight pink hue. It is a fabulous aperitif to enjoy with dinner and a great way to show off your favorite bottles of gin. 

This classic cocktail was originally created for use by the Royal Navy. In the 1800s, it was common to give sailors bitters as a medicinal treatment. By mixing it with gin, it was more palatable and the gin would have certainly added to its appeal.

You may also hear the name "gin pahit" in 19th-century sailing stories like those by W. Somerset Maugham. This is essentially the same drink, the name has simply been lost to time. The word "pahit" is Malay for "bitters."

Pink gin cocktail garnished with lemon twist in a coupe glass

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

"This drink was a pocket cocktail for legendary barman Dale DeGroff at Hotel Bel-Air. This recipe is what you might expect from two ingredients that have endless flavor profiles. Angostura is a baking spice bomb and if using a “New World” gin (having at least eight botanicals) you are in for a crisp, herbaceous adventure." —Sean Johnson

Pink Gin Cocktail Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for pink gin cocktail recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes, combine the gin and bitters

    Cocktail shaker, small glass, and bottle of bitter

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Stir well.

    Cocktail shaker with stirrer

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Pink gin cocktail strained into a coupe glass

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Garnish with a lemon twist. Serve and enjoy.

    Pink gin cocktail garnished with lemon twist in a coupe glass

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

A Traditional Pink Gin

Plymouth Gin claims that there is a more traditional way to mix up a pink gin and it is a bit more involved than simply stirring gin with bitters. Of course, they recommend their own gin, specifically Plymouth Navy Strength Gin, and it is a very fine choice indeed.

"Navy strength" gins are higher proof than the average gin and Plymouth's version weighs in at 57 percent alcohol by volume (ABV, 114 proof). The point of this pink gin is to get the alcohol to feel "pleasant not aggressive" and Plymouth recommends tasting it prior to straining it into the glass.

It's a great strategy and proof that dilution is key to making cocktails spectacular. Water is necessary to cut the alcohol and make the drink pleasant, particularly with those full-flavored, overproof gins. Try the pink gin both ways so you can see the difference for yourself.

  1. Express the oils of a lemon peel over the drink and drop the peel in if you like.

  2. Add 1 dash of Angostura Bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice.

  3. Swirl this bittered ice and water around in a cocktail glass.

  4. Dump out the water, leaving the glass with a bitters rinse.

  5. Back in your mixing glass, pour a "large measure" of gin (2 ounces is good) and fill it with ice.

  6. Stir well and strain into a cocktail glass.

Which Gin Is Best for a Pink Gin?

You can choose any gin you like for a pink gin, though you may enjoy this cocktail more with one of the sweeter or lighter profiled gins. Remember that the recipe adds nothing besides bitters and water, so whichever gin you choose, it should definitely be your best.

Here are a few gins that you might want to try:

  • Plymouth Gin: A fruitier profile with a full body, Plymouth Gin is a perfect candidate for the pink gin.
  • Hayman's Old Tom Gin: Old Tom gins bridge the gap between sweet genever and the famous London dry gins. Hayman's is one of the best brands of this small class of old-school gin.
  • Tanqueray Malacca: It makes a rare appearance on the market, but this sweetened version of the famous London dry is perfect for a pink gin. When you see it, mix it!
  • Nolet's Silver Dry Gin: Soft florals and fruits are the hallmarks of this gin and it shine with the gentle treatment of a pink gin.
  • Right Gin: A Swedish gin that also has a sweeter flavor, you'll love the rosiness of this one in such a simple cocktail.
  • Aviation Gin: One of the first New Western Dry Gins to get us thinking about a softer side of gin, Aviation is readily available and ideal for drinks like this.

You can also use the pink gin as a sort of litmus test for trying out new gin brands. It's even a slightly better option than the classic martini because it is so clean and allows the gin to shine virtually unadulterated. For example, you might use it to familiarize yourself with craft gin brands like William Elegant 48 or Bloom Gin, or to compare the contrast of Leopold's two spectacular offerings.

How Strong Is the Pink Gin?

The pink gin will be slightly weaker than the bottling strength of the gin you pour. This is because it is diluted with water alone and your approach to mixing will play a great role. Instead of estimating the strength of the drink, let's look at how the dilution will affect your pink gin.

  • If you stir your pink gin with an 80-proof gin using the typical 1/2-ounce allowance for dilution, the drink will be about 32 percent ABV (64 proof).
  • If you use Plymouth's suggested method, an entire ounce of water may be added to the drink. In this case, an 80-proof gin would weigh in around 27 percent ABV (54 proof).
  • If you stir according to Plymouth and use their Navy Strength gin, it is the strongest of them all at about 38 percent ABV (76 proof).


The strength of the pink gin and similar cocktails is precisely why they are served in such small proportions. Notice that neither method tops a 3-ounce drink, even with water. These are meant to be casual drinks that are enjoyed slowly.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
138 Calories
0g Fat
1g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 138
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 8mg 39%
Calcium 8mg 1%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 11mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)