The Gin & Tonic 3 ways with the Mandeville Hotel
Where did it come from? And why do we need to enjoy the classic Gin & Tonic?
First created in Holland in the 17th century as a form of medicine, it was called Genever (fun fact alert: that’s the Dutch word for juniper!), and was very different to the (usually) clear, juniper-forward spirit that we’ve come to know and love as Gin today.
In the 17th century, juniper, along with botanicals such as star anise and coriander seed, was believed to have medical properties, and was distilled with malt spirit to create Genever. During the Thirty Years War, British soldiers fighting on Dutch land discovered Genever, (fun fact alert #2: it was nicknamed ‘Dutch courage’ because the fearless Dutch army all had a Gin ration they’d drink before going into battle) and brought it back to England.
Skip forward several decades to 1857, when the British took governance of India, a large part of travellers and colonists suffered from malaria. They used bitter tasting quinine, extracted from cinchona bark, to ward off malaria. It was made into a tonic by dissolving it in water and adding sugar to sweeten it. Once the nation’s favourite spirit was added, the Brits were left with a drink that tasted pretty darn good, and stopped them getting ill. Introducing our Gin & Tonic. So here's to drinking to your health.
The gin and tonic is a simple, no-nonsense cocktail. What can really be done to “perfect” it? The Mandeville Hotel’s Reform Social & Grill gives us the Gin & Tonic - 3 ways.
1. THE BASIC GIN & TONIC
Ingredients
2-ounces gin of choice
4-ounces good-quality tonic water
Ice
How to make it
Fill a glass with ice and add the gin and tonic water. Stir gently to combine. Garnish.
How to garnish
Lime wedges
Mint sprigs
Juniper berries
Peppercorns
2. THE BLOOD ORANGE GIN & TONIC
Ingredients
2-ounces gin of choice
4-ounces good-quality tonic water
Blood Orange Slices (for garnish)
Juniper berries (for garnish)
Peppercorns (for garnish)
Ice
How to make it
Fill a glass with ice and add the gin and tonic water. Stir gently to combine. Garnish.
3. CHARRED LEMON GIN AND TONIC
Ingredients
2-ounces gin of choice
4-ounces good-quality tonic water
Grilled Lemon Slices
Rosemary
Juniper berries
Peppercorns
Ice
How to make it
Fill a glass with ice and add the gin and tonic water. Stir gently to combine. Garnish.
THE MANDEVILLE HOTEL
Mandeville Place, London. W1U 2BE
Follow them here:
@mandevillehotel
@reformsocialandgrill
