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This is my go-to cocktail. I always have gin (and not just one) and tonic in my kitchen.

The key to a good gin and tonic is generally in the tonic. You can use whatever gin you prefer but you’re going to want to invest a little extra in a quality tonic. There are tons on the market, experiment until you find a couple that you just loooove or just start with Fever-Tree and never look back.

Gin & Tonic Cocktail Recipe {gin | 201 cal}

Recipe by JennCourse: cocktailDifficulty: easy

Servings

cocktail

Prep time

minutes

Calories

201

kcal

Ingredients

2 oz Gin
5 oz Tonic Water
Ice
Garnish Options
Lime Slices/Wedges
Cucumber Slices (ideal with Hendricks Gin)

Directions

Fill glass with ice.
Add gin.
Top with tonic.
Gently stir (just enough to mix but not enough to lose carbonation).
Garnish & Serve

Notes

Use a fresh tonic for every pour! You don’t want to save your tonic for hours (or days) so make sure you buy the appropriate size for the number of drinks you’ll make at once.
You can use any gin you want. Like a classic flavor? Go with a London Dry style gin. Want something lighter? Try Hendricks. Looking for sweeter? Check out an Old Tom style gin.

Modify the Gin & Tonic Recipe

Trying different gins and tonics is an easy way to customize a gin and tonic. But you can go even further than that. Try one of these ideas:

Add a Splash of Juice

Add a splash (0.5 to 1 oz) of fruit juice to sweeten your G&T up a bit. The options are endless: apple juice, orange juice, pomegranate juice, pineapple juice, any juice you want.

Play with Citrus

A G&T is almost always served with a lime wedge. It adds a slight (but wonderful) citrus note to the drink. But lime isn’t the only citrus available. Substitute (or add) a different citrus wedge such as grapefruit, lemon, or orange.

Add a Splash of Liqueur

Much like fruit juice, you can brighten up a G&T with a splash (about 1/2 oz) of your favorite liqueur (or flavored syrup). Try Elderflower, Amaretto, or Grenadine to change things up.

Tools & Glassware

The Gin & Tonic is such a simple recipe you hardly need any tools.

Highball Glasses

A gin & tonic is best served in a highball glass that can hold lots of ice.

A Bar Spoon

A bar spoon is perfect for mixing a gin and tonic. It’s long enough to get to the bottom of the glass and thin enough to give a nice mix without stirring out all the carbonation.