The Perfect Cocktail - Gin & Tonic

Gin & Tonic is one of the simplest and easiest cocktails to make. The simple mix of gin, tonic, and ice is more commonly known as G and T in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. It is also known as Gin Tonic in certain parts of the world, including Italy, Germany, France, and Japan.

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HISTORY OF THE GIN & TONIC COCKTAIL

The origin of the Gin & Tonic cocktail can be traced to the army of the British East India Company, India. It was when the country and others in the tropical regions were battling with constant malaria outbreaks. George Cleghorn, a Scottish physician who existed between 1716 and 1789, found quinine to be effective in preventing the disease and not just a cure for it. The quinine was administered by mixing it in tonic water before drinking. However, the mixture was so bitter that British officers in India opted to add a mixture of water, sugar, lime, and gin (an ingredient readily available to them at the time) to make it less unpleasant, sweet even. And that’s how the Gin & Tonic cocktail was born.

Today though, the mixture of gin and tonic no longer serves as an antimalarial, and as such, tonic water contains less and less quinine than was obtainable. However, it is probably the fact that it had some health benefits and its excellent taste that gave popularity to the G and T.

In the book, Dr. No, written by the English author Ian Fleming, James Bond, a fictional British Secret Service agent, specifies a Gin and Tonic recipe. Although the recipe involved the juice of a lime, it did not deviate much from the original and may be another reason for the Gin Tonic’s popularity. The International Gin & Tonic day has been celebrated worldwide since its institution in 2010.

MAKE YOUR OWN GIN & TONIC

There is nothing complex about making a Gin & Tonic cocktail. Once you have Gin, Tonic water, ice, and lime, you can do a simple mix and have yourself a ball. However, a measure of balance in the recipe is the key to making a great Gin & Tonic. Hence, here’s a simple directive to making the perfect G and T.

Pour

• 6cl (2oz) of gin
• 12cl (4oz) of tonic water,
• 1 tablespoon of lime or lemon juice

into a highball glass filled with ice and then garnish with a slice of lime or lemon. That’s it, and you’re good to go.

VARIATIONS

With slight tweaks, you can produce an equally great Gin & Tonic cocktail to your taste.

• Use Vodka instead if you are not a fan of gin.
• Some fruit juice, such as cranberry, apple, and orange, won’t hurt your cocktail one bit.

THE GIN & TONIC COLLECTION