Add Some Lilacs to Your Gin and Tonic
I don’t drink gin and tonic in winter, but it’s already winter. G&T is a garden drink that is best drunk while lounging among beautiful flowers and green fields (or backyard), preferably in a fun sundress. (They’re also a very good whirlpool drink – they seem to moisturize even though they’re the exact opposite.)
Aside from the gin, what I love about them is how adaptable they are. The combination of an invigorating spirit and an aggressively bitter (but still quite sweet) tonic goes well with fruits, herbs and even peppers, making it an excellent last drop for weary herbs or berries. It also pairs well with other spirits, especially lower alcoholic beverages like fortified wine, amari, and liqueurs.
Lille is one of these fortified wines and is particularly resilient for G&T. The golden, honeyed and aromatic aperitif tastes good with hints of mint, citrus and pine, all of which go well with quinine-flavored gin and tonic. (If you don’t like a ton of tonic, you can always chop it up in a little soda.) To make this little sip happy, you’ll need:
- 1 3/4 ounce gin
- 3/4 oz Lillet Blanc (although blush or rosé might work as well)
- 2-3 ounces of tonic water, depending on how much you like the tonic
Combine gin and lillet in a highball glass filled with crushed ice and stir. Top with tonic and garnish with the citrus peels you keep in the grocery drawer. Why not throw berries there too? Heck, I could even add some thinly sliced cucumbers. Finally good – go crazy.