Beautifully simple and delicious, the gin and tonic is a true British classic. The juniper, coriander and citrus flavours of the gin combined with the refreshingly bittersweet taste of tonic makes for a tempting tipple.
Despite consisting of only three ingredients – gin, tonic, and garnish – the G&T holds a surprisingly rich history. More than 200 years old, the gin and tonic was somewhat of a happy accident.
During 1858, the army of the British East India Company used a mixture of tonic water with the quinine-containing bark of the cinchona tree to treat malaria, which was a prominent problem in India at the time.
The antimalarial ingredient of quinine, however, was intensely bitter. To make the drink more bearable to consume, British officers decided to add sugar, lime, and gin to the quinine – thus was born the G&T.
Gin and tonic swiftly became popular in the motherland and even gained admiration with the elites. Winston Churchill declared, “The gin and tonic drink has saved more Englishmen’s lives, and minds, than all the doctors in the Empire.”
With a fascinating history and known for its overall bright, zesty and refreshing flavour, it’s no surprise that gin and tonic has remained a favourite amongst the Brits and beyond.
Just below, Francisco Rosa, our Master Distiller, shares his wisdom to help you create a classic Oxford G&T:
GIN AND TONIC INGREDIENTS
- 50ml Oxford Rye Dry Gin
- 150ml Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Tonic
- A slice of tart apple
GIN AND TONIC: STEP-BY-STEP RECIPE
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Add the Oxford Rye Dry Gin to the highball glass over the ice.
- Add the tonic to the highball glass.
- Garnish with a slice of tart apple.
- Drink and enjoy.