Gin and tonic is a drink with an unsophisticated name and a very specific taste. Sweet and bitter at the same time, it consists of two unique ingredients – gin, which is considered the most versatile alcohol in the world, and tonic, which changed the course of a certain war. What is the history of this cocktail and the beverages needed to make it? How to serve gin and tonic? What can be used to diversify the drink?
A brief history of gin
Gin is a strong alcohol with a specific taste, produced from juniper berries. Medicine using this medicinal plant was created in antiquity, although the first written mentions only appeared in the 13th century. The homeland of gin – or rather "genever", as juniper berries steeped in spirit were called – is the Netherlands. It was sold as a diuretic medicine that was supposed to prevent kidney stones.
The English brought it to the British Isles only at the end of the 16th century. They called this drink "Dutch Courage", because soldiers drank it for courage before battle. The British fell in love with the bittersweet taste of this juniper spirit, calling it gin. Its popularity increased in the 18th century after high tariffs were imposed on imported alcohol. The consumption of this alcohol increased to such pathological proportions that the English government issued the so-called "Gin Act" introducing restrictions on the production of the drink!
Prohibition lasted almost 200 years. After this time, only the best producers remained on the alcohol market, and English gin under the London Dry brand took over tables around the world. Its various varieties are also produced in Spain, Germany, the United States, New Zealand, and Australia. For its production, in addition to spirit from grain or molasses, juniper is, of course, needed. These can be combined in a process of double distillation, maceration of juniper berries, or mixing alcohol and extract from the berries of this plant. Producers add herbs, spices, and, of course, water. A drink similar in taste to gin is called Sloe Gin – a liqueur made from sloe berries.
The most popular is London Dry, but right after it, aromatic Plymouth Gin is also readily served. Old Tom Gin, on the other hand, is an English alcohol that has not changed its recipe for the last three centuries! In the Netherlands, the traditional name "genever" has been preserved, and in Germany, "dornkaat" is produced. Americans drink mild, weak gin under the Seagram's Extra Dry brand, although those imported from England are preferred. Gin is also produced in Poland, which can be a high-quality ingredient for a gin and tonic.
Gin is also deeply rooted in pop culture. This is thanks to James Bond, who ordered a shaken, not stirred cocktail containing this spirit. His fans also included Winston Churchill, Humphrey Bogart, and Ernest Hemingway. In addition to tonic, gin can be mixed with vermouth, creating a popular aperitif - Martini. Bartenders also use gin to serve Margaritas. However, the most popular and easiest to make is Gin&Tonic.
Also check out: Types and ways of serving Martini.
Tonic - a tasty medicine for a dangerous disease
Quinine is responsible for the specific taste of tonic. It comes from the quinine tree growing in South America. It is the first known effective remedy for malaria spread by mosquitoes. At one time, it decimated entire societies living in countries in Asia and Africa. Today, however - due to potential side effects - it is more often used in cosmetics and the food industry than in medicine. However, there are some restrictions on its use - what is medicine becomes poison in larger doses. This is the case with quinine, a dozen grams of which can kill an adult.
Interestingly - quinine exhibits very intense fluorescent properties. It is enough to expose a bottle of tonic bought in a shop to sunlight and then illuminate it with ultraviolet light to see a bluish glow!
Gin and tonic – a mixture of a drink that "gives courage" to the English with medicinal quinine – changed the fate of a large part of the world. The British army, during the invasion of India, consumed the original, bitter version of the cocktail to protect themselves from malaria. It is worth remembering this story when ordering this specific drink.
Gin and tonic proportions
How to prepare gin and tonic? You will need:
- 100 ml of well-chilled gin,
- 200 ml of well-chilled tonic,
- a quarter of a lemon or lime,
- a glass or tumbler of appropriate volume,
- ice
Glasses for drinks and cocktails should be filled with ice. The whole is poured with gin and tonic mixed with a bar spoon. Finally, squeeze the juice from a quarter of a lemon and drop the remainder into the glass to complete the taste.
It should be remembered that everything must be well chilled, and the proportions of alcohol and beverage maintained. Both too little and too much tonic will affect the final taste of the cocktail!
Serving the Gin&Tonic drink
The basis of a gin and tonic is not only high-quality alcohol, but also well-chilled ice. A lot of it must fit in the glass - ideally, it should fill it - to perfectly chill the whole drink. What's more, it should not melt too quickly due to the glass being warmed by hand, as the taste of the cocktail will become too diluted.
Therefore, the best glass for serving gin and tonic will be one with a large volume and a wide bowl, which will enhance the aromatic experience. A lot of ice cubes will fit into it. Thanks to the narrow stem, warming the drink is avoided, so it will retain its unique taste qualities for longer. The garnishes are not squeezed, as in a typical glass, but present themselves interestingly in the glass as tonic bubbles settle on them.
Also check out: glasses for drinks and cocktails \n
Glasses and tumblers for serving Gin&Tonic from KROSNO
Colorful additions to gin and tonic
Gin can be combined with many other drinks if tonic needs to be avoided for health reasons. Spaniards, for example, mix it with cola. It can also be mixed with sparkling citrus-flavored water or other sour non-alcoholic beverages in similar proportions as in a traditional gin and tonic.
Another interesting drink is gin combined with orange and cranberry juice in a 1:2:1 ratio, with the addition of a rosemary sprig. For those who like dry flavors, gin connoisseurs recommend combining gin with a pinch of chili. Meanwhile, those who prefer sweet drinks will achieve an interesting aroma by adding strawberries and basil to gin and sparkling water.
Finally, gin can be drunk as Italians serve it. Simply mix one part gin with two parts vermouth and tonic or sparkling water in an ice-filled glass to create a Martini Fiero. The whole is garnished with an orange slice. The same serving method is recommended for the so-called Spritz – a combination of 25 ml prosecco, 50 ml gin, and 50 ml lemonade. Such drinks, served before a romantic dinner or during an evening gathering with friends, elegantly presented in tall glasses, will put the company in a good mood and stimulate appetite.