How to Make the Best Gin and Tonic

let’s begin

"How to make the best gin and tonic?" Should be easy, but this was one of the most popular gin-based search terms of the last year, so we thought why not help you answer that question with our three steps to make the perfect gin and tonic. Gin is going through more than a revival, with a boom in interest and lots of new brands popping up all the time - there were 83 new gin brands released in 2017 alone!

It’s a versatile spirit that tastes great in cocktails or on in the best Gin & Tonic. You can pair it with lots of different things as well as enjoying its complexity on its own.

If you’re looking to enjoy your gin and get the most out of it, we are about to tell you how to make the perfect gin and tonic…

1. Start with the Gin

Choose your Gin of choice. This is of course up to personal preference, but whatever Gin you start with will influence the rest of your newly created perfect Gin & Tonic.

You could go for something with a classic, easy going flavour profile like Beefeater or Gordon’s, which are quality Gins and fairly typically found in your local pub.

If you want something a bit more complex, then Forest Gin, Sipsmith, Hendrick’s or Hayman’s are all great choices. They have a larger flavour profile than some others and will add a bit more taste alongside the usual juniper notes.

You can also go for Gins with a more distinctive flavour profile, such as Hoxton’s (coconut and grapefruit) or something like lavender or cherry bakewell Gin. These will usually have been infused with something, to allow more flavours to develop.

If you go for an infused Gin, then you should focus the rest of your Gin & Tonic or bringing out or complementing those flavours.

2. Now for the Tonic

To get the most out of your Perfect Gin and Tonic, choose a tonic that complements or enhances the flavour of the Gin.

Fentimans, Fever Tree and Schweppes are very popular Tonics. They go well with all Gins really and will allow the Gins flavours to develop.

If you’ve chosen something with a more focussed flavour, such as an infused Gin, then there are plenty of different Tonics that will help bring out this flavour.

You can get all different types of Tonics, including grapefruit and citrus flavoured ones. These are best used with Gins that have a flavour profile that focuses more on citrus or fruit elements.

The key is to look around and see what different types of Tonic you can get and use that in conjunction with the flavour profile of the Gin. My personal preference is slimline tonic, and always note that a good gin should stand up against the tonic, as well as a tool tonic standing up against the gin – it is all about balance.

3. Finish with a Flourish

Lastly, choose the perfect garnish. This is very important to achieve a perfect gin and tonic.

Again, it all depends on the favour profile of your Gin. If it has citrus notes, go for lemon, lime or orange. Grapefruit is also an excellent choice. Cucumber or mint are popular as well, and add a refreshing note to Gin & Tonic, bringing out some of the more earthy aromas.

A new addition to Gin garnishes is honeycomb, which is becoming more popular with sweeter Gins.

Really, how to make the best gin and tonic you craft is really up to personal preference, but to get the best out of it, use ingredients that work with each other, that will allow the complexity of the Gin to really come out.

Tags: Gingin and tonicTonic

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.