What is the history of gin and tonic?

The quinine was drunk in tonic water but the bitter taste was unpleasant. Presidency armies officers in India in the early 19th century took to adding a mixture of water, sugar, lime and gin to the quinine in order to make the drink more palatable, and thus the gin and tonic cocktail was born.

Who was the gin and tonic invented by?

Modern, and oft-repeated, accounts of the earlier origins of gin and tonic credit its invention to officers in the Indian Army taking their daily bitter quinine dose washed down with gin and soda. Some date this as early as 1825, a mere five years after the first extraction of quinine.

Why did British drink gin and tonic?

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.

Why did soldiers drink gin and tonic?

The soldiers of the British empire in India soon discovered that they could mix gin, of which they had a ration, with lime and tonic water, which they were taken to prevent malaria, and enjoy it in the afternoon as the sun was going down, to make the quinine bitter flavours more pleasant.

What is the history of gin?

Gin likely traces its origins to liquors produced back in the Middle Ages, with references to a spirit flavored with “genever” referenced in a 13th Century Flemish manuscript. By the 1600s, the Dutch were producing gin in earnest, with hundreds of distilleries in the city of Amsterdam alone.

Is gin and tonic a girly drink?

Is Gin And Tonic A Girly Drink? It is unlikely that people would consider a gin and tonic one of the most ‘manly’ drinks out there, as they might about some whiskies for instance. However, gin and tonic is definately not a drink for women.

What is the history of tonic water?

The first commercial tonic water was produced in 1858 when it was patented by the owner of Pitt & Co., Erasmus Bond. The mixed drink gin and tonic also originated in British colonial India, when the British mixed their medicinal quinine tonic with gin and other ingredients to make the bitter medicine more palatable.

Is quinine in Angostura bitters?

Quinine is found in other bitters and also in some vermouth. It is certainly plausible for angostura bark to have been used in Angostura bitters. As we shall see, it seems likely that it would have been used.

Why is Schweppes called Indian tonic?

By 1900 at least 60% of the world’s quinine came from Java and some estimates put this as high as 95%. So, if you have yet to put two-and-two together, it’s called “Indian Tonic” because the quinine-infused carbonated water supposedly had a tonic effect on the body, and, well, the Brits came up with the drink in India.

What did the English soldiers call gin?

During the Thirty Years War, 1618–1648, the British fought alongside the Dutch and soon took a liking to Dutch gin, which the Dutch themselves called ‘genever’, meaning juniper in Dutch. In English, ‘genever’ became gin and an English obsession was born as it made its way back with the soldiers.

When did gin become so popular?

In the latter half of the 17th Century and in the early years of the 18th Century, gin rapidly gained popularity in England, cementing the association it still enjoys with that nation.

What was the most popular gin drink in the 1800s?

In the late 1800s, a time now considered to be a ‘cocktail renaissance’, the most popular gin drink was not a Martini or a Gin & Tonic. It was a Gin Rickey.

What is the best gin to drink as a bartender?

20 Easy Gin Cocktails Every Aspiring Bartender Should Master 1 Bee’s Knees. 2 Bramble. 3 Clover Club. 4 Corpse Reviver No. 2. 5 Dirty Martini. 6 French 75. 7 Gibson. 8 Gimlet. 9 Gin & Tonic. 10 Hot G.

Are there any easy gin cocktails to make at home?

Whether you’re looking to take up a new skill, hone your mixology skills or are simply longing for a bar-quality cocktail at home, here you’ll find our top 30 easy gin cocktails, each crafted with our award-winning London Dry Gin, to help you elevate your home sipping.

Is there such a thing as a gin martini?

No gin cocktail is as prized (or debated) as the Martini. It may take some practicing to get yours right – brush up on Martini-making basics and terminology to help you master the serve.