YOUR ULTIMATE GIN & TONIC GUIDE

The Ultimate Guide to

GIN & TONIC

GIN TIPS

TIP: Gins with citrus notes work best with herbal garnishes such as rosemary, basil or thyme. TIP: Spicy gins match really well with orange peel, cinnamon or cloves. TIP: Gins with more oral pro les pair well with cucumber, rose petals or a sprig of lavender. TIP: Ideally you want to use large ice cubes and four should be just the right amount to keep your G&T chilled without too much dilution.

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SOUTH AFRICAN CONNOISSEUR

Hey, there’s so much more to a G&T!

While we’re all for a fancy gin cocktail or three, the classic G&T will forever be close to our hearts. With its timeless appeal and sophisticated charm, any gin connoisseur will tell you there’s so much more to a G&T than pouring two components into a glass.

It’s a ne art you see—and there’s a magic formula for creating the perfect one.

SO, WHERE DID IT ALL BEGIN?

e G&T actually started out as a medicinal cure. Or so they say. Back in the mid 1800s when the Brits ruled India, English o cers were frequent victims of malaria. Doctors discovered that quinine (found in cinchona tree bark) not only cured malaria but also even helped prevent the dreaded and sometimes deadly disease. So, in order to neutralise the e ect of those pesky mozzies, the troops were told to knock back a dose of quinine.

Like most tree bark derivatives, quinine powder was not exactly pleasant tasting. In order to make the extremely bitter powder more palatable, British soldiers started adding sugar (what else?) and soda to make a tonic-like concoction. ese two ingredients made it taste rather nice and soldiers happily qua ed this newfound malaria cure. Ta-dah! e rst version of the G&T was born.

From then on, and throughout most of the 20th century, G&Ts remained the British drink of choice. ough, like most trends, the faithful G&T slowly started to go out of fashion. Sadly, by the 1980s gin was out and shoulder pads were in.

Ultimate Gin & Tonic Guide | FEATURE

EVERYONE LIKES A COME BACK

While the Brits continued to turn their noses up at gin, by the 2000s it was Spain that helped put this classic tipple back on the map. And a fresh and trendy take on the G&T helped reach a new generation of drinkers. e Spanish Gin Tonica is said to have originated in the foodie capital of San Sebastian. Here, a bunch of young Michelin-starred chefs started to mix their post-shi gins with lots of ice and tonic, in large-long-stemmed glasses and garnished with di erent fruits and botanicals.

is new Spanish twist was designed to bring out and complement gin’s natural avours—and people loved it. Soon enough this new way of drinking gin spread across Spain, Europe and the rest of the world. Today the distinctive balloon-shaped Copa glass is still the most popular vessel in which to serve a ‘real’ G&T.

WHAT TONIC IS BEST?

For a traditional G&T try a crisp, classic tonic to really let the botanicals in your gin shine. e signature bitterness in a classic tonic stands up to the juniper avours of gin and keeps your G&T from becoming overly sweet.

Of course, there are many avoured tonics available too—from pink grapefruit and cucumber to basil and orange. But before you pour, be sure to see what avours will work with your gin of choice. Sometimes pre-made tonics can overpower the so er, subtler avours of gin.

Remember, there is no right or wrong way when it comes to your gin adventures. ere are so many amazing gins (and tonics) out there, and the best thing to do is experiment with di erent garnishes, tonics and even glasses to nd your perfect match. And the good news is you’ll have plenty of fun doing it.

DID YOU KNOW?

• According to the SA Wine Industry

Information and Systems, gin sales were up 151%—from six million litres to 15 million litres—between 2014 and 2018. • There are more than 50 registered gin distilleries in South Africa with approximately 30 of them in the

Western Cape. • Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and the

UK drink the most amount of gin per litre. • The UK produces the most gins in the world with 1722 gins, followed by the United States with 702 gins and

Germany with 692 gins. For the ultimate gin experience, why not become a member of the Wine-of-theMonth Club’s Gin Box? Each month we spotlight a local gin and include tonics and dried garnishes that will help you mix up all kinds of new and interesting G&Ts and gin cocktails. Call 021 492 4126 now.

THE ULTIMATE G&T RECIPE

Now, here’s the fine art we mentioned earlier. The ideal ratio of gin to tonic means the gin’s flavour will come through the tonic and not be overpowered by it. And, the tonic will complement the spirit’s botanicals without overpowering the gin’s taste. Got it? Good.

INGREDIENTS: 1 Spanish style Copa de Balon Glass 1/3 gin to 2/3 premium tonic 4 ice cubes a slice of lime, to garnish

METHOD: Combine all the ingredients in the glass. Add exactly four ice cubes and give four stirs (no more, no less) to make the ultimate chilled G&T. Don’t squeeze the lime as the sharpness of the juice may mask the more delicate notes of the gin. Simply drop in the slice of lime for the subtle aroma and a slight zesty hint.

SOUTH AFRICAN CONNOISSEUR Illustration by: Chloe Damstra 15