Gin and tonic

Gin and tonic

Gin and tonic with lime
Type	Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume	Gin
Served	On the rocks; poured over ice
Standard garnish	Lime or lemon
Standard drinkware	Highball glass
Commonly used ingredients	Gin and tonic water, to taste
Preparation	In a glass filled with ice, add gin and fill with tonic. Add a lime wedge.

A gin and tonic is a highball cocktail made with gin and tonic water, usually garnished with a slice of lime or lemon and often served over ice. The ratio of gin to tonic water can vary considerably according to taste, with up to 50% gin being common.^[1]

In some countries, gin and tonic is marketed pre-mixed in single-serving cans.

History

This cocktail was introduced by the army of the British East India Company in India.

Tonic water contains quinine, which was used to prevent malaria. Because the tonic water consumed to prevent malaria in the 18th century was extremely bitter, gin was added to make it more palatable.^{[citation needed]} The bitter flavor of quinine complements the green notes of gin (flavored with juniper) much like dry vermouth complements gin in a classic martini.

Although the consumption of tonic water currently has less medical use than it once did, gin and tonic remains a popular drink. Tonic water available today contains less quinine and is consequently less bitter (and is sometimes sweetened). Because of this connection to warmer climates and its refreshing nature, this cocktail is more popular during the warmer months.^[2]

In popular culture

In the fictional universe of Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, it is noted that some 85% of all inhabited planets develop a beverage with a name similar to gin and tonic prior to contact with the rest of the galaxy, though the beverages themselves often bear no resemblance to each other.

See also

• List of cocktails

References

v • d • e Alcoholic beverages   History and production History of alcohol History of alcohol · History of beer · History of Champagne · History of wine · History of French wine · History of Rioja wine Production Brewing · Distilling · Winemaking   Alcoholic beverages Fermented beverage Beer (types) · Wine (types) · Cider (category) · Mead (category) · Rice wine (category) · Other fermented beverages Distilled beverage Brandy (category) · Gin (category) · Liqueur (category) · Rum (category) · Tequila (category) · Vodka (category) · Whisky (category) Fortified wine (category) Madeira wine (category) · Marsala wine · Port wine · Sherry (category) · Vermouth (category)   Distilled beverages by ingredients Grain Barley: Irish whiskey · Japanese whisky · Scotch whisky · Maize: Bourbon whiskey · Corn whiskey · Tennessee whiskey · Rice: Awamori · Rice baijiu · Soju · Rye: Rye whiskey · Sorghum: Baijiu (Kaoliang) Fruit Apple: Applejack · Calvados · Cashew Apple: Fenny† · Coconut: Arrack† · Grape: Armagnac · Brandy · Cognac · Pisco · Plum: Slivovitz · Ţuicㆠ· Pomace: Grappa · Marc · Orujo · Tsikoudia · Tsipouro · Zivania · Chacha† · Various/other fruit: Eau de vie · Kirschwasser · Palinka · Rakia · Schnaps Other Agave: Mezcal · Tequila · Sugarcane/molasses: Aguardiente · Cachaça · Clairin · Guaro · Rum · Seco Herrerano · Tharra · Various cereals and potato: Baijiu · Canadian whisky · Poitin · Shōchū · Snaps · Vodka · Brännvin · Whisky   Liqueurs and infused distilled beverages by ingredients Almond: Amaretto · Crème de Noyaux · Anise: Absinthe · Arak · Ouzo · Raki · Pastis · Sambuca · Chocolate · Cinnamon: Tentura · Coconut: Malibu · Coffee: Kahlua · Tia Maria · Egg: Advocaat · Hazelnut: Frangelico · Herbs: Aquavit · Bénédictine · Brennivín · Crème de menthe · Metaxa · Honey: Bärenjäger · Drambuie · Krupnik · Juniper: Gin · Jenever · Orange: Campari · Curaçao · Triple sec · Star anise: Sassolino · Sugarcane/molasses: Charanda · Various/other fruit: Crème de banane · Crème de cassis · Limoncello · Schnapps · Sloe gin Alcoholic beverages category · Drink Portal · Beer Portal · Beer WikiProject · Wine Portal · Wine WikiProject · Spirits WikiProject