It’s a question that is asked by many people: How do gin and tonic taste like?
Some think it tastes too strong, while others love the flavor. What are the flavors of a gin and tonic? Why do some people love this drink more than others? Let’s find out!
How Do Gin And Tonic Taste Like
Gin tastes like juniper berries, which grow wild in northern Europe and parts of Asia such as Nepal and Kashmir.
Other botanicals used to flavor commercial gins include coriander, angelica root, fennel seed, licorice root, almond, orange peel, and lemon peel.
The flavors can vary widely depending on whether you’ve got a London, Plymouth, sloe gin, or other variety in your glass.
Tonic water tastes bitter and sweet with notes of citrus fruits. The tonic contains quinine, an ingredient once used as an antimalarial drug.
There are many stories about the origin of the tonic’s flavor but none has been proven to be true. For example, some say that it was invented by British colonials trying to make the taste of their local hooch more palatable by mixing it with tonic water.
Others believe it originated in India where quinine was available for medicinal purposes only and bartenders had to make do with angostura bitters (which also contain small amounts of quinine) until they could obtain real tonic syrup, leading them to use both ingredients in their drinks.
The flavors of a gin and tonic are the combination of the juniper notes found especially in London dry gins, which are usually strong upfront, flavored with citrusy notes from either lemons or grapefruits depending on the brand.
Tonic water has bitter, sweet flavor notes that give this drink an earthy taste. There are many different ways to get this cocktail right so there are plenty of options when it comes to pairing your preferred mixer with your favorite type of gin.
How do different brands of gin taste?
LONDON DRY GIN
The London dry gin comes from England and was invented in the late 18th century. It is the most popular variety of gin.
PLYMOUTH GIN
Plymouth Gin is very different from other types of gins because it’s made with a “secret ingredient” that makes this drink extra special. Some people say it has hints of apricot, but no one knows for sure what the secret ingredient is.
This drink tastes strong with citrusy flavors of juniper berries and oranges or grapefruit which are both traditional ingredients found in this type of gin.
GIN-LIKE LIQUEURS
Curaçao would be an example of a liqueur similar to gin, while some examples of gin-like liqueurs are Sloe Gin, Damson Gin, and Ratafia.
Sloe Gin is made of sloe berries which are very small red fruit that grows wild in the UK and other parts of Europe. It tastes sweet with sour berry notes.
Damson Gin contains damson plums (a type of plum), which gives this drink a smooth fruity flavor that you can also enjoy in wine or ciders.
Ratafia is made from brandy mixed with fruits, spices, and other botanicals to create a rich flavorful liquor that has warm aromatic tones of vanilla and cherry. This drink is very similar to sloe gin, but it’s made with brandy instead of gin.
How do different brands of tonic water taste?
There are many types of tonic water on the market today, but the main difference you’ll find among them is between those who are sweetened and those who are not.
Some people love to mix their gin and tonic because it’s fun to experiment with new flavors that will appeal to your palate.
Many brands offer several product varieties which makes it easier for you to choose according to your tastes.
TONIC WATER WITHOUT ADDED SUGAR
One example would be Canada Dry Tonic Water. This drink has a slightly bitter edge from quinine and a sweet flavor that’s balanced by a delicate touch of lemon. You may also notice herbal notes from cinchona bark and hints of vanilla given by the corn syrup used to sweeten this drink.
TONIC WATER WITH ADDED SUGAR
The added sugar in Schweppes Tonic Water gives this drink a sweeter taste with hints of honey. The quinine makes it extra bitter so there are no herbal notes, but you can get strong citrusy flavors from grapefruit and orange peel oil.
COCKTAIL G&T
Schweppes’ cocktail tonic water has smaller bubbles than regular tonic water and is even more bitter because it contains less sugar which offsets the bitterness from the cinchona bark and quinine.
These bubbles make it more refreshing to drink and give you a crisper taste that’s also lighter and more delicate on the palate.
TONIC WATER WITH NATURAL FLAVORS
Another example would be Fever Tree Tonic Water. This drink is made with natural flavors from fruits, flowers, roots, and herbs — but never from artificial ingredients or synthetic chemicals.
It also contains added sugar for sweetness, but much less than in Schweppes Tonic Water which makes this product even more bitter. It’s extremely aromatic which gives it strong flavor notes of orange peel oil along with spicy cinnamon coming from a cassia bark extract. There are herbal from of cinchona bark too, which makes this drink smell and taste more like a bitter herbal tonic.
FINLANDIA G&T
Finlandia Tonic Water is made with natural flavors from fruits, flowers, roots, and herbs — but never from artificial ingredients or synthetic chemicals. It also contains less sugar than regular tonic water leaving you with the ability to enjoy the bitterness from cinchona bark and quinine.
This gives Finlandia Tonic Water strong flavor notes of orange peel oil along with spicy cinnamon coming from a cassia bark extract. There are herbal from of cinchona bark too which makes this drink smell and taste more like a bitter herbal tonic, but it’s even lighter on your palate because it has smaller bubbles than Schweppes Tonic Water which makes it more refreshing.
What are the best gin and tonic pairings?
If you want to order a gin and tonic, what’s the best way to figure out which brand of tonic water will taste best with it?
It depends on your particular palate. Some people like tart flavors while others prefer sweet drinks. You can even try different brands until you find one that suits your tastes perfectly.
The key is finding the right balance between bitter and sweet so this drink doesn’t become too overpowering or cloying in your mouth.
When pairing other ingredients together, remember that the bitterness from botanicals used to make gin brings out sour notes in citrus fruits like lime or lemon; while sweetness in liqueurs like vermouth or triple sec accentuates bitter notes in herbal flavors like lavender or mint.
However, tonic water doesn’t have that same bitter edge to it because of the quinine which makes it more versatile when paired with other ingredients in a cocktail.
Here are some best gin and tonic brand pairings to try:
Finlandia G&T with a premium gin
The spicy flavor from cassia bark extract in Finlandia Tonic Water brings out the herbal notes from botanicals used to make your gin. This makes it a good pairing for high-quality gins with distinctive flavors like Hendrick’s or Tanqueray No. Ten.
Canada Dry Tonic Water with a classic London dry gin
Canada Dry Tonic Water has a slightly citrusy flavor that’s balanced by a delicate touch of sweetness, but it’s also very bitter tasting due to quinine which works well in tandem with traditional London dry style gins because they have bright citrus notes from lemon and lime.
GIN AND TONIC WITH Q tonic water
Q Tonic Water is more bitter than regular tonic water because it has less sugar, so it works better with gin brands that have light herbal profiles instead of citrusy flavors. For example, this would be a good pairing for Tanqueray London Dry Gin or Beefeater 24.
GIN AND TONIC WITH FIJI tonic water
If you want to go the extra mile and splurge on premium cocktails, try Fiji Tonic Water which has larger bubbles and richer flavors like vanilla and soft spice notes coming from nutmeg. This makes it exceptional paired with premium boutique gins like Death’s Door or Sipsmith VJOP.
How do you make a perfect gin and tonic?
The perfect gin and tonic will have a perfectly balanced flavor profile of sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy with a good amount of carbonation.
Start by chilling the glass you’ll be serving it in by filling it with ice or creating a salt rim on the edge. Then pour two ounces of your preferred gin on top followed by tonic water that’s been chilled for at least an hour inside a refrigerator.
If you want to make it sweeter, add a squeeze of lime juice from half a fresh lime wedge or stir in some sugar if you prefer your drinks on the tart side.
You can also choose to include some garnish like fresh mint leaves or cucumber slices which adds another dimension to this combination drink.
Now that you know all about the different types of gin and tonics, it’s time to get out there and try them for yourself! The best way to find your favorite flavor profile is by experimenting with different brands and flavors.
Don’t forget to add a squeeze of lime or stir in some sugar if you want it to be sweeter. And don’t forget to garnish with fresh mint leaves or cucumber slices for an extra layer of flavor. What are you waiting for? Get mixing!
