Your G&T Could Be Better (Here's How)

The humble gin and tonic deserves more respect than its common reputation as a simple two-ingredient cocktail. Through the years, it’s become a personal favorite here at Libation Chronicles. This sophisticated marriage of botanicals and bubbles has evolved from its medicinal origins into one of the most nuanced and personalized drinks in the modern cocktail landscape.

A bottle of Fever-Tree raspberry and rhubarb tonic water sits beside a glass containing ice, gin, rosemary, and pink peppercorns on a golden tray.

Watch 🎥 : How to Make a G&T

What Is a Gin and Tonic Cocktail?

A gin and tonic is a highball cocktail combining London Dry gin with tonic water, traditionally garnished with lime. Originally created in the 1800s by British officers in India who mixed their daily dose of antimalarial quinine tonic with gin to make it more palatable, it’s since become one of the world’s most refined yet approachable cocktails.

A gin and tonic cocktail with ice, rosemary, and peppercorns is served in a ribbed glass on a tiled surface.

What you’ll love about this recipe:

COMPLEX – We’ve elevated the classic G&T with carefully selected botanicals that complement your gin’s natural flavor profile, creating layers of complexity you won’t find in a standard preparation.
EXPERIENTIAL – Our European service style presentation allows you to customize your perfect ratio throughout your drinking experience, making each sip a unique expression of your preferences.

What You Need to Make a Gin and Tonic

Gin: Choose a quality London Dry gin that leads with juniper and citrus notes.
Fever Tree Tonic Water: The benchmark for premium tonic water, offering clean quinine notes without artificial sweeteners.
Juniper Berries: Fresh berries amplify the gin’s core botanical profile.
Pink Peppercorns: Adds a subtle spice note and beautiful visual element.
Rosemary Sprigs: Provides an aromatic complement to the gin’s herbaceous character.

How to Make a Gin and Tonic

Select a crystal-clear highball glass and fill it with large, clear ice cubes.
Add 3-4 juniper berries, a pinch of pink peppercorns, and a fresh sprig of rosemary.
Pour the gin over the ice and botanicals.
Present the tonic water separately in its bottle, allowing for personal dilution preferences.

Expert Recipe Tips

Tip 1: Temperature is crucial – ensure both your gin and tonic water are well-chilled before serving.
Tip 2: Use large, clear ice cubes to maintain the drink’s clarity and prevent rapid dilution.
Tip 3: When selecting your gin, consider the dominant botanicals and match your garnishes accordingly.

A clear glass with ice cubes, gin, peppercorns, and a rosemary sprig sits on a sunlit surface with a pink bottle of tonic water in the background.

How to Serve This Gin and Tonic

Following the continental European tradition, serve the gin over ice with garnishes in a highball glass, presenting the tonic water separately. This service style transforms the drink into an interactive experience, allowing guests to adjust their ratio as they sip.

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Prep Time:5

Total Time:5

Ingredients

2 oz Gin we're not biased but we do love Jame's Gin when making a proper Gin and Tonic. Botanist is a strong second choice.
6 oz Fever Tree Tonic Water
Juniper Berries
Pink Peppercorns
Rosemary sprigs

Instructions

Fill a glass with ice and add the juniper berries, pink peppercorns and rosemary sprigs.
Pour the gin over the ice and serve with tonic water.

Video

Servings: 1 cocktail

Author: Kita

Recipe FAQs

Why serve the tonic separately?

This European service style allows you to customize your drink’s strength and carbonation level throughout your experience.

Which gin works best in this recipe?

We recommend a traditional London Dry gin, though any premium gin with prominent juniper notes will work beautifully. To be honest, we’ve been known to use a different gin every day of the week just to taste the different nuances of each.

Can I prepare this in advance for a gathering?

Not really, while the glasses can be pre-chilled and garnished, you want to combine the gin and tonic just before serving to maintain optimal carbonation.

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