A bright, herby, citrusy gin mint cocktail packed with fresh Thai flavors — this refreshing drink is perfect for summer sipping. If you’re looking for a fresh take on a classic gin mint cocktail, this easy recipe delivers bold flavor, versatility (mocktail option included), and a splash of Thai inspiration you won’t find elsewhere.
For more refreshing cocktails packed with Thai flavors, check out these popular recipes!. Tom Yum Cocktail, Japanese Roku Gin Cocktail with Orange Blossom Syrup, tamarind vodka cocktail, and Tanqueray Seville Orange Gin Cocktail with Blood Orange.
Jump to:
- Inspiration Behind This Drink
- What is a Thai-Inspired Gin Mint Cocktail?
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Their Purpose
- How to Make This Thai-Inspired Gin Mint Cocktail
- Kitchen Tips
- How to Make This a Mocktail!
- How to Serve This Cocktail
- Storing Leftovers
- Top Tip!
- Soda Water vs Tonic: What’s the Difference?
- Where to Find Ingredients
- Quick Thai Street Food Tips
- FAQs: Thai-Inspired Gin Mint Cocktail
- Equipment
- More Thai Cocktails
- Gin Mint Cocktail (Thai-Inspired Flavors)
- Hi there, I’m Suwanee!
Inspiration Behind This Drink
Last week, I was gifted some fresh mint that looked just like Thai basil — purple stems and large, jagged dark green leaves. I even posted a reel on Instagram asking if anyone knew what kind of mint it was. Turns out, it was chocolate mint!
That little mystery inspired me to create something minty and refreshing — and it felt like the perfect time to share a new cocktail recipe on the blog. Especially with summer here and The Great American Recipe airing, I thought this would be a fun drink for anyone wanting something light to sip while watching the show.
What is a Thai-Inspired Gin Mint Cocktail?
This drink is my Thai-inspired twist on a classic Southside or Mojito — refreshing, minty, citrusy, but layered with bold Southeast Asian flavors like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, ginger, and floral St-Germain. It’s bright, herby, and perfect for summer gatherings, casual evenings, or simply treating yourself after a long week.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Thai-inspired gin mint cocktail is quick and easy to make, packed with fresh mint and bright citrus, and uses simple, accessible ingredients plus Thai herbs for an extra layer of flavor. It’s easily adapted into a mocktail, light and refreshing for summer entertaining, and a fun alternative to a classic gin mint julep or gin mojito.
Ingredients & Their Purpose
- Fresh mint: Essential for cooling herbal notes that define any good gin mint cocktail; easy to find in most grocery stores.
- Fresh ginger: Adds warm spice, balancing the citrusy profile.
- Lime juice: The bright, fresh acid backbone for this cocktail; fresh-squeezed makes a difference.
- Sugar: Sweetens the mint lemonade base and balances tartness.
- Kaffir lime leaves: Distinctively aromatic and essential for Southeast Asian flavor; available at Asian grocery stores.
- Lemongrass: Brings a light, citrusy herbal flavor.
- Tanqueray gin: A crisp dry gin; Rangpur or Seville Orange varieties preferred for citrus undertones. Look for Rangpur or Seville Orange Flavored gin if available.
- St-Germain liqueur: Lightly floral elderflower liqueur that pairs beautifully with mint and gin.
- Agave syrup: Smooth natural sweetener that blends easily; simple syrup can substitute.
- Blood orange bitters: Adds depth and complexity with a subtle orange note.
- Soda water: Adds fizz and keeps it light and refreshing.
- Ice cubes: Crushed ice works well too for an extra frosty finish.
How to Make This Thai-Inspired Gin Mint Cocktail
- Make the Mint Lemonade Base. Blend water, fresh mint, ginger, sugar, and lime juice until smooth. Strain if desired for a smoother drink, or leave it unstrained for more texture and intensity.
- Muddle the Herbs. In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves, ginger slices, kaffir lime leaves, and smashed lemongrass to release their fragrant oils and aromas.
- Mix and Shake. Add gin, St-Germain, agave syrup, lime juice, blood orange bitters, and about half a cup of mint lemonade base to the shaker. Add ice and shake until cold.
- Pour and Serve! Strain into a cocktail glass filled with fresh ice, top with soda water or tonic, and garnish with mint leaves, lime wedges, kaffir lime leaves, or edible flowers.
Kitchen Tips
- Use fresh ingredients: Fresh mint, lime juice, ginger, and herbs really make this gin mint cocktail shine. Skip bottled lime juice for the best flavor.
- Don’t skip the muddling: Muddling kaffir lime leaves, ginger, and mint releases their essential oils and brings out all those Thai-inspired aromas.
- Adjust sweetness to taste: Start with less agave or simple syrup and add more as needed. You can always sweeten later!
- Chill everything first: Cold soda water, gin, and even chilled glasses help keep this drink extra refreshing and reduce dilution.
- Strain for a smooth finish: If you want less texture, strain the mint lemonade base before mixing. I didn’t for this batch, but I usually do when serving guests.
How to Make This a Mocktail!
Skip the gin and St-Germain and add up to 1 oz blood orange bitters, an extra tablespoon of lime juice, and top generously with soda water or ginger beer for a refreshing, alcohol-free version.
All the same bright, herby, citrusy flavors — just without the booze — making it perfect for a summer evening mocktail everyone can enjoy.
How to Serve This Cocktail
Serve over plenty of ice in a tall glass or cocktail glass. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and kaffir lime leaves for aroma, and offer lime wedges so everyone can adjust acidity to taste.
Storing Leftovers
Cocktails are always best enjoyed fresh, but since this one starts with a minty lemonade base, it won’t keep perfectly for long — the liquid tends to settle and the color turns brown after a few hours.
If you need to store it, just pop the mint lemonade base in an airtight container in the fridge and use it within a day. It might look a little darker, but give it a good shake and it’ll still taste great.
Top Tip!
Freeze the mint lemonade in ice cube trays and use them next time you want to mix up a quick cocktail or mocktail — built-in flavor and chill!
Soda Water vs Tonic: What’s the Difference?
Soda water (also called club soda)
Plain carbonated water with a clean, neutral flavor. Sometimes it has a touch of added minerals for taste but it’s unsweetened, making it perfect for cocktails when you want bubbles without altering the drink’s flavor.
Tonic water
Carbonated but with added quinine, which gives it a distinct bitter flavor, and usually a bit of sweetness. It’s great for drinks like gin and tonics but will noticeably change the flavor profile of a cocktail.
Sparkling water (or seltzer)
Pure carbonated water, just like soda water, but often without added minerals. Flavored versions are available, but plain sparkling water works like soda water.
Which is best?
For this Thai-inspired gin mint cocktail, soda water or plain sparkling water is ideal — it keeps things light and lets the fresh mint, citrus, and Thai herbs shine. If you want a bolder twist, tonic water adds a bitter-sweet edge but will change the overall flavor.
Where to Find Ingredients
Fresh mint, lime, ginger, and lemongrass are easy to find at most grocery stores. Kaffir lime leaves are usually available at Asian grocery markets. Tanqueray gin, St-Germain liqueur, and bitters can be found at a good liquor store. Buy the blood orange bitters on Amazon here.
Quick Thai Street Food Tips
Pair this minty gin cocktail with classic Thai appetizers like satay skewers, Thai fish cakes, or a spicy Thai papaya salad for the perfect summer spread.
FAQs: Thai-Inspired Gin Mint Cocktail
Use fresh mint leaves, fresh lime juice, and muddle your herbs well to infuse maximum flavor.
Vodka works as a clean, neutral substitute if you don’t love gin’s botanicals. White rum would give it a tropical twist, similar to a mojito.
No problem — use a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid or any container you can seal and shake. Just strain before serving.
Not at all. The Thai herbs add depth, but if you can’t find them, stick with fresh mint, lime, and ginger — you’ll still get a refreshing, delicious cocktail.
Reshing Thai-inspired gin mint cocktail recipe with fresh mint, lime juice, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, ginger, and soda water. Easy to make, bold Thai flavors, perfect for summer sipping.-content link)
More Thai Cocktails
Want more drinks like this? Check out these other refreshing cocktails infused with bold Thai flavors!
Thank you for visiting Simply Suwanee! If you enjoyed this recipe, share it with your friends, leave a review, or tag me on social media. Happy cooking!
Gin Mint Cocktail (Thai-Inspired Flavors)
- Total Time: 15
- Yield: 4 drinks
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
A bright, herby, citrusy gin mint cocktail packed with fresh Thai flavors — this refreshing drink is perfect for summer sipping. If you’re looking for a fresh take on a classic gin mint cocktail, this easy recipe delivers bold flavor, versatility (mocktail option included), and a splash of Thai inspiration you won’t find elsewhere.
Ingredients
Part 1: Make the Mint Lemonade
- 3 cups water
- 2 cups fresh mint
- 1 slice fresh ginger (about 0.5 oz)
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup lime juice
Blend everything together until smooth. Strain if you prefer a smoother texture — I chose not to strain during my live because I don’t mind the texture and it saves time!
Part 2: Muddle the Herbs
- 3-4 mint leave
- 2–3 slices fresh ginger (about 1-inch piece)
- 2 kaffir lime leaves
- 1 small stalk lemongrass, smashed with knives’ end
In a cocktail shaker, muddle a few pieces of smashed lemongrass, torn kaffir lime leaves, fresh mint leaves, and ginger slices to release all those fragrant oils and aromas.
Part 3: Mix the Drink
- 1 oz Tangerue gin (more as preferred) Rangpur or Seville Orange Gin preferred
- 1 oz St Germaine Liquor
- 1 oz agave syrup (or adjust to taste)
- 2 oz fresh lime juice
- 2 dashes blood orange bitters
- ½ cup of the mint lemonade from Part 1
- 4-5 Ice cubes
- Soda water to top it off
Instructions
- Make the Mint Lemonade Base. Blend water, fresh mint, ginger, sugar, and lime juice until smooth. Strain if desired for a smoother drink, or leave it unstrained for more texture and intensity.
- Muddle the Herbs. In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves, ginger slices, kaffir lime leaves, and smashed lemongrass to release their fragrant oils and aromas.
- Mix and Shake. Add gin, St-Germain, agave syrup, lime juice, blood orange bitters, and about half a cup of mint lemonade base to the shaker. Add ice and shake until cold.
- Pour and Serve! Strain into a cocktail glass filled with fresh ice, top with soda water or tonic, and garnish with mint leaves, lime wedges, kaffir lime leaves, or edible flowers.
How to Make This a Mocktail
Skip the gin and St-Germain and add up to 1 oz blood orange bitters, an extra tablespoon of lime juice, and top generously with soda water or ginger beer for a refreshing, alcohol-free version.
Notes
- Use fresh ingredients: Fresh mint, lime juice, ginger, and herbs really make this gin mint cocktail shine. Skip bottled lime juice for the best flavor.
- Don’t skip the muddling: Muddling kaffir lime leaves, ginger, and mint releases their essential oils and brings out all those Thai-inspired aromas.
- Adjust sweetness to taste: Start with less agave or simple syrup and add more as needed. You can always sweeten later!
- Chill everything first: Cold soda water, gin, and even chilled glasses help keep this drink extra refreshing and reduce dilution.
- Strain for a smooth finish: If you prefer less texture, strain the mint lemonade base before mixing.
- Prep Time: 15
- Category: cocktail
- Method: shaking
- Cuisine: fusion
Hi there, I’m Suwanee!
I'm the person behind this Thai food blog. I spent thirteen years of childhood in Thailand, where I was first introduced to the flavors of Thai cooking. You are in the right place if you: Love to cook Thai food. Come by often, and let's get cooking!
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