Step 1

Add mint leaves to a shaker and lightly muddle the leaves with a cocktail muddler. Go easy — you just want to release the essential oils from the mint, not pulverize it.

Step 2

Fill the shaker with a handful of ice and add the gin, lime juice, and simple syrup. Shake until ingredients are combined and chilled.

Step 3

Add ice to a collins or high ball glass. Then strain the shaken drink ingredients into the glass. Top with sparkling water.

Step 4

Adjust the cocktail to your tastes by tweaking as desired. You can add more juice to make tarter, more syrup to make it sweeter, more sparkling water to make it weaker, and make or gin to make it stronger. Garnish as desired and enjoy!