Classic Gin and Tonic Recipe Plus 11 Fun & Fancy Variations

In this world, there are a handful of truths and certainties: taxes, award shows, and that a gin and tonic will always, always, hit the spot. The juniper notes floating atop the bubbles of the tonic. The citrusy lime garnish balancing the earthy, bitter flavors.  Being a self-designated gin and tonic aficionado (almost to a fault), slide on into a sip of heaven with these gin and tonic recipes. 

As iconic and famous as the series finale of Friends, the iPod taking the place of skipping CD Walkman, and the rise of Netflix: the classic gin and tonic. 

Ingredients

Snag yourself a bottle of pink gin to serve as the base to your pink G&T. But if you can't find it or you don't want to go pink gin hunting, you most likely already have the answer in your cabinet: aromatic bitters.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• 4-6 dashes aromatic bitters
• Ice
• Tonic water to top off
• Blackberries and edible rose petals for garnish 

Instructions

1. In a highball, rocks, or cocktail glass, add ice, gin, lime juice, and bitters.
2. Stir to mix.
3. Top off with tonic water.
4. Stir briefly to mix.
5. Garnish with blackberries and rose petals. 

The royally colored Empress gin owes its eye-catching and popping purple color to butterfly pea blossom. And once you add a bit of citrus, you'll find yourself with a blue gin and tonic on your hands.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Empress gin
• Ice
• Tonic water to top off
• Orange peel for garnish 

Instructions

1. In a highball glass, add ice and Empress gin.
2. Top off with tonic water.
3. Garnish with an orange peel.

Close your eyes, grab a dandelion, and make a wish on this floral G&T. What does elderflower taste like? That first warm day of spring, with the scent of blossoms blowing through your home when you can finally open the windows to enjoy the breeze. 

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces gin
• ½ ounce elderflower liqueur
• ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Ice
• Tonic water to top off
• Elderflower blossoms for garnish

Instructions

1. In a highball or cocktail glass, add ice, gin, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice.
2. Top off with tonic water.
3. Stir briefly to mix.
4. Garnish with elderflower buds. 

A gin and tonic is already brimming with juniper and pine flavors. If you can't get enough of those piney flavors, then a rosemary G&T will be an absolute dream. 

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces rosemary-infused gin
• ¼ ounce simple syrup
• ¼ ounce orange liqueur
• Ice
• Tonic water to top off
• Rosemary sprig and orange wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, add ice, rosemary gin, simple syrup, and orange liqueur.
2. Top off with tonic water.
3. Stir briefly to mix.
4. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and an orange wedge.

Earl Gray flavors will spin a gin and tonic that's a little richer with soft floral notes and a whisper of lemon. Skip the milk, chap. 

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Earl Grey-infused gin
• 1-2 dashes orange bitteres
• Ice
• Tonic water to top off
• Two lime slices for garnish

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, add ice, Earl Grey gin, and orange bitters.
2. Top off with tonic water.
3. Stir briefly to mix.
4. Garnish with two lime slices. 

Not as sweet and lemony as the bee's knees, buzz and bumble straight to the honey jar for this gin and tonic. And yes, you can enjoy this with a flower crown in your hair.

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces gin
• ¾ ounce honey syrup
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Ice
• Tonic water to top off
• Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, honey syrup, and lemon juice.
2. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
4. Top off with tonic water.
5. Garnish with a lime wedge.

A little more tart than its lime-sibling, lemon adds a little extra brightness to the gin and tonic. Which is perfect for those who are just starting to dabble in its magic.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces lemon-infused gin
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ ounce orange liqueur
• ¼ ounce simple syrup
• Ice
• Tonic water to top off
• Lemon slice for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, lemon gin, lemon juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup.
2. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
4. Top off with tonic water.
5. Garnish with a lemon slice.

For who who love a good bramble now and then, this berry-forward gin and tonic can be described just one way: berry good.

Ingredients

• 5-6 fresh blackberries
• 1½ ounces gin
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Ice
• Fresh blackberry and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, fresh berries, gin, and lemon juice.
2. Shake to chill.
3. Pour, do not strain, into a rocks glass.
4. Top off with tonic water.
5. Garnish with fresh berries and a mint sprig.

A whisper of Spanish vermouth softens, sharpens, and highlights the familiar flavors without overpowering the delicate balance that is a traditional gin and tonic. 

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces gin
• ¾ ounce Spanish vermouth
• Ice
• Tonic water to top off
• Lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, add ice, gin, and Spanish vermouth.
2. Top off with tonic water.
3. Stir briefly to mix.
4. Garnish with a lime wheel.

You can take it the easy way with cucumber-infused gin or bust out your muddler to freshen up this spin on the gin and tonic using cucumber, on cucumber, on cucumber.

Ingredients

• 3-4 cucumber wheels
• ¼ ounce simple syrup
• ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 ounces gin
• Ice
• Tonic water to top off
• Lime wheel and cucumber ribbon for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle cucumber wheels with simple syrup and lime juice.
2. Add ice and gin.
3. Shake well to mix.
4. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
5. Top off with tonic water.
6. Garnish with a lime wheel and cucumber ribbon. 

There's always thyme for herbs with your gin and tonic. Although this calls for thyme, sage, basil, cilantro, lavender, and lemongrass all mingle oh-so perfectly with the fizz and juniper flavors. 

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces gin
• ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1-3 fresh thyme sprigs
• Ice
• Tonic water to top off
• Pear slice and herb sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, lemon juice, and thyme sprigs.
2. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with a pear slice and thyme sprig. 

A gin and tonic is like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. Like a walk through a pine tree forest, in the absolute best of ways, there’s always an adventure on the other side of the highball. So, come, grab yourself a copy of the G&T chronicles, where the weather is always nice, and the news is always good.