Celebrate International Gin and Tonic Day With These 5 Tasty Twists on the Iconic Cocktail
As a busy day comes to a close, there’s nothing quite like the crisp, refreshing embrace of a well-crafted gin and tonic. In a world where the appreciation of fine spirits and cocktails knows no boundaries, International Gin and Tonic Day emerges as a global celebration of this timeless classic and the many cherished moments it inspires.
Celebrated on October 19, this boozy holiday unites gin enthusiasts from all corners of the globe to raise their glasses in homage to the juniper-infused elixir that has become a symbol of sophistication and conviviality. Actually, the two-ingredient drink is so beloved that we honor it twice a year, as National Gin and Tonic Day is celebrated on April 9.
Whether you prefer a classic G&T with a twist of lime, an herbal riff with rosemary and thyme or an exotic fusion of unusual botanicals, there’s a recipe here for everyone to enjoy. So grab your ice, booze and garnishes and let’s get mixing!
Baja Tonic
(Photo: Las Californias)
- 2 oz Las Californias Nativo Gin
- 1 bar spoon of bitter orange marmalade
- 2 oz of tonic water
- Garnish: Lemon and basil
Build in a globe glass over ice. Garnish with lemon and basil.
Las Californias Nativo offers a unique mineral profile, joined by complex tasting notes from kelp, yerba santa (spicy and savory like licorice and coriander), Californian hops, white sage and damiana (sweet, woody and minty). This evergreen gin aims to tell the tale of Las Californias, the region along the Pacific Coast connecting Mexico and the United States.
Find out more about this terroir-driven gin and its producer here.
Thirlings Dry Gin & Marlish Tonic
(Photo: Ad Gefrin)
- 50 ml Thirlings Dry Gin
- 200 ml Marlish Tonic Water
- Garnish: Orange twist or lemon peel and rosemary sprig
Fill a Copa or highball glass with ice, pour over the Thirlings Dry Gin, add Marlish Tonic and stir. To garnish, add a twist of orange peel or try a twist of lemon peel and a sprig of rosemary for an alternative flavor.
Boasting tasting notes of juniper, green freshness, cinnamon spice, sweet citrus and a hint of salinity, Thirlings Dry Gin hails from Ad Gefrin, an Anglo-Saxon museum and whisky distillery located in Northumberland, England. The gin debuted in June 2023 and pays homage to the museum’s history-rich heartland.
Read more about this gin here.
Overdrive Tonic
(Photo: Engine Gin)
- 1.5 oz Engine Gin
- .5 oz Chinola Passion Fruit
- .25 oz Lemon Juice
- 3 oz Mediterranean Tonic Fever Tree
- Garnish: Lemon peel
Build in a glass with ice and garnish with a lemon twist.
The Overdrive Tonic is the tropical spin on a G&T inspired by the 2017 movie directed by Antonio Negret. Engine Gin is also spotlighted in this drink, offering tasting notes of bold Ligurian sage, lemon, licorice root and damask rose.
Find our aggregate reviews of this Italian gin here.
Cotton Gin and Indian Tonic
(Photo: Otterbeck Distillery)
- 50 ml Cotton Gin
- 200 ml Schweppes Indian Tonic Water
- Garnish: Lime twist and basil leaf
This is Michelin-starred chef Michael Wignall’s perfect gin and tonic, made using Cotton Gin, his own creation in collaboration with Otterbeck Distillery.
From Wignall himself: “To match my signature Cotton Gin I like to pair it with an old, and often forgotten favourite, Schweppes Indian Tonic Water. It has a pure taste with a hint of lime so it matches well with the gin which is subtly distilled with kaffir lime and yuzu. I garnish it with a twist of lime zest which just extracts the oils and aroma and a small basil leaf. Poured over plenty of ice of course.”
Cotton Gin was released in September 0f this year and includes a mix of botanicals personally selected by Wignall. Inspired by his love of the Far East and the dramatic Yorkshire landscape, the gin is made using locally foraged elderflower, yuzu and kaffir lime.
Read more about this chef-backed tipple here.
Gin Sonic
(Photo: Devin Berko/Unsplash)
- 1.5 oz Gin (recommendations here)
- 2 oz soda water
- 2 oz tonic water
- Garnish of choice (we suggest citrus twists, fragrant herbs, cucumbers or fruit slices)
In a glass full of ice, pour in your gin, soda water and tonic. Give the cocktail a gentle stir, top it off with your garnish of choice and enjoy. For an even lighter drink, use three ounces of soda water and only one ounce of tonic.
Read more about this popular, yet criminally easy, riff on a gin and tonic here.
Read next:
Debunking the Malaria Myth: Why Today’s Gin and Tonics Fall Short in Disease Prevention
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