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The Perfect Gin & Tonic

Gin’s story is one of war, medicine, and a little bit of chaos. It all started in 16th-century Holland, where Dutch chemists distilled a juniper-infused spirit called jenever. Originally intended as medicine (because why not?), it was believed to cure everything from stomach issues to the plague.

 

Enter the English soldiers—fighting alongside the Dutch in the Eighty Years' War. Before battle, they noticed their allies knocking back shots of jenever for a bit of "Dutch Courage." Intrigued, the English brought the spirit back home, where it quickly became a sensation.

 

By the early 1700s, London was drowning in gin.  Everyone and their grandmother started distilling their own, leading to the infamous Gin Craze—a time when gin was cheaper than beer, and public drunkenness reached legendary levels.

 

Over time, the wild days of gin smuggling and debauchery faded, and the drink evolved into the refined, botanical-rich spirit we know today. From classic London Dry Gin to experimental craft gins, this once-controversial spirit is now a staple of sophisticated cocktails worldwide. Cheers to history! 

The Origin of Gin

Martini

How to make the perfect Gin & Tonic

The perfect gin and tonic is all about balance—choosing the right gin, tonic, and garnishes to enhance the botanicals. Here's how to craft the ultimate G&T:

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Ingredients

  • 50ml premium gin (choose based on botanical preferences)

  • 150ml high-quality tonic water (avoid overly sweet or artificial tonics)

  • Plenty of ice (large, solid cubes to slow dilution)

  • Garnish (tailor to your gin’s botanicals)

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Method

  1. Chill Your Glass – Place your glass in the freezer or fill it with ice for a minute, then discard any melted water.

  2. Add Ice – Fill the glass to the top with fresh, large ice cubes to keep the drink cold and undiluted.

  3. Pour the Gin – Measure 50ml of your favorite gin and pour it over the ice.

  4. Top with Tonic – Slowly add 150ml of tonic water (ideally chilled) to maintain carbonation. Use a bar spoon to gently mix without losing bubbles.

  5. Garnish to Complement the Gin

    • Citrus-forward gins → Lemon, lime, or grapefruit slice

    • Floral gins → Edible flowers, lavender, or hibiscus

    • Spiced gins → Cardamom pods, pink peppercorns, or cinnamon

    • Herbal gins → Rosemary, thyme, or basil

  6. Enjoy! – Sip and appreciate the botanicals coming to life.

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Experiment with ratios to suit your taste. Some prefer a 2:1 tonic-to-gin ratio, while others go for a drier mix.

East Imperial Mixologist Matches 

Clarity Dry Gin East Imperial Tonic Water Fresh Lime Slice or Fresh Green Apple

 

Duo Citrine Gin East Imperial Grapefruit Soda Fresh Mint

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Lighthouse Original Gin East Imperial Tonic Water Fresh Lemon Slice

 

Broken Heart Pinot Noir Gin East Imperial Tonic Water Ruby Red Grapefruit Zest

 

National Distillery Verdigris Dry Gin East Imperial Yuzu Tonic Fresh Lime Slices or mandarin Slices

 

CarbonSix Takapuna Coconut Gin East Imperial Grapefruit Tonic water Fresh Lime Slice or Zest

 

Waiheke Distilling London Dry Gin East Imperial Tonic Water Fresh Orange Slice

 

No8 Distillery Moka Gin East Imperial Grapefruit Tonic Water Fresh Orange Slice or Grapefruit Zest

 

Dancing Sands Sauvignon Blanc Gin East Imperial Yuzu Tonic Fresh Pineapple slice

 

Sundown Black Doris Plum Gin East Imperial Ginger Beer Lime Zest & Fresh Cucumber

 

Bond Store Kawakawa Gin East Imperial Tonic Water Fresh Lemon Zest & Mint

 

Twelfth Hour Dry Gin East Imperial Tonic Water Fresh Mango or Stone fruit segment

 

Weekender Orange Gin East Imperial Soda Water Lime Zest

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Racketeers Spiced Gin East Imperial Grapefruit Soda Fresh Grapefruit Zest

 

Juno Extra Fine Gin East Imperial Tonic Water Slice of Golden Grapefruit and Fresh Mint

 

Imagination Black Barn Syrah Gin East Imperial Yuzu Tonic Fresh Golden Grapefruit

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Dabblers Orange Raspberry and Gin East Imperial Grapefruit Tonic Fresh Seasonal Berries & Lemon Zest

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Hectors Little Akaloa Pink Blossom Gin East Imperial Soda Water Fresh Orange & Coriander

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1919 Distillery London Dry Gin East Imperial Tonic Water Fresh Lemon

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Humdinger Citrus Gin East Imperial Grapefruit Tonic Water Fresh Lime Zest/Celery/ Lemon Balm

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Blush Boysenberry Gin East Ginger Beer Fresh Basil & Grapefruit Zest

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Rose & Twig Pomegranate Gin East Imperial Grapefruit Soda Fresh Lime Slice

 

Curiosity Ruby Gin East Imperial Grapefruit Tonic Water Fresh Red Apple & Rosemary

 

Roots Dry Gin East Imperial Yuzu Tonic Fresh Grapefruit Slice or Peel

 

Dancing Sands Dry Gin Yuzu Tonic Ruby Grapefruit or orange slices

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Dancing Sands Sunkissed Gin Tonic Water Rhubarb Baton and fresh lime slice

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Imagination Strawberry Gin Yuzu Tonic water Fresh Basil Leaves or Fresh Lime Slice

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Lady H Artisan Gin Grapefruit Tonic Fresh or dried Mango and/or sage leaves

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Black Robin Grapefruit Tonic Pink Peppercorns and Fresh Orange Slice

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Victor Botanical Gin Tonic Water Fresh Lime or Ruby Grapefruit Slice

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Broken Heart Original Gin Tonic Water Fresh lemon slice

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