Check Out The Conversation Here
Tim McKirdy: Welcome to VinePairs Cocktail College. Im your host, Tim McKirdy, and Im very happy to welcome Simon Ford to the show. I think youre going to need to get Sting on the phone because youve got a couple of Brits out here hanging out in New York.
Simon Ford: Its great to be here talking about my favorite topic, classic cocktails. Love the show. Love what its all about, and glad we can talk about another drink today.
T: Thank you, Simon. Regular listeners of the show will be very familiar with yourself or at least your gin brand because I feel like Fords Gin comes up so often that I felt like we have to reach out to you. And I know you have that extensive history in bartending yourself, too. So I felt like it was becoming a bit awkward. We had to get you on the show because this is overdue by this point.
S: And now I promise, I promise this is like we havent sponsored this. Im here as a guest. This is organic. This is not pay-to-play.
T: History also being something which I know is dear to your heart, we are going to get into an incredible historical cocktail today. Because the Gin & Tonic is drenched in history, like so many of these gin drinks are that weve mentioned so far. But this one perhaps even more so than others, right? Were going to get into that. Thats going to be great.
Personalised Gin & Tonic Gift Sets
Theres nothing tastier than a homemade gin and tonic, especially with your own unique personalised set. If youre looking for a gift for a loved one that loves a tasty G & T, surprise them with a fun gin & tonic gift set. This is a fantastic idea for people who enjoy a delicious cocktail and are celebrating a special moment. You can create your very own personalised wooden case or engraved gin & tonic glass online. Creating your design is easy! Simply select your favourite gin and tonic set, choose a design, add a photo and/or text and we will personalise your wooden case for you with great care and precision.
What Kind Of Gin Should I Use To Make A Gin And Tonic
When making gin and tonics, choose a gin that is mid- to high-shelf. A London dry gin , Plymouth or Bombay work well. London dry gins will be more straightforward in flavor while Plymouth gin will be a bit more aromatic. Weve also used Bombay Sapphire and loved it, but we really enjoy Sapphires extra spiciness.
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Six Food Pairings For Gin That Might Surprise You
Given the immense popularity of gin the chances of you sitting in a bar downing a gin-based cocktail are pretty high. But at some point you’re going to need something to eat so what kind of food can you pair with it?
There arent gin dinners in the same way there are whisky dinners but there are some dishes that work particularly well with gin – especially served simply as a G & T
The secret is in the botanicals …
Paté
You know how you often season a paté with juniper berries? Well, stands to reason then that juniper-based gin should work too and it does.
Cucumber sandwiches
G & T with afternoon tea? Well, why not especially if your tastes run more to savoury things than sweet. Think cucumber sandwiches in particular . Egg sarnies, crab and smoked salmon sandwiches are good too.
Prawn toasts
I stumbled on this by accident and theyre just brilliant with a G & T. As are veggie spring rolls
Same principle. Deep-fried, spicy food, refreshing botanicals. Try it!
Fish & chips
This is a bit more counter-intuitive – after all you may be longing for a glass of Cava or a good cup of tea but its a really refreshing contrast to that rich batter. Gin can take a bit of garlic too if you want to serve a dollop of aioli on the side
Strong pongy cheeses
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G& t’s Origins In Short:
The history of the G& T really begins to take shape with the East India Trading Company and British colonial India, when the British troops would mix their medicinal quinine with gin to make it more palatable.
It wasnt the first time quinine was used to treat malaria, as there are reports of its usage in 1631 when malaria was endemic to the swamps and marshes surrounding the city of Rome .
It is clearly possible to trace the gin and tonic back to the early days of Queen Victoria and expatriates returning from the Indian colonies who had developed a taste for the concoction, but this is too simple a version of history. Tonic wines made with quinine were also on the market and the rise of the G& T is a murky culmination of factors – medicine, colonial empires, the move of some medicinal tinctures and concoctions into more recreational drinking contexts, the dawn of carbonated drinks and iced drinks becoming a known luxury.
The often repeated origin story may be simple to grasp and make a catchy headline, but history seldom is. Moreover, it’s all those elements and the way they create a confluence of factors that makes the rise of such an iconic cocktail possible in the first place so fascinating.
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Whats The Best Tonic To Use For Gin And Tonics
I prefer the tonic water sold in the smaller, single-serving bottles. The tonic will be fresh and you wont lose any fizz. A lot of people swear by Schweppes, but we cant say we have noticed a difference enough to specify on that one. We particularly enjoy the Fever Tree and Q tonics.
For a lower calorie cocktail, you can use light tonic. Light tonic doesnt have as much flavor as regular, but it does help to lower the calories. You can also water regular tonic down with a little seltzer water or club soda.
Pink Raspberry & Lime Gin And Tonic
Handful of ripe raspberries 50ml gin125ml tonic Fresh lime
Muddle the raspberries very lightly. Add lots of ice to to your shaker or glass along with the muddled raspberries, gin, tonic and a few good squeezes of juice from the lime. Stir or shake for 30 seconds, until the juice from the raspberries has mingled well with the gin/tonic mixture and the drink is chilled. Garnish with fresh raspberries and a slice of lime. You could use pink gin for this recipe if desired.
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Mixing A Classic Gin And Tonic
What Kind Of Glass Do You Use For A Gin And Tonic
The best gin and tonic is served in a tall highball glass otherwise known as a Tom Collins glass, holding eight to twelve ounces.
Only have a lowball glass, also called a rocks glass or old fashioned glass? Since a lowball glass is smaller, only four to six ounces, youll probably have to use less ice and halve the amount of gin and tonic. Basically, just make a smaller drink!
Maybe youd like to try the new trend for a G & T: Serve it in a balloon glass, a stemmed glass with a large bowl, pretty similar to a red wine glass.
Straw or no straw? Totally up to you!
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How To Store Gin
You should store gin the same way you store other distilled alcohols, such as rum or tequila. That means you should keep the bottle in a cool and dry area, away from sunlight and any sources of heat.
While the pantry is a perfect choice, a beverage cabinet in the living room is okay too. Especially if you dont want to keep the gin there forever.
After opening the bottle for the first time, oxidation starts to be an issue. In short, oxidation is a process that changes the taste of alcohol.
To learn how the process affects the alcohol, you can leave a glass with a tiny amount of gin overnight and taste it the next day. Chances are, youll notice the change of taste, and you likely wont be happy about it.
To slow down the oxidation process, seal the bottle tightly when not in use, and dont ever store it with a pourer on. Furthermore, if you have a half-full bottle of gin and you dont expect to use it within a few months, pour the alcohol into a smaller bottle. The more air in the bottle, even if its sealed, the faster the oxidation.
More Gin Cocktail Recipes
- You cant go wrong with this Classic Gin Fizz Cocktail. Its uncomplicated, fresh, light, and timeless.
- Learn what sloe gin is and how to use it to make one of our favorite cocktails: The Sloe Gin Fizz.
- Have you ever heard of a Southside Cocktail? Its a simple cocktail recipe Gin-based, mint-kissed with a touch of citrus.
- Add an herbal spin to the classic gin fizz cocktail with fresh rosemary and make Rosemary Gin Fizzes.
Recipe updated, originally posted December 2012. Since posting this in 2012, we have tweaked the recipe to be more clear. Adam and Joanne
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Recipe: The Perfect G& t
- 50ml Sipsmith London Dry Gin
- 150ml good quality tonic water, we use Fever-Tree Indian Tonic
Fill a thin-rimmed highball glass up to the top with ice cubes and pour in gin. Top with tonic water and garnish with a wedge of fresh lime. Using a stirrer or long spoon, lift the liquid from the bottom to gently combine the gin without reducing the fizz.
Why We Love This Recipe
Along with a dirty martini, the gin and tonic was my first love of a classic cocktail. My parents used to drink them on the back patio once in a while when the weather was nice. The ritual may have hooked me first, but the bracing, herbal qualities of a good gin, the generous squeeze of lime, and the slight, sweet fizz of tonic are what sold me in the end.
A stiff G& T is:
- Well-balanced. A little bit herbal // a little bit bitter // a little bit sweet // a little bit sour // a little bit fizzy
- Breezy and summery at its core, yet classic enough to be welcome all year round
- SO easy to make. This highball cocktail is neither shaken nor stirred.
- As refreshing or bracing as you like. We give our suggestions here, but you get to control the pour.
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Is It Safe To Drink Tonic Water Every Day
It is generally harmless for most people to drink tonic water daily in moderation. Quinine is the ingredient in tonic water that is responsible for its semi-bitter and dry taste. The alkaloid is derived from cinchona bark and can lead to quinine toxicity in high doses. This is most often a concern in medication form or for people with certain medical conditions, and it can interact with some medications. To ensure the tonic water sold in the U.S. is safe, the FDA limits how much quinine can be present in tonic water.
How To Make This Classic G & T Your Own:
When you change anything in a classic gin and tonic, Id say its no longer a classic. However, that being said, heres a few variations:
- Increase/decrease the amount of gin. If you prefer a drink with less alcohol, use more tonic water and less gin.
- Substitute vodka for the gin to make a vodka tonic, if you prefer.
- Use lemon wedges in place of lime, or dont add citrus at all. Cucumber slices are commonly used instead of or with lime as a garnish.
- If you like a lot of lime flavor, squeeze lime juice into the G & T or run a lime wedge on the rim of the glass.
- Like oranges? Try this Orange Gin and Tonic with Cinnamon for an exciting variation. Or try a Cranberry Gin and Tonic with Rosemary.
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Tips And Tricks For Making The Best Gin And Tonic
The honest truth here is that if you are a person who absolutely hates gin, then you may never really come to enjoy a good g& t- and thats ok. But, dont rule it out until youve tried these simple tips!
TIP- If you are more of a vodka person, follow these simple tips, simply swap the gin for vodka.
Tonic Water Vs Tonic Syrup
Now that youve got your quality gin, its time to pick a quality tonic water or syrup.
Although the soda aisle in the local grocery store has plenty of tonic water made by big soda companies, these tend to be overly sweet, have an artificial taste, or a combination of the two.
In fact, I hated Gin and Tonics as a twenty-something until I was finally introduced to the high end tonic waters from Fever-Tree and Q Mixers. In addition to these well known craft brands, other high quality tonic waters are made by Fentimans, Regatta, and others.
Tonic syrup is a concentrate that you can mix with carbonated water to make your own tonic water. Tonic syrups can be much more economical because a small bottle of relatively inexpensive syrup can make many glasses of tonic. Also, using a syrup allows you to decide how strong or weak your tonic tastes.
There are a number of tonic syrups available in stores or on Amazon, and you can even make your own pretty easily with cinchona bark! Try the tonic syrups from Liber & Co, Jack Rudy Cocktail Co, or the craft syrups from Free Pour Jennys.
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Cocktail Hour: Dillons Rose Gin + Tonic
Im strictly a gin drinker, and my go-to cocktail for any occasion is the gin and tonic. While the basic G+T never goes out of style, sometimes it doesnt hurt to dress it up a little, and give the classic cocktail a modern update. Enter my Dillons Rose Gin and Tonic recipe a delicious, slightly sweet concoction created to delight all of your senses.
Not only does this gin and tonic have subtle hints of rose in it, but it also replaces the tangy citrus flavours found in the classic cocktail in favour of sweeter notes, thanks to the vanilla liqueur.
Pictured: lowball glass | paper straw | Cheers stir stick | bar spoon
I like to combine the Dillons Rose Gin and Galliano first, so that I can give those a proper swirl with my bar spoon, before adding in the tonic water and ice. I find this helps the flavours to mix better.
Once the cocktail is properly stirred, pop in a straw and garnish the drink with a fresh rose petal or two, to bring out the rose notes in the gin and lets face it make it look incredibly fancy.
Ill be posting a few more cocktail recipes in time for any holiday or New Years Eve parties you might be hosting this year. I know Ill be serving these up at my Christmas party! x
Sara