Gin Tonic

Classic and simple: the gin and tonic. One of the simplest and at the same time best known of its kind, this gin cocktail is light and refreshing. It is a simple mixed drink consisting only of in and tonic water. This is a great choice for happy hour, dinner or anytime you just want an invigorating drink. We’ll show you a simple gin and tonic recipe that you can make very quickly in your own home. Have fun trying it out!

Gin Tonic Cocktail Recipe

6 cl gin
Tonic Water

Step by Step Guide

Pour the gin into a balloon glass.
Then add ice and tonic water.
Stir gently with a bar spoon and serve.

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Detailed preparation

The preparation of the gin and tonic is very simple. You just need two different ingredients, which are mixed together directly in the glass and then stirred gently. Measure out the gin with a jigger (it is also okay if you use a little more or less gin) and pour the juniper schnapps into a glass. A balloon glass or long drink glass is best for this. Then add some ice cubes and tonic water to the glass and stir everything gently with a bar spoon. Now you can garnish the gin cocktail with lime or lemon zest and serve. And that’s how easy and quick it is to prepare a gin and tonic cocktail.

Bar accessories:

Ice cubes
Long drink glass or balloon glass
Bar spoon

This is what the gin and tonic cocktail tastes like

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As already mentioned, this cocktail is one of the best-known and most popular cocktails of all. It is impossible to imagine cocktail bars without it, and not without reason: the taste of this drink is pleasantly fruity-fresh and slightly tart. The alcoholic juniper notes harmonise very well with the tart taste of the tonic water. The light citrus fruit flavour provides freshness and variety. If you haven’t tried the gin and tonic yet, it’s high time you did!

Recipe variations for more variety in the glass

The gin and tonic may be simple. For this reason, it makes an excellent basis for experimentation. With a few changes here and there, you can create a completely new drink that may taste much better than the basic recipe.

A splash of fruit juice, such as apple, cranberry or orange, adds a touch of flavour and sweetness to this typically dry drink.
If you’re not a fan of gin, there’s always the vodka tonic. Here, you simply replace the spirit with vodka. The preparation is completely the same, except that you now use vodka instead of gin.
Another option is to add about 2 cl of your favorite liqueur syrup. Amaretto makes a semi-sweet gin and tonic. Alternatively, you can make a garden-fresh strawberry tonic with fresh fruit. You can even fall back on the tried and tested bottle of grenadine if you feel more like a sweet cocktail.
Whiskey drinkers will love the whiskey tonic. Here, too, the juniper schnapps is replaced by Irish whiskey and then infused with tonic water.

This is how the Gin Tonic became one of the most popular cocktails

The gin and tonic is said to have been brought to India by the British East India Company in the early 19th century. Due to India’s tropical climate, malaria became a recurring problem for all who lived there. After it was discovered that quinine could be used to prevent malaria, people started drinking it in the form of tonic water (contains quinine). However, quinine pure has a very bitter taste.

In the early 19th century, soldiers came up with the idea of mixing a combination of water, sugar, lime and gin with the quinine to make the taste more bearable. That was the birth of the gin and tonic as we know it today. Over the years, the recipe has changed only minimally or not at all. The drink would almost have been forgotten if it weren’t for the ongoing gin hype. This made simple gin cocktails and classics popular again. Today, it is impossible to imagine cocktail bars without this drink. But because it is so easy to make, you can also prepare and enjoy it at home.

Tips for an even fresher taste

A lime wedge is almost always served with the gin and tonic. The citrus fruit is a great way to add a touch of sweetness and freshness to the drink. Run the lime wedge along the rim of the glass, squeeze the juice into the drink and then add the wedge. And the drink will take on a pleasantly fruity-fresh aroma. To add even more lime flavour, squeeze the juice from a second lemon wedge or add a splash of lime syrup before topping up the drink with tonic.

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Questions and answers about gin and tonic

Is tonic water healthy?

Nutritionally, tonic water doesn’t offer much value. It typically contains sugar or another sweetener, which are not necessarily considered healthy. The alcohol in gin is not necessarily healthy either. There is certainly nothing wrong with a gin and tonic in small quantities, but in large quantities the drink can be unhealthy.

Can I make tonic water myself at home?

Many types of filler (such as ginger beer) can easily be made at home. Tonic water, however, should rather be bought from a reputable producer. Due to the difficult control of the quinine content and the serious side effects of quinine toxicity, it can be harmful to make your own tonic water.

What is the alcohol content of gin and tonic?

It is not so easy to say. It always depends on the alcohol content of the gin and the amount used. If you follow our recipe, the alcohol content of a gin and tonic should be at least 15% by volume. However, it can also be significantly higher.