The Gin and Tonic
The world’s greatest gin drink is definitely the Gin and Tonic Cocktail.
The malaria treatment known as quinine was quite the unsavory flavor in days long gone, so enterprising malaria patients added gin to make the medicine go down.
Gin is A much better choice than sugar to help the medicine go down.
No doubt the gin uplifted the malaria sufferer’s spirits, also.
The traditional Gin and Tonic cocktail is simple, elegant, and timeless. Modern versions pair exotic gins full of flavor with equally flavorful tonics, topped off with garnishes as wild as your imagination.
But for now, the traditional Gin and Tonic.
Gin and Tonic
Go easy or heavy on the lime to taste.
Use this simple formula to create amazing and simple Gin and Tonic cocktails suited just to you.
Ingredients
- 1 Part Gin
- 1 to 2 Parts Tonic Water
- 1 Wedge Lime or not.
Instructions
- Start with a chilled glass. Toss any ice that you were using to chill your glass and add new.
- Measure and pour your gin right into your vessel of choice.
- Top off with your tonic. Many single serve tonics are just the right amount for a jigger of gin, however, add as much tonic as you like to taste.
- Finish with some lime. Options include a fresh squeeze of lime and the wedge tossed in. You can also just add a wedge of lime.
- If you want to skip the juice and focus on the citrus oil, it’s easy. Slice off some rind to twist over your glass, or twist and then rub along the rim of your glass. You can also toss the rind into your libation.
- Enjoy! Responsibly, of course!
Mix it up.
There are loads of ways to make your Gin and Tonic spicier, fruitier, zestier, or herbier. Clearly not an actual word, but it’s more fun than “more herbal”.
Change your gin. Many modern gins explore other flavors in addition to the juniper, so taste as many as you can. From super spicy gins, to floral gins, to citrus gins, the possibilities are endless.
Change your tonic. I’m a traditionalist in the sense that I want my tonic to be a barely-there accent, but you can always mix it up. Now you can find Mediterranean tonic, citrus tonics, and lite versions of tonics. And more.
Toss the lime and go for any number of other garnishes. Try mint, berries, basil, cinnamon, lemon, grapefruit, fig, pepper, whatever you have in your fridge or pantry or spice rack. Would I make a gin drink with tomato? NOPE. But you might?
Could you muddle up your garnish? You COULD, but then you are probably drowning out the gin flavors.
If you are in LOVE with gin and super simple recipes, might I suggest the Gin and Ginger? It’s delightful and easy.