Believe it or not, Gin was first introduced to the world as an herbal medicine (a medicine I wouldn’t mind taking!). From there it slowly made its way into the liquor we all know today. The classic Gin and Tonic cocktail on the other hand was born during the 19th century as a way to help British soldiers take down quinine (medication used to treat malaria). They would add water, sugar lime and gin to the quinine to make it more palatable – thank you soldiers! I found a fun little video from the BBC which gives a 3 minute history of the quintessential drink, if you are interested check it out by clicking here.
Gin is HOT right now, and I'm not just talking about Ryan Reynold's Aviation Gin. The past 10 years, there has been a gin boom, with all sorts of craft distilleries popping up and fancy deviations from the classic G&T recipe. They even serve it in huge goblets in Ireland - the perfect scenario for ending up far too drunk on a night out with your husband's family (but that's a story for another time). If you are new to the world of this juniper berry spirit, this recipe is a perfect place to start. I promise you that once you realise how refreshingly delicious they are you will never turn back.
The Classic Gin Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 part gin (my favourite is Hendricks)
- 3 parts tonic
- 2 thin slices cucumber
- 1 lemon wedge
Directions
- Step 1 1. Combine gin and tonic in a highball glass filled with ice.
- Step 2 2. Add the juice of the squeezed lemon, used lemon wedge and cucumber slices to the drink.
- Step 3 3. Stir lightly and serve.
