5 easy ways to make your gin and tonics better!

Up your G&T game with these great tips and tricks for taking your G&Ts to the next level!

Inspired by Penn State American Inspired Snacks, whose delicious Sour Cream & Chive flavour of baked pretzels we sent to Craft Gin Club members in their July 2021 Gin of the Month box, we have been taking a “go get ‘em” attitude toward our gin and tonic recipes recently. Penn State is famed for its sports teams, after all, and pretty much embodies that can-do, always-room-for-improvement spirit that is so exhilarating in American sports culture.

As such, we’ve been thinking about how we can get better at our favourite sport, G&T making (how can we get this made into an Olympic sport?), and so here we are, helping you to go for gold with your G&Ts.

You could match any craft gin with any premium tonic water and have a perfectly passable G&T, however, if you really want the best gin and tonic experience, we recommend tailoring your tonic selection to the specific gin that you would like to drink.

One of the best ways to do this is to look for the “Perfect Serve” recommendation on the gin’s website or on the Craft Gin Club online shop - there, you can find our “Perfect Serve” recommendation for each gin that’s available.

If you want to step off the beaten path and find your own pairings, think about complementary flavours in the gin and the tonic water. For instance, you can be pretty safe to assume that a citrus-forward gin will work with herbaceous tonic waters like Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic Water. You can find our helpful guide to flavour pairings at this link!

When it comes to getting the best out of your tonic water, try to use the tonic water as soon as the bottle is opened. The longer the bottle is left open the less delightfully bubbly the tonic water will be when you come to use it.

For tonic water inspiration, here is our list of the 15 best premium tonics to try with your craft gin - just click on this link to find them all!

Choosing the right garnish for your G&T is just as important as choosing the right tonic water. The decision you make here can make or break your G&T.

Yes, you will always be safe with a slice of lemon or lime - their fragrant citrus notes will always complement the rich juniper of your gin wonderfully - but to create something truly special, you need to tailor your garnish selection to your G&T.

As with the tonic water selection, this is all about looking at the details. Ask yourself which botanicals are present in the gin and what is the flavour profile of the tonic water? Then use the flavour pairing guide we mentioned above to select the right garnish for your G&T.

Alternatively, just like with the tonic water, the gin’s website and the Craft Gin Club online shop are great sources of information - just watch out for that “Perfect Serve” section.

Finding the best quality garnish is also essential and one of the best ways to assure yourself of quality is by buying garnishes from places that care about your G&T as much as you do, like, say, Craft Gin Club! Another route to great quality garnishes is to grow them yourself, we have some great recommendations for at-home garnish growing at this link.

Pro tip: When using fresh herbs as botanical, give them a slap against the palm of your hand before adding them to the glass. This will help to release so much more of the herb’s aromas - you will be able to smell the difference immediately.

When it comes to perfecting your G&T, ice can never be taken for granted. But don’t worry, there is a simple rule that can easily be followed: bigger and more are better! That means that you should have bigger ice cubes whenever possible and as many of them as you can fit into G&T (within reason!).

Why is it better to have bigger ice cubes in your G&T? It’s better to have bigger ice cubes in your G&T because the bigger the ice cube, the slower it melts. Less melting means that your G&T will become less diluted as you drink, allowing you to enjoy the maximum flavour from start to finish.

Why is it better to have more ice cubes rather than fewer ice cubes? The more ice cubes you have, the colder the liquid will become for longer. This means that less melting will occur which, again, leads to less dilution of your G&T.

For the full lowdown on the importance of ice to a G&T recipe click on this link!

Ok, so this may be down to personal taste, as you have a few options when it comes to G&T glassware.

Which types of glassware are best for G&Ts? A big gin Copa glass will always be our first choice. Its huge bowl allows for lots of ice and plenty of space for your gin, tonic water and garnishes to marry. The opening at the top, from which you sip, also focuses the aromas and fragrances of the tipple, allowing you to enjoy a full sensory experience with each sip. A highball glass or a rocks glass are also perfectly acceptable.

Are there types of glassware to avoid when making a G&T? Yes, we would recommend avoiding champagne coupes, saucers and flutes, and martini glasses as they are simply not wide enough or deep enough to accommodate a G&T.

Find the perfect glassware for your gin drinks by clicking right here!

Creating the perfect G&T is actually more about creating YOUR perfect G&T. Craft Gin Club is always here for when you need advice and we are never shy about offering our recommendations - we suggest a new Perfect G&T for each of our Gins of the Month - but this really is about you and your preferences.

If you were to ask us: what is the ideal ratio of gin to tonic water is in a G&T? We would say 2 parts tonic water to 1 part gin, as we think that ratio allows both the tonic water and gin to really shine. But if you prefer something a little weaker you might take that up to 3 parts tonic water to 1 part gin or if you like it stronger you might make your G&T 1:1. The trick is to experiment and find the perfect ratio for you.

The same applies to your tonic water and garnish selection. You might not like tonic water at all and may prefer a tonic water alternative like soda water, lemonade or ginger ale. Just remember that a G&T is only as good as its ingredients, so choose a good craft gin, a premium mixer and the best, most luscious garnishes that you can find whenever possible.

So, you’ve made your G&T better, the important question now is which snacks do you enjoy with your G&T?

For us, few things are more perfect for snacking on as you sip away at your G&T than Penn State Pretzels, especially their Sour Cream & Chive flavour.

Made in the UK, these authentic, American-style pretzels are so delectably crunchy and moreish and that herbaceous Sour Cream and Chive seasoning works so well with a crisp, refreshing gin and tonic. They are all you need for the perfect night in!