Not to turn my back on bourbon, which many know is a favorite spirit of mine, but the Gin and Tonic is one of my absolute favorite drinks. For World Gin Day, I’m excited to share recipes for two gin infusions that are perfect choices to use in my favorite cocktail.
I tend to stick with other herbs and spices or citrus when I infuse gin because it’s already herbal to begin with; it’s not neutral and open to most ingredients, like its cousin vodka. In this case, cucumber-lime and lemongrass-ginger are two flavor pairings that really work well and I enjoy drinking in a Gin and Tonic.
First, you’ll need to find a good tonic water. As easy as they are to find in grocery and convenience stores, tonic made by big soda manufacturers are not what I’ve come to enjoy in my drinks. I like Q’s line of gourmet sodas and Fever Tree about the best. You’ll find tonic water, ginger beer, and club soda among other varieties from these brands in 4-pack single-serving bottles. Both run about $4.99 each at Wegmans and other grocery stores. Q also makes larger bottles, although I prefer the smaller sizes, which are good for making one or two drinks at a time without going flat.
I’ve also been told by my bartender friend, Stefanie, that there’s another alternative: tonic concentrate. Add it to club soda or seltzer water and proceed with making your drink. I found some in a specialty food store, but you can likely also get it on Amazon.
Next, you’ll need a quart-sized mason jar with a lid and some gin to put in it. Some gins are more herbal or uniquely-flavored than others. Use what you like that’s about middle-of-the-road (i.e., nothing super top-shelf that would cost you $40-50 a bottle) with a relatively neutral flavor. I wouldn’t recommend something like Tanqueray, which I love but has a good, pine-like flavor and can be on the more expensive side to justify using in this application. I generally go with New Amsterdam. It’s good quality and doesn’t have as distinctive of a flavor that would interfere with other ingredients. I find that it’s almost-always on sale at my local PA state liquor store for about $20 for a 1.5 liter bottle, too. Works for me.
After combining the ingredients, let sit a week and you should have a good infusion. At that point, strain the gin through a small, fine-mesh strainer or cheese cloth. Pour the gin back into the jar, cover, and label the jar. Store in the refrigerator and serve ice cold on the rocks or mixed in a cocktail, like a Gin and Tonic, one of my favorites.
Use in your favorite cocktails, like a Gin & Tonic.
- 2 stalks lemon grass
- 1" piece ginger peeled
- 32 oz gin (Suggested: New Amsterdam)
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Peel and coarsely chop the ginger. Crush or coarsely chop the lemongrass. Add to a 1 quart jar with a tight fitting screw-top lid (I used a mason jar.)
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Add gin to fill the jar, leaving about 1″ of room of space to put the lid on without spilling. Cover the jar and shake to mix ingredients.
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Set the jar in a cool, dry place for at least 2-3 days and up to a week, shaking the jar at least once a day.
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Strain the mixture through cheesecloth or a coffee filter into a clean, 1 quart jar. Cover and store until ready to use.
Use in your favorite cocktails, like a Gin & Tonic.
- 1 small cucumber
- 1 lime
- 32 oz gin (Suggested: New Amsterdam)
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Cut cucumber into rounds, keeping the peel still on. Using a vegetable peeler, remove the lime peel, leaving the bitter white pith behind. Add to a 1 quart jar with a tight fitting screw-top lid (I used a mason jar.)
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Add gin to fill the jar, leaving about 1″ of room of space to put the lid on without spilling. Cover the jar and shake to mix ingredients.
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Set the jar in a cool, dry place for at least 2-3 days and up to a week, shaking the jar at least once a day.
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Strain the mixture through cheesecloth or a coffee filter into a clean, 1 quart jar. Cover and store until ready to use.
- 2 oz infused gin
- 1-2 lime wedges
- 2-3 dashes orange bitters
- 4 oz tonic water (Suggested: Fever Tree or Q brands)
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Fill a chilled Collins glass with ice.
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Add 2 oz infused gin, the juice of 1-2 lime wedges, and a few dashes of orange bitters (if desired).
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Top with 4 oz good-quality tonic water. Stir to combine.