The Best Gin and Tonic Recipe by co*cktail Society (2024)

By Timo Torner/ Last updated on April 7, 2023

Done right, the Gin and Tonic recipe is one of the most invigorating classic drink recipes. It's refreshing, versatile, and well-balanced. But what makes the perfect G&T?

The Gin and Tonic recipe is easy and straightforward, witha long history. The refreshing drink is made of one part gin and three parts tonic water. But it's important to pay attention to all the little details to take the drink to the next level. We share them with you: starting withthe ideal ratio of Gin to tonic water, the best gin for the co*cktail, and the way to the best ways to garnish it.

Quick Facts Gin & Tonic

• Method:blended, built in glass
• Flavor profile:sweet, slightly bitter, junipery, refreshing
• How to serve it:over ice cubes, garnished with botanicals
• Glassware:Highball glass or Balloon glass
• Alcohol content:~ 10% ABV, 11.67 grams of alcohol per serving

Learn how to mix this refreshing two-component summer drink and how to serve it to your guests.

Gin and Tonic FAQs

The ideal ratio of tonic water to Gin

A ratio of1 part Gin to 3 parts tonic wateris preferable. But no recipe will work for everyone and every combination.

Some prefer to let the Gin shine, while others are looking for a drink with a lower alcohol level. Everything from 1:1 up to 1:4 is practicable and can produce excellent results.

Ingredients to make a perfect Gin and Tonic

The key to a great Gin and Tonic recipe is the perfect balance of ingredients. You want just the right amount of bitter flavor from the tonic water paired with the botanical notes of Gin to create the best Gin and Tonic possible.

If you get that right, you can even highlight the distinct flavors of a gin, by garnishing it with botanicals that either emphasize its ingredients or complement them.

Here's what you'll need to make a refreshing Gin and Tonic:

• Gin- There's no ultimate best choice for thisclassic gin co*cktailrecipe. Depending on thetype of Ginyou use, the taste and character of the drink will vary. Classic options like the London Dry Gin from Tanqueray, Gordon, or Bombay Sapphire always work. Yet, there are many more. My recommendations are Hendricks, Monkey 47, and Bobby's Dry Gin.
• Tonic water- Tonic water gets its distinctbitter note from quininecontained in cinchona bark. Cheap options are often too sweet, so using premium tonic water like Fever Tree Indian Tonic is vital. After all, the mixer makes ¾ of the drink's recipe. The best choice of tonic water always depends on the gin you use. Here's a great guide to finding theideal tonic water in a Gin and Tonic.
• Ice- Using qualityice cubes or spheresis crucial to keep your drink chilled and carbonated for an extended time. Contrary to popular belief, more ice does not mean more watering, but actually less because the ice cubes melt more slowly. So rather opt for more quality ice in your drink to prevent it from watering down too quickly.
• Garnish- This part depends on the Gin you choose. A fresh lime wedge or lemon almost always fits, but I recommend picking a garnish that complements the base spirit. For Hendrick's Gin, go with a cucumber slice, Monkey 47 works great with lemon and dried juniper berry, and Bobby's is best served with an orange peel.

How to serve it

To serve a Gin and Tonic in style, there's still something important missing from the best Gin and Tonic, the glassware.

The G&T istechnically a Highballand, thus, often served in a classic Highball glass. While this is perfectly fine, there are some other options to consider.

My two favorites are the balloon-shaped coppa glass that has plenty of space for an extra ice cube out of two, and a heavy crystal glass (somewhere between Highball and Collins). For more details on glassware, check out our guide to thebest glasses for a perfect Gin and Tonic.

History

TheGin and Tonic historyis full of tales and legends. For example, the most common story of how the co*cktail was invented is that British Navy soldiers developed it as a form of Malaria prevention. Allegedly, they combined their bitter-tasting tonic water with gin to make it taste better.

However, a2004 studyshows that this story is most likely untrue. There is also no real evidence to support this theory. based on historical documents, it's more likely that the early Gin and Tonic was a refreshing drink mostly consumed in tropical climates.

Multiple sources indicate that the drink was most likely invented in India and not by soldiers of the Royal British Navy.

Gin and Tonic Variations

• ThePink Fig Gin and Tonicis a variation of the classic Gin Tonic recipe that is sweetened with homemade fig syrup.
• Ouradds complexity to the drink by bringing the popular Italian Amaro liqueur to the recipe.
• Adding fresh lemon or lime juice is a common way to make it more refreshing. Alternatively, fresh yuzu or grapefruit juice works too.
• Gin and Tonic with bitters. In case you need more flavor in your co*cktail, consider adding aromatic.
• Add coffee to your Gin and Tonic. Our Espresso Gin Tonic brings caffeine to your drink in form of an espresso shot.
• Use your own tonic water. Follow our recipe to make your ownhomemade tonic syrup recipe. To use it in your Gin and Tonic, add a bit of the syrup and combine it with chilled soda water.