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Gin and Tonic

Also known as G&T, Gin Tonic

A crisp, botanical highball that lets the gin shine through bitter, fizzy tonic water.

bitterbotanicalrefreshingcarbonatedjunipercrispquininehighball

%

ABV

Difficulty

Gin and Tonic

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip hits with the gin's pine and juniper, quickly softened by the sharp, bitter fizz of the tonic. The middle is all about the interplay between the spirit's botanicals and the quinine. It finishes dry and refreshing with a lingering herbal bitterness.

Who will like it

For people who like bitter, spirit-forward, and highly refreshing drinks with botanical depth.

When to drink

This is your go-to afternoon or warm-weather sipper when you want something cold and bracing.

Ordering tip

Ask what tonic brand they use, since cheap tonic water can ruin a good gin, and specify if you want a lime or lemon garnish.

Ice: CubedTemp: ColdCost: $2–$5Glass: HighballBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This is a crisp, sharp, and deeply refreshing drink. The gin brings a piney, botanical punch that sits right on top of the tonic's bitter, fizzy sweetness. It is not a complicated or heavy drink, but the contrast between the dry spirit and the sharp quinine keeps it interesting from the first sip to the last.

Finish: The finish is dry and lingering, with the bitter quinine and juniper slowly fading away.

Primary tastes

bitterherbalfloral

Secondary

fruityearthy

Aroma

junipercitrusquinine
  • Bitternessmoderately bitter

    The quinine in the tonic provides a distinct, sharp bitterness that defines the drink.

  • Sweetnessoff-dry

    There is a slight sweetness from the tonic syrup, but it is quickly cut by the bitter quinine.

  • Sournesslow acidity

    A slight tartness comes from the squeezed lime, but it is not a sour drink.

  • Strengthmoderate

    The gin makes its presence known, but the large volume of tonic keeps the alcohol in check.

  • Refreshingextremely refreshing

    Cold, carbonated, and bitter, this is about as refreshing as a cocktail gets.

  • Complexitymoderately complex

    The gin's botanicals add layers, but the overall flavor profile is straightforward and two-toned.

Recipe

Make it at home

Built · Highball · equal parts on Gin. London Dry recommended for classic flavor

Before you start

Make sure your tonic water is well chilled and your glass is cold if you have room in the freezer.

Ingredients

  • GinBase SpiritLondon Dry recommended for classic flavor50ml
  • Tonic WaterSodaChilled, high-quality tonic100ml
  • LimeGarnishCan substitute lemon depending on gin botanicals1 wedge

Garnish: Lime wedge

Tools

  • Highball glass · Serving

    To hold the drink and ice

    At home: Any tall glass

  • Jigger · Measuring

    To measure the gin

    At home: Measuring spoon or shot glass

  • Bar spoon · Mixing

    To stir gently without losing carbonation

    At home: Long spoon or chopstick

Ingredients and tools to make Gin and Tonic
Ingredients and tools

Steps

  1. 1

    Fill a tall highball glass to the top with ice cubes. The more ice you use, the slower it melts and the less your drink dilutes.

    Step 1 — how to make Gin and Tonic

    !Using too little ice makes the drink warm and watery fast.

  2. 2

    Pour 50ml of gin over the ice. Let it settle down through the ice for a moment.

    Step 2 — how to make Gin and Tonic

    !Pouring too fast and splashing the gin out of the glass.

  3. 3

    Top up the glass with 100ml of chilled tonic water. Pour it gently down the side of the glass to keep as much fizz as possible.

    Step 3 — how to make Gin and Tonic

    !Pouring tonic too aggressively, making it go flat.

  4. 4

    Take a bar spoon and slide it to the bottom of the glass. Give the drink one gentle lift-and-fold stir to mix the gin and tonic without knocking the bubbles out.

    ~5s

    Step 4 — how to make Gin and Tonic

    !Stirring too vigorously and destroying the carbonation.

  5. 5

    Take a lime wedge, give it a quick squeeze over the drink, and drop it in. The citrus oils and juice brighten the whole glass.

    Step 5 — how to make Gin and Tonic

    !Forgetting to squeeze the lime wedge before dropping it in.

Serve

Serve immediately while it's ice-cold and the tonic is still highly carbonated.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Gin

  • GinVodka
    Match
    Common availability

    Gin → Vodka: Strips away the botanicals for a cleaner, purely bitter drink.

Swap options for Tonic Water

  • Tonic WaterClub Soda
    Match
    Common availability

    Tonic Water → Club Soda: Removes the bitter quinine and sweetness, making it a dry, plain spritz.

  • Tonic WaterDiet Tonic Water
    Match
    Common availability

    Tonic Water → Diet Tonic Water: Less sweet with a slightly different bitter profile and thinner mouthfeel.

Related

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Vodka Tonic

Similar cocktail

Vodka Tonic

Vodka lacks the botanical flavor of gin, making the drink cleaner and starker.

Match

The Vodka Tonic is cleaner and starker, while the Gin and Tonic has a botanical backbone.

In common: Highball, built, refreshing

Ingredients

Both share

Tonic Water, Lime

Only in Gin and Tonic

Gin

Only in Vodka Tonic

Vodka

Swapping gin for vodka removes the herbal notes, leaving a cleaner, starker drink.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Bitter quinine, fizzy, citrus

How Vodka Tonic differs

Vodka is neutral, gin is herbal/piney

View recipe & details →

Tom Collins

Similar cocktail

Tom Collins

Tom Collins is sour-sweet with citrus juice, while a G&T is bitter with tonic.

Match

Tom Collins is a sweet-sour fizz, whereas the G&T is a dry, bitter highball.

In common: Tall, refreshing, gin-forward

Ingredients

Both share

Gin

Only in Gin and Tonic

Tonic Water, Lime

Only in Tom Collins

Lemon juice, Simple syrup, Club soda

Tom Collins uses citrus and sugar for sweet-sour balance, while G&T uses bitter tonic.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Botanical gin, refreshing

How Tom Collins differs

Sweet and sour vs bitter and dry

View recipe & details →

Gimlet

Similar cocktail

Gimlet

Gimlet is a short, sour cocktail, while a G&T is a long, bitter highball.

Match

The Gimlet is a sharp, sweet-sour sipper, while the G&T is a long, fizzy, bitter refresher.

In common: Gin-forward, lime accent

Ingredients

Both share

Gin, Lime

Only in Gin and Tonic

Tonic Water

Only in Gimlet

Lime juice, Simple syrup

Gimlet uses lime juice and syrup instead of tonic, making it a smaller, sweeter, sour drink.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Gin botanicals, lime

How Gimlet differs

Sweet/sour vs bitter/carbonated

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

British officers in colonial India mixed their daily quinine ration with sugar, soda, and gin to make the bitter malaria preventative palatable. The exact year and creator are unknown, but it evolved from this practical medicinal mixture.

Era
1850s
Confidence

The exact origin year is debated, but it is universally agreed to have originated with the British in India during the 19th century.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

  • Use a good quality tonic water; it makes up two-thirds of the drink.
  • Keep your tonic in the fridge so it stays fizzy and chills the drink less.
  • Squeeze the lime wedge into the drink before dropping it in for extra flavor.
  • Don't skimp on the ice; a full glass melts slower than a half-empty one.

Avoid

Common mistakes

  • Using cheap, overly sweet tonic water ruins the balance.
  • Stirring too hard will make the drink go flat instantly.
  • Using warm tonic water makes the drink taste flat and harsh.