How to Make the Perfect mainelove Gin and Tonic
You would think that gin and tonic would be a cocktail you can’t mess up. After all, there are just two key ingredients, and there’s no blending or muddling involved. But somehow, a lot of bars still end up pouring flat tonic over the gin and calling it a day.
The difference between a lifeless gin and tonic (G&T) and a really good one depends more on getting the mix of ingredients and temperature right than on the garnishes and extras. If you get those right, the rest don’t matter as much.
What gin and tonic is and where it came from
The origin story of the humble gin and tonic goes back to British colonial India. Soldiers were apparently dosing themselves with quinine to fend off malaria. Quinine, made from the bark of the cinchona tree and used as a prescription medicine, is quite bitter. So soldiers started mixing it with soda water, sugar, and their gin ration to make it bearable. This bitter, carbonated syrup eventually became tonic water. The drink the British soldiers created, the gin and tonic, has stayed popular to this day, albeit not for medicinal reasons.
The recipe for a gin and tonic is simple, and you don't need a lot of ingredients either. All you need is gin, tonic water, and ice. The drink’s appeal comes from its simplicity, but that makes the quality of your ingredients very important.
Note: Lime is optional, but our recipe includes it because we felt it helps balance the bitterness in the tonic water.
Ingredients you'll need to make a gin and tonic
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2 oz gin, chilled
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4 to 6 oz mainelove With Bubbles chilled (substitute for tonic water)
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1 lime, cut into wedges
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Ice
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, splash (optional)
How to make the perfect gin and tonic
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If you can plan ahead, keep your gin in the fridge and your glass in the freezer. Warm gin and a warm glass melt your ice way too fast, and we all know, a watered-down G&T is a sad G&T.
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Next, fill your glass with ice, packing it in rather than leaving gaps.
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Pour in the gin.
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Top with mainelove With Bubbles. Start with a ratio of 1 part gin to 2 parts tonic. If you prefer your G&T to be lighter, you can increase the mainelove water so it's 1 part gin to 3 parts tonic.
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Squeeze a lime wedge over the glass and then drop it in.
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Stir it gently, not too much because you don't want to lose the fizz.
P.S. Gin and tonics usually use tonic water, which can be sweet or heavy. By using mainelove with Bubbles as a substitute, it lightens the drink bringing out more of the gin botanical flavors.
FAQ
Is gin and tonic alcoholic?
Yes. Gin usually has an alcohol content of around 40%. Even when mixed with tonic water, a standard gin and tonic still contains a significant amount of alcohol.
Is gin the healthiest alcohol?
There’s no healthy alcohol, but gin is often seen as a better choice. This is because gin has lower sugar and calorie content than sweeter spirits. However, this benefit can be lost depending on what you mix it with, e.g., the sugar in tonic water.
What to mix in gin and tonic?
The most basic G&T has just tonic water and ice, but you can toss in other ingredients based on your preferences. Some popular options include lime juice, cucumber slices, and fresh herbs like rosemary or basil. You could also try a splash of grapefruit juice or mix in mainelove with Bubbles to lighten the drink.
Why do people drink gin and tonic?
People drink G&T partly because of the history and partly because it's easy to make. You don’t need any special tools or skills to make it, which makes it easy to order at a bar or prepare at home. People also enjoy its crisp and slightly bitter taste.
What are popular gin brands for a classic gin and tonic?
Bombay Sapphire and Tanqueray are popular London Dry gins in the US, and both mix well with tonic. Bombay Sapphire has a light citrus flavor with a mild taste of juniper. Tanqueray has a stronger juniper flavor. Beefeater is another classic choice. If you want to try something different, sample Hendrick's or Aviation, which have floral and herbal notes.
