How to Make a Gin and Tonic That Doesn’t Suck
In a simple libation like gin and tonic, the spirit should really shine. Too often, a sugary, cheesy tonic hides its partner’s botanical qualities, making G&T far less refreshing than it should be. Luckily, longtime cocktail author Camper English – who literally wrote a book on the drink – provides some tips on how to tune your tonic and make sure your G&T reaches its full potential.
- Packaging matters: For starters, Camper recommends buying toner in glass bottles, not because it’s beautiful, but because it’s carbonated best.
- You don’t have to use the whole tonic: if your tonic is too sweet for your taste, Camper suggests “either diluting it with a little soda, or adding a little bitterness to neutralize the sweetness. Some people freeze the bitters in ice cubes for a slow effect. ” (I think these people are very smart.)
- Use some restraint with citrus fruits: instead of squeezing the juice of a lemon or lime into a drink, “try with the peel only – squeeze the peel down to squeeze the oils into the drink. Also consider using grapefruit instead of lemon or lime in your drink. the bitterness of some grapefruit goes really well. “
Once you’ve learned how to make a gin and tonic that respects your gin and doesn’t hide it, you’re ready for a summer in which you’ll enjoy fine drinks. If you want to get your friends involved, you can throw a DIY G&T party , but I wouldn’t blame you for keeping all the gin to yourself.