Gin and Tonic
Gin and quinine tonic over plenty of ice. Bitter, bright and dry, and only as good as its ice and tonic.
- MethodBuilt
- GlassHighball glass
- IceCubes
- Strengthabout 11.4% ABV
- BaseGin
- Tasterefreshing, bitter
Recipe
| 45 ml 1½ oz | London dry gin |
| Top up: 120 ml 4 oz | Tonic water |
Garnish. A wedge of lime squeezed over and dropped in; lemon, cucumber or a twist of grapefruit suit some gins better.
Method
- Fill a highball glass to the top with ice.
- Pour in the gin and stir briefly to chill it.
- Top with cold tonic, pouring down a bar spoon or the side of the glass to keep the bubbles.
- Squeeze in the lime wedge and give one gentle lift with the spoon.
About the Gin and Tonic
The gin and tonic is gin lengthened with tonic water, a carbonated mixer flavoured with bitter quinine and usually sweetened. It is dry, bitter and very refreshing. The quality of the tonic, a full glass of cold ice and the ratio (about one part gin to three of tonic) decide how good it is.
History
Earliest record 1868: Oriental Sporting Magazine (mention, no recipe)
Documented
Quinine-flavoured soda waters were patented and sold in Britain from the late 1850s, and were taken up in British India, where quinine was used against malaria. The earliest known mention of the drink by name is in an 1868 issue of the Oriental Sporting Magazine, describing a race meeting at Sialkot in present-day Pakistan, where "gin and tonic" is one of the calls heard from the crowd. By the 1880s it was described as a favourite drink of the British in India.
Legend and lore
The idea that soldiers or officials invented it as medicine to make their quinine palatable is widely repeated. Tonic water carried far too little quinine to protect anyone, and early accounts treat it as a social drink, not a remedy.
Variations
- Spanish-style Gin Tonic. Served in a large wine glass with lots of ice and aromatic garnishes such as juniper, citrus peel or herbs.
- Gin Rickey. Gin, fresh lime and plain soda: sharper and unsweetened.
- Moscow Mule. Another simple highball, with vodka, lime and ginger beer.
Bartender's notes
- Use fresh, cold tonic from a small bottle; a large bottle opened yesterday will be flat.
- Fill the glass with ice. More ice keeps the drink colder and makes it melt more slowly, not faster.
