Gin & Tonic Season
The gins, tonics and magic touches for your new favorite G&T
BY: JOSHUA GANDEE
Beverage Director, Watershed Kitchen & Bar
The Gin and Tonic is a summer staple. You start getting a hankering for it even before the arrival of the summer solstice. The simple mix of flavors and seemingly endless combinations make for a highball that you’ll reach for again and again. If you’re in a pinch when friends are coming over for a socially distant hang on the back porch, all you have to do is lay out gin, tonic, and citrus and people will know what to do from there.
As timeless as the G&T may be, it certainly could use an upgrade to keep things fresh. Thankfully, there are a number of options to make your next mix, your best mix. I’m going to cover some simple tweaks that will breathe new life into your summer concoctions. With flavored tonics, tonic syrups, and garnish bars, your G&Ts can turn a corner this summer.
The Gin
I’ve often heard people tell me that they don’t like gin and tonic because they had a bad experience with it when they were younger. I can almost paint the picture in my mind. The gin was in a plastic bottle with a gold cap, and the tonic water bore the same name as the grocery store they got it from. Served in a solo cup, warm, with no regard to ounce or portion. Sad really. It’s only when you’ve gained their trust back when they can learn they are ready to love again. (I get it, you’ve been burned before, and you made a promise to yourself that you’ll never get hurt again, but it’s okay, I’ve got you.)
Luckily, Watershed makes three types of gin with unique personalities and flavor notes that make for great mixing. We stock our Four Peel Gin which, unlike that gold topped plastic bottle, isn’t so juniper-aggressive that it tastes like a mouth full of pine. Four Peel Gin is an American style gin; meaning its flavors are a little more nuanced and approachable. The namesake four peels are lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit, which bring a citrusy pop when paired with tonic along with undertones of cinnamon, coriander, and just enough juniper to remind you you’re drinking gin.
Our Guild Gin is flavored with chamomile flowers post-distillation which makes for a light, bright gin with a floral backbone. When matched with tonic, you’ll get notes of honey and lemon-laced tea. From the spirit of experimentation comes our Bourbon Barrel Four Peel Gin which, thankfully, pretty much tells you everything you need to know right there in the title (kind of like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Bourbon Barrel Four Peel Gin came to be when our founders wondered, “Hey, what would happen if we put that citrus-forward gin in a used bourbon barrel? Do you think it would be good?” Short answer: Yes. Very. For those unfamiliar with barrel aging in spent bourbon barrels, it's more about rounding out flavors that already exist than it is imparting new flavors. It’s kind of like living abroad for a semester and coming back home with a newfound appreciation for a place vs watching Austin Powers and speaking in a British accent. We found that the barrel mellowed some of the lemon and grapefruit notes, and brought forward more of the orange and cinnamon. The barrel itself added smoother vanilla and caramel highlights to the spirit making for a softer sip. When matched with tonic, you get a smooth, slightly sweet drink that finishes with orange and baking spices.
You can pour each of our gins into the same glass of tonic and experience deliciously different results. Each gin reacts differently to certain kinds of citrus too. What I’ve found is that Four Peel Gin loves lemon and lime, Bourbon Barrel Four Peel Gin loves orange, and Guild Gin loves grapefruit, so the addition of these citrus as peels or slices makes for an even more exciting mix.
The Tonic
Think back on the best G&T of your life. Was it in your home? Was it on vacation? Chances are it may have been at a bar, and it was probably because they stock good tonic. In a pinch, there is nothing wrong with the liter bottle of tonic water. It adds bittersweetness and effervescence, and lasts a surprisingly long time in the refrigerator. But, if you’re looking to shake things up or level up a bit, then start paying attention to the tonic.
You may have to look beyond that small section of “mixers” that includes cocktail onions, angostura bitters, and that tub of margarita mix in the grocery store, and start looking into the specialty sections that are popping up in grocery and liquor stores. These specialized tonics and tonic syrups will likely be around the simple syrups, bitters, and modifiers. The new breed of tonic water has specialized sourcing, ensuring the ingredients are intentional and result in great flavors when paired with gin also purchased with conviction.
Some of our favorites, and varieties available in our bottle shop during Four Peel Fest include Fever-Tree Citrus, Aromatic, and Elderflower tonics. Any match well with our gins, but there are certain pairings we recommend. For example, the citrus tonic goes great with, you guessed it, Four Peel Gin because of its inclusion of citrus peels. The elderflower tonic goes great with the Guild Gin because it is flavored with chamomile. The aromatic tonic works wonderfully with the Bourbon Barrel Four Peel Gin because of that gin’s versatility.
Also keep an eye out for tonic syrups, which serve as concentrated tonic water. These are a little more malleable in your arsenal and make for amazing cocktails. Tonic syrups lend themselves to a bit more creativity when it comes to drink-making, as the addition of soda and fresh citrus are utilized to enliven the flavor of the tonic. For instance, if you were making a G&T with tonic water, you’d usually use 1.5 ounces of gin, then top with four ounces of tonic water. Unless you are adding a garnish, this drink is basically complete. With the tonic syrups, however, you’d generally use 1.5 ounces of gin, ½ ounce of tonic syrup, and ¼ ounce of fresh citrus juice and top it with your choice of club soda or seltzer. The choice in your citrus and your bubbles allows to you modify these drinks to your liking. I’ll share some recipes toward the end to help get you started.
The Garnish
It might be tough, but you have to think beyond the lime slice. It’s been with you a long time, and has never really let you down even when it’s been slightly brown and you squeeze it in yourself at an outdoor concert and you aren’t sure where to wipe your hands (enter, spouses shirt). This new world of gin and tonic is successful, in part, from the discovery of the Spanish G&T, typically served in wine glasses or goblets and surrounded by ice and seasonal fruit (Our pals at VASO in Dublin make a great one!). These Spanish G&Ts fall more into Pimm’s cup territory as garnishes are meant to infuse flavor into the beverage but also serve as a handheld piece of art. Start channeling your inner Matisse and play around with what’s local, fresh, and delightfully delicious. Think cucumber peels, grapefruit slices, edible flowers, herbs….
You can dress your G&T with things that look pretty, things that smell nice, things that taste great. My only recommendation is that if you get a little carried away, make sure you provide a metal straw or equivalent so that your guests don’t have to hike a secret garden to find the gin. Things like radishes make for gorgeous garnish and add just enough subtlety and nuanced flavor that they don’t overpower. You aren’t pigeonholed into just sliced fruits and veggies either. You can use things like watermelon juice or cold brew coffee to make ice cubes that as they melt will impart new flavors into your drink as well.
The Result
If you use one or all of these tips and tricks, then you are on course to create some of the best gin and tonics you and your guests have ever had. The options are endless, the flavor is infinite, and with more time to sit around and think about combinations, you’ll be the G&T master in no time. I’ve included some of my favorite recipes to get you started, but feel free to use these as a jumping-off point as you discover your new favorite mixes.
G&T Recipes
COLD BREW & TONIC
1.5oz Watershed Bourbon Barrel Four Peel*
4oz Fevertree Aromatic Tonic Water
2 dash Bitters
4 1x1 Cold Brew Ice Cubes**
Add ingredients to a glass and gently stir to combine. Garnish with a lemon peel.
*Limited Release Four Peel Fest Gin
**Fill an ice cube tray with cold brew coffee, and let freeze overnight
SECRET GARDEN TONIC
1.5oz Watershed Guild Gin
6oz Fevertree Elderflower Tonic Water
Add ingredients to a wine glass with ice and gently stir to combine. Garnish with the peel of a cucumber peeled lengthwise, slice of grapefruit, and baby’s breath.
CLASSIC G&T
1.5oz Watershed Four Peel Gin
4oz Fevertree Citrus Tonic Water
Add ingredients to a wine glass with ice and gently stir to combine. Garnish with a lemon wheel.