5 Tips to Create the PERFECT Gin and Tonic

Classic Gin and Tonic

A classic gin and tonic consists of only two ingredients. It can’t get much simpler.

Yet there are 5 key things most people overlook.

Each one might seem insignificant but following these 5 tips will result in a stand out gin and tonic.

One that is…

Refreshing. Effervescent. Citrusy. Bittersweet. Complex yet simple.

A perfect gin and tonic can’t be beat.

Follow these 5 tips to create your perfect G&T:

1. Choose the Right Glassware

The highball glass is commonly used for two-ingredient mixed drinks and cocktails, including the Americano, Whiskey Highball, Mojito, Southside Fizz, and the Paloma.

What do they have in common?

They are all carbonated.

The tall, slender shape of the highball glass makes it ideal for retaining carbonation. Meaning your drink will stay bubbly for longer.

CO2 is more soluble at colder temperatures too so make sure you use cold tonic water and your glassware is chilled.

A colder drink means better bubbles to carry flavour.

2. Use Good Quality Ice

At first it might seem counterintuitive to completely fill your glass with ice.

More ice means more water, right?

Not quite…

Using lots of ice means your drink will get to a very cold temperature much faster. The abundance of ice in your glass will then maintain the temperature for a super refreshing gin and tonic.

Avoid using lots of small pieces of ice. It will chill your drink incredibly quickly due to the increased surface area but the faster chilling will come at the cost of more dilution.

Ice cubes that are 25–30mm are best suited for serving gin and tonics and most cocktails.

3. Pick a Great Gin

For a classic gin and tonic you’ll want to reach for a gin that has prominent notes of juniper and citrus, such as a London dry gin.

The pine, citrus and subtle spice notes of this style of gin are what makes a “classic” gin and tonic, pairing perfectly with the bitterness and citrus notes of tonic water. Of course, we do encourage experimenting with different styles of gin.

Gin and tonics are often finished with a slice of citrus to add a touch of acidity so a gin with strong citrus notes will work remarkably well in a G&T.

Our first gin release, Aromatic Gin, was specifically crafted for making the perfect gin and tonic. Featuring fresh grapefruit, orange and lemon peel along with a strong base of juniper, supported by subtle spice and floral notes.

A great gin is essential to making a great gin and tonic.

Don’t forget to measure the amount of gin you add to your drink too. Quality over quantity!

4. Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Tonic Water

Tonic water is a carbonated soft drink containing quinine. British soldiers stationed in India began drinking tonic water to prevent and combat malaria back in the late 1800s.

Tonic water is one of the most crucial components of making that perfect gin and tonic especially considering that ¾ of your drink will be tonic.

Whilst there are a plethora of new brands of tonic water hitting the market, the stand out and most reliable brand is Fever-Tree.

Fever-Tree has a long list of different styles of tonic but it’s the Mediterranean and Indian that we reach for first when we pour ourselves a gin and tonic.

It's important to ensure balance between both ingredients too. A ratio of 1 part gin to 3 parts tonic is what we recommend and, after polling 2,500+ gin drinkers, 1 out of 2 people agree with us.

5. Up Your Garnish Game

This is your time to get creative.

You can garnish your gin and tonic with almost anything.

Fruit. Citrus. Spice. Flowers.

But the best way to make a great gin and tonic is surprisingly simple.

Pair the garnish with the botanicals that are used to make the gin. This will highlight those flavours from within the gin.

So don’t go adding cucumber to EVERY gin and tonic 😉

Pair your garnish with your gin.

Suggested Gin and Tonic Serves

Gin	Featured Botanicals	Garnish	Tonic
Aromatic Gin	Grapefruit, rosemary, lavender, pepperberry, orange	Grapefruit + rosemary sprig	Fever-Tree Indian Tonic
Mediterranean Gin	Olive, lemon, thyme, capers, basil, bay leaf	Green olive + lemon + bay leaf	Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic
Tom Yummy Gin	Lemongrass, ginger, kaffir lime leaf, lemon, lime, coconut, black pepper	Lime wheel + slice of ginger	Fever-Tree Indian Tonic
Raspberry Gin	Fresh raspberries macerated in a citrus-forward gin	Orange + raspberries	Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic
Blood Orange Gin	Blood orange distilled and macerated in our Mediterranean Gin	Blood orange + bay leaf	Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic