Not many cocktails can match the gin and tonic’s sparkling herbal aromas and bittersweet flavors, a drink enjoyed all over the world. All you need is a high-quality gin, tonic water, and some lime to concoct the refreshing cooler. But, with the emergence of craft gins and flavored tonics, the scope of transforming our beloved G&T just turned up a notch.

If you have a knack for playing fiddle with your drinks, we suggest you have a look at our list of effervescent G&Ts.

Gin and Tonic

Recipe by Liquor

Classic Gin and Tonic cocktail, Source: Website, image by Tim Nusog

The catch to crafting a sumptuous G&T lies in using the right proportions of the ingredients so the strong essence of the gin doesn’t overpower the bubbly tonic water. The Botanist Islay Dry Gin’s citrus and herbal juniper nose leads to a surprisingly soft and generous palate, ideal to make the Gin and Tonic a pleasurable drink.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin (try The Botanist Islay Dry Gin, Best Packaging of the Year, 2021 USA Spirits Ratings)
• 4 oz tonic water
• Garnish: 2 lime wheels

Fill a highball glass with ice, then add the gin. Top with the tonic water and stir gently.

Garnish with the lime wheels.

Mandarin Gin and Tonic

Recipe by Feast and West

Mandarin Gin and Tonic, Source: Website

Twisting the classic with a citrusy tone, Mandarin Gin and Tonic exudes zesty flavors of the orange and sweet nuances of the award-winning Barr Hill Gin.

Ingredients:

• 3 oz mandarin orange juice                
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice                
• 1 1/2 oz gin (try Barr Hill Gin, Spirit of the Year, 2021 USA Spirits Ratings)        
• 4-6 oz tonic water (try Fentimans)                

In a highball glass filled with ice, add orange juice, lime juice, and gin. Stir. Top with tonic water.

Blushing Strawberry Gin and Tonic

Recipe by Simply Delicious Food

Blushing Strawberry Gin and Tonic, Source: Website

The strawberry syrup adds sweetness and a blushing red color to the cocktail. Hapusa Himalayan Dry Gin balances the sweetness with a strong juniper core and floral nuances.

For the strawberry syrup:

• 2 cups chopped strawberries
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup water
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

To make the strawberry syrup:

Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes and then blend with a hand blender until smooth. Allow to cool completely.

For the strawberry gin and tonic:

• 300 ml gin (try Hapusa Himalayan Dry, gold medal, 2021 USA Spirits Ratings)
• Tonic water
• Strawberry syrup
• Fresh strawberries for garnish
• Mint leaves for garnish
• Fresh lavender for garnish

To make the drink:

Fill the glasses with ice and then add one shot of gin followed by a shot of strawberry syrup. Top up with cold tonic water and then add garnishes of your choice and serve.

Aperol Gin and Tonic

Recipe by Cocktails Away

Aperol Gin and Tonic, Source: Website

Adding saffron and honeycomb flavors, Tom Cat Gin fluidly infuses with the Aperol to form a rich textured gin and tonic. If you’re a fan of Aperol you will definitely love the Aperol Gin and Tonic.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin (try Tom Cat Gin, gold medal, 2021 USA Spirits Ratings)
• 0.5 oz Aperol
• 6 oz tonic water

Add all the ingredients to a Collins glass with ice. Stir gently and serve.

Rosemary Citrus Gin and Tonic

Recipe by Parsnips and Pastries

Rosemary Citrus Gin and Tonic, Source: Website

Using the seasonal Meyer lemon and clementine, Rosemary Citrus Gin and Tonic runs on a sour engine. You will come across lavender and floral botanicals from Verdigris as you sip on the delicious cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 1 sprig of fresh rosemary
• 1 clementine
• Juice of ½ Meyer lemon
• 2 oz gin (try Verdigris, gold medal, 2021 USA Spirits Ratings)
• 2 oz Tropicana Tangerine Lemonade
• 3 oz tonic (try Top Note)
• To serve: clementine and lemon slices, fresh rosemary

In a cocktail shaker, muddle a halved clementine with a large sprig of fresh rosemary well to release the clementine juice and rosemary flavor. To the shaker, add the juice of half a Meyer lemon, the gin, and some ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a glass. Top with the lemonade and tonic. Add a squeeze of clementine and garnish with slices of clementine and lemon and a sprig of rosemary as a cocktail stirrer. Enjoy!

Blackberry Gin and Tonic

Recipe by Serious Eats

Blackberry Gin and Tonic, Source: Website, image by Kelly Carámbula

Dark, fruity, and tempting, Blackberry Gin and Tonic is a great addition to your summer cocktails list. Expect a creamy mouthfeel with a strong berry finish.

Ingredients:

• 8 ripe blackberries, plus 2 more for garnish
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 1 1/2 oz gin (try Corpen Gin, gold medal, 2021 USA Spirits Ratings)
• 2 to 3 oz tonic water

Muddle the blackberries and lime juice in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and add simple syrup and gin. Shake vigorously for about 10 seconds.

Fill a Collins glass with ice. Double-strain into serving glass using a cocktail strainer and mini fine-mesh strainer to prevent the blackberry seeds from going into the glass. Add tonic water and stir gently. Garnish with a few blackberries on a skewer.

Grapefruit Gin and Tonic

Recipe by Bourbon and Honey

Grapefruit Gin and Tonic, Source: Website

Fresh grapefruit aromas linger as you pull the glass to take a sip. Gin Pamplemousse Romarin expresses a juicy palate with grapefruit and rosemary nuances, leading to a long silky finish.

Ingredients:

• 1-inch piece grapefruit peel
• 1 tsp honey
• 2 oz fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 1/2 oz gin (try Gin Pamplemousse Romarin, Best in Show by Country, 2021 USA Spirits Ratings)
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• 4 oz tonic water

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the grapefruit peel and the honey. Add a handful of ice cubes, grapefruit juice, gin, and lime juice. Shake it up.

Fill a tall glass halfway with ice cubes. Add a wedge of grapefruit and lime. Pour the contents of the shaker into a glass. Top off with tonic water. Cheers!

Raspberry-Lime Gin and Tonic

Recipe by Food Network

Raspberry-Lime Gin and Tonic, Source: Website

A cocktail made for the summers, Raspberry-Lime Gin and Tonic has fresh berry nuances with a tinge of lime zest. Sip on the sweet and sour cocktail spiced with juniper and coriander notes from Monsieur Gin.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup raspberries, plus a few more, for garnish
• 2 oz gin (try Monsieur Gin, gold medal, 2021 USA Spirits Ratings)
• 1 oz lime juice, plus 1 sliced lime, for garnish
• 4 oz tonic (try Fever Tree Rhubarb & Raspberry)

Add the raspberries, gin, and lime juice to a shaker with ice and shake to blend. Strain over a glass with ice, add the tonic, and stir. Add a few whole raspberries and a slice of lime.

Header image - Parsnips and Pastries, Source: Website