The best thing about mixing a gin and tonic, is you can add whatever you like to the mix, and it will still taste great.
From adding a little cranberry juice, fresh slices of lime or frozen cubes with mixed berries hiding inside. There’s nothing you can’t do when creating a gin and tonic, you just need a little imagination.
Listed as a staple drink on a long list of favoured cocktails, the humble gin and tonic cocktail is a drink which has certainly tested time.
It began during the reign of the British East India company in India during the 1700s when Malaria was beginning to pose a problem.
A Scottish doctor, George Cleghorn, discovered that quinine, a flavour component of tonic water could be used to treat Malaria. However, many people didn’t like the taste of tonic water. So, British officers in the early 1800s began to add water, sugar, lime and gin. And the famous gin and tonic cocktail was formed.
To mix the perfect gin and tonic this Christmas, there are 3 important factors to note:
- The More Ice the Better:
Though you may think putting more ice in means you are diluting the drink too much, the truth is, it’s the type of ice you use. The bigger the better. Use large ice cubes or large round ice balls. The larger the ice cube, or ball, the less times it takes to dissolve and will keep the drink nice and cool as well.
Keeping all components cool will also help sustain carbonation and ultimately retain a more cohesive flavour profile.
- Don’t Skimp on the Garnish:
The function of a cocktail garnish is to add gentle aromatics which amplify and enhance the drink without actually becoming the drink. A slice of lemon, lime, or orange can easily overwhelm the gin, so the garnish should provide just enough citrus to better your drinking experience.
Try rubbing a little lemon rind or orange-peel along the rim of the glass and leave this for 2-3 minutes ahead of preparation, ensuring the beautiful citrus fragrance can take hold. Or freeze fruit in your ice cubes, so the flavour with become subtle in the drink as the ice melts.
TIP: Sweet tooth cocktail lovers like to use cranberry juice or orange juice mixed with their gin and tonic. This is okay, however, it will subdue the gin flavour. To add a touch of flavour, use a quatre of a nip of juice so it doesn’t overpower.
- Keep it Bubbly:
Bubbles in your gin and tonic are key to the perfect flavour sensations of the drink. This is because the human tongue has sensors which experience carbonation in similar ways it does when tasting sour and salty tastes.
To stop your tonic water from going flat, don’t purchase large bottles of the drink, but purchase smaller ones instead. That way, every time you open a bottle, it’s less likely to go flat quickly.
Check out this easy to make festive gin and tonic recipe for Christmas.
What you need:
- 50ml of preferred gin
- 150ml of premium Indian Tonic
- A handful of ice cubes, or two large ones
- 2 slices of orange
- A sprig of rosemary
- Fresh cranberries if accessible
How to make it:
- Grab your preferred drinking glass and pop some ice cubes in. If you’re using large ones, 2 will do.
- Pour your gin into the glass, then top the glass to the brim with tonic water.
- Use one of the orange slices to rub around the rim of the glass to add a nice zesty orange flavour, and then place the other orange slice onto the rim, by slicing it slightly so it sits on the glass.
- Drop in a few cranberries if you have them, and then place the sprig of rosemary into the glass wedging into the ice cubes.
Viola. A delicious festive gin and tonic drink for Christmas.
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