Gin and tonic
Encyclopedia
A gin and tonic is a highball
cocktail
made with gin
and tonic water
poured over ice. It is usually garnished with a slice or wedge of lime
, or lemon
. The amount of gin varies according to taste. Suggested ratios of gin-to-tonic are 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 2:3.
In some countries, gin and tonic is marketed pre-mixed in single-serving cans.
It is commonly referred to as a "G and T" in the UK and Ireland. Some brands will replace the word "gin" with their own brand or initial in recipes. For instance, "Sapphire and Tonic" for Bombay Sapphire
, "Hendrick's and Tonic" for Hendrick's Gin
(garnished with cucumber to further distinguish it), or "T&T" for Tanqueray
.
In some parts of the world (e.g., German-language areas, Korea, Spain, Turkey), it is called "Gin Tonic".
in India
.
Tonic water
contains quinine
, which was used to prevent malaria
. In the 18th century, tonic water contained a large amount of quinine, which caused it to have a very bitter taste. Gin
was added to make it more palatable. Tonic water sold today contains only a very small amount of quinine and is consequently much less bitter (and it is usually sweetened).
The flavor of the quinine complements the green notes of the gin (flavored with juniper
), much as dry vermouth
complements the gin in a classic martini
.
Because of its connection with warm climate
s and its refreshing effects, gin and tonic is a very popular cocktail during the warmer months.
Highball
Highball is a type of alcoholic drinkHighball may also refer to:* Highball glass, a drinking vessel* Highball Wilson , professional baseball pitcher* the British Highball bouncing bomb project from World War 2...
cocktail
Cocktail
A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...
made with gin
Gin
Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries . Although several different styles of gin have existed since its origins, it is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories...
and tonic water
Tonic water
Tonic water is a carbonated soft drink in which quinine is dissolved. Originally used as a prophylactic against malaria, tonic water usually now has a significantly lower quinine content and is consumed for its distinctively bitter taste...
poured over ice. It is usually garnished with a slice or wedge of lime
Lime (fruit)
Lime is a term referring to a number of different citrus fruits, both species and hybrids, which are typically round, green to yellow in color, 3–6 cm in diameter, and containing sour and acidic pulp. Limes are a good source of vitamin C. Limes are often used to accent the flavors of foods and...
, or lemon
Lemon
The lemon is both a small evergreen tree native to Asia, and the tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit. The fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world – primarily for its juice, though the pulp and rind are also used, mainly in cooking and baking...
. The amount of gin varies according to taste. Suggested ratios of gin-to-tonic are 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 2:3.
In some countries, gin and tonic is marketed pre-mixed in single-serving cans.
It is commonly referred to as a "G and T" in the UK and Ireland. Some brands will replace the word "gin" with their own brand or initial in recipes. For instance, "Sapphire and Tonic" for Bombay Sapphire
Bombay Sapphire
Bombay Sapphire is a brand of gin distributed by Bacardi that was launched in 1987. Its name originates from the gin's popularity in India in of the days of the British Raj and the sapphire in question is the Star of Bombay on display at the Smithsonian Institution...
, "Hendrick's and Tonic" for Hendrick's Gin
Hendrick's Gin
Hendrick's Gin is a brand of gin produced by William Grant & Sons in Girvan, Scotland. In addition to the traditional juniper infusion, Hendrick's uses Bulgarian rose and cucumber to add flavor...
(garnished with cucumber to further distinguish it), or "T&T" for Tanqueray
Tanqueray
Tanqueray is a brand of British gin produced in Scotland by Diageo Plc and marketed world-wide.-History:Tanqueray Gin was initially distilled in 1830 by Charles Tanqueray in the Bloomsbury district of London. When Charles died in 1868, his son Charles Waugh Tanqueray inherited the distillery, which...
.
In some parts of the world (e.g., German-language areas, Korea, Spain, Turkey), it is called "Gin Tonic".
History
This cocktail was introduced by the army of the British East India CompanyBritish East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Tonic water
Tonic water
Tonic water is a carbonated soft drink in which quinine is dissolved. Originally used as a prophylactic against malaria, tonic water usually now has a significantly lower quinine content and is consumed for its distinctively bitter taste...
contains quinine
Quinine
Quinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic , antimalarial, analgesic , anti-inflammatory properties and a bitter taste. It is a stereoisomer of quinidine which, unlike quinine, is an anti-arrhythmic...
, which was used to prevent malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
. In the 18th century, tonic water contained a large amount of quinine, which caused it to have a very bitter taste. Gin
Gin
Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries . Although several different styles of gin have existed since its origins, it is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories...
was added to make it more palatable. Tonic water sold today contains only a very small amount of quinine and is consequently much less bitter (and it is usually sweetened).
The flavor of the quinine complements the green notes of the gin (flavored with juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
), much as dry vermouth
Vermouth
Vermouth is a fortified wine flavored with various dry ingredients. The modern versions of the beverage were first produced around the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Italy and France...
complements the gin in a classic martini
Martini (cocktail)
The martini is a cocktail made with gin and vermouth, and garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. Over the years, the martini has become one of the best-known mixed alcoholic beverages. H. L. Mencken called the martini "the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet" and E. B...
.
Because of its connection with warm climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
s and its refreshing effects, gin and tonic is a very popular cocktail during the warmer months.
See also
- DubonnetDubonnetDubonnet is a sweet, wine-based aperitif. It is a blend of fortified wine, herbs, and spices , with fermentation being stopped by the addition of alcohol....
, another drink invented to encourage European colonial soldiers in tropical climates to take quinine - LilletLilletLillet is a brand of French aperitif wine. It is a blend of 85% Bordeaux wines and 15% macerated liqueurs, mostly citrus liqueurs from the peels of sweet oranges from Spain and Morocco and the peels of bitter green oranges from Haiti...
, an aperitifAperitifApéritifs and digestifs are alcoholic drinks that are normally served with meals.-Apéritifs:An apéritif is usually served before a meal to stimulate the appetite. This contrasts with digestifs, which are served after a meal for the purpose of aiding digestion...
wine - QuinquinaQuinquinaIn France, quinquina is a collective name for bitters having quinine as one of their main ingredients. Quinquina is also known as Peruvian Bark.It originates from South America...
, a quinineQuinineQuinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic , antimalarial, analgesic , anti-inflammatory properties and a bitter taste. It is a stereoisomer of quinidine which, unlike quinine, is an anti-arrhythmic...
-containing beverage sometimes used as a mixer with gin