What a curiously British Concoction
Cheerio! Today is a very special day across all the lands of the world, for it is International Gin and Tonic Day. Some find this to be a refreshing beverage. Others think it tastes like medicine. What a curiously British Concoction: both are correct. Only the Brits would take two bitter compounds and combine them; then, call them a cocktail.
If you are at all familiar with the East India Company of the early 19th century, you know that they were a British entity sent to the Indian Subcontinent to export goods to England. The British Military was central to these expeditions. And, they would encounter foreign diseases. Malaria was one such disease. A doctor at the time discovered that quinine (a compound derived from tree bark) was effective at combating malaria. The compound is very bitter. So, officers of the Presidency armies decided to mix it with tonic water. While they were at it, they thought gin would go well. At the time, tonic water had no sweeteners. So, they would add sugar and water to cut the bitterness. Thus was born the Gin and Tonic.
Over the years, commercial versions of tonic water added sweeteners to make it more palatable. So, what was once a Mary Poppins trick of a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down is now a cocktail of choice around the world. Of course, you would need to drink 2 gallons of tonic water to get an anti-malarial dose.
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What a curiously British Concoction (From Italy via the Netherlands)
Gin is one of Britain’s favorite beverages. But, it didn’t start out there. It’s roots date back to Italian Monks (of course it did, the best booze always does). According to the story, Benedictine Monks in Salerno had an abundance of Juniper trees on the property. So, they distilled it with the wine they made. It was originally for medicinal purposes.
According to the NIH: Juniper berries or extract of the plant has traditionally been used as diuretic, anti-arthritis, anti-diabetes, antiseptic as well as for the treatment of gastrointestinal and autoimmune disorders.
Juniper trees come in a wide variety. They are part of the Cypress family, and even show up in cedar chests. The species Juniperus communis is the one that we find in gin. It lends an assertive evergreen flavor to gin, and, is the defining component. The base of gin is a neutral spirit derived from grains, fruit, or starchy vegetable like potatoes. And, if this sounds familiar, you’re right: it’s vodka (see our post on vodka here). Ther are strict rules over what constitutes gin, the amount of juniper and alcohol content being the most important.
Over time, the definition and production of gin developed to current day specifications. In the Netherlands there was a precursor to gin called Geniver that was sweeter than modern day gin. Most of what we see in the market, today, is a version of London dry gin. But, there are other variations.
What’s the difference?
There are 3 types of gin according to classification Standards: London Dry, Plymouth, and Old Tom gin.
London dry does not have to come from London. It is the process. Botanicals, such as juniper, are in the initial brewing and distilling sessions of the creation of the gin. Only water and/or minimal sweeteners allowed post distillation. All ingredients must be natural. And, the gin must not be too sweet.
Conversely, old Tom Gin is much sweeter. It’s more reminiscent of the Dutch Genever. Some drink makers prefer the sweeter edge to diversify their drinks. Others tend to stick to the traditional. If you’re making a complex cocktail with lots of ingredients, this version may be preferable.
Plymouth Gin: Somewhere between the dryness of London gin and Old Tom gin, lies Plymouth. It is sweeter, but not medicinally sweet. And, it is very specific. Unlike London Dry Gin, Plymouth gin subscribes to the place of origin axiom of things like champagne and cognac. It can only come from Plymouth England (sorry Pilgrims). So, it may be an exclusive thing. But, that doesn’t mean others can’t make that style of gin and give it another name.
What a curiously British Concoction by any other name
We have a few versions that don’t meet the strict standards of the above classifications. Bathtub gin (named after bootleggers or home distillers making illegal booze during prohibition) is not as nasty as it sounds. In fact, you can take vodka and add botanicals to make your own at home. While London gin requires botanicals be distilled in the process, Some prefer to add flavors after distillation. Thus, your juniper or other desired flavors and sweeteners can stand out more. The artistry and subtlety of brewing the flavors in the process may be lost. But, if you want to highlight a particular flavor, this is how it’s done. If you have had Flavored vodkas or gins, you will know what we mean. They use a lemon syrup that doesn’t exactly come off as real lemon.
Then there are Gin Liqueurs. These are gins that have added flavors and a lower alcohol content. Where True gin is over 37.5%, these come in between 20 and 30. They may have some juniper. But, it is not the predominant flavor. Sloe Gin is a perfect example. It’s thicker, sweeter, and has a totally different flavor and effect. Again, there is nothing wrong with them. They are just a different animal. Thus, the different classification.
Navy Strength
Then there is Navy strength gin. The British navy used to provide rations of alcoholic beverages to their sailors. Enlisted men got rum. Officers got Gin. because the beverages were stored in barrels in the hold next to gun powder, they were afraid if it leaked, the gunpowder would not fire. So, they had to have a high alcohol content to guarantee flammability. So, Navy strength Gin has to be 100 proof (over 57% alcohol). The same applied to rum as well. You don’t want to fire your cannons to a thud.
All Around the World
Since the British Navy traveled all around the world, it brought it’s culture and tastes to different ports. Gin was no exception. In fact, there is an island in the Azores, Faial, where Gin and Tonic is the house specialty of the major meeting pub at the international dock. You wouldn’t think of an island off the coast of Africa would be an international stop. But, Ships from all over the world stop there. And, you would expect a tropical beverage to be the house specialty. But, you would be wrong. Even more surprising, The Azores are part of Portugal. So, why not Port as the drink of Choice. But, Gin and Tonic it is.
In India (a former British Colony) consumes a lot of Gin and tonic as well. It can be found on all continents of the globe. Even in the United States, where we fought a war to declare independence from Britain, the Gin and Tonic still remains a favorite in bars and restaurants. Try as we may, if it works, why replace it?
So, why not something else?
Gin is a unique beverage. You would think there would be tons of different recipes and variations using it. But, Gin and tonic go together like chocolate and peanut butter, Allen and Burns, Lucy and Ethel. You can try other things. But, these two, somehow are a perfect pairing. The simplicity of a fragrant liquor and sparkling water is refreshing and inviting. Add a spritz of lime and you have perfection in a glass. Of course, the flavor of gin isn’t for everybody. It’s one of those things. Some people will complain: it tastes like a Christmas tree. While others will exclaim with joy: “It tastes like a Christmas tree!” Most of us fall somewhere in between. And, with modern artisanal versions as well as higher end tonics like Fever Tree, there is a lot more variation and quality to be had.
Chances are, if you don’t like gin and tonic, you probably had one in a bar where they poured gin in a glass and topped it off with soda from a “gun”. They don’t put tonic with quinine in those “guns”. So, you didn’t get an authentic gin and “tonic”. You got seltzer, which has no flavor.
But, if you did get a real gin and tonic, not liking it is still understandable. As we opened this article, both gin and tonic can be bitter (What a curiously British Concoction). And, the measure of the best gins is the dryness. If you like sweet drinks, this probably isn’t the best beverage for you. But, if you remember the old commercials for ginger ale, it’s not too sweet.
What a curiously British Concoction. Time for an update.
While the general consensus is the simpler the better, some of us can’t leave well enough alone. As we said, there have been many improvements on both gin and tonic over the years. So, why not take a new look at the drink. The recipe is simple. 1 part gin, 1 part tonic, ice, and a squeeze of lime. But, what if we add another dimension. If you aren’t a fan of drinking a “Christmas tree”, perhaps, adding a couple layers can improve the perception of the drink. One way to do this is to substitute a Plymouth, old Tom, or Bathtub Gin for your London Dry. But, chances are, they aren’t readily available in your local package store. You can get a local artisan version that probably has a variety of botanicals. That’s another way to take a fresh view.
Or, you can make do with what you have on hand. We would suggest getting a premium gin, since there are minimal ingredients in the drink. You want something like a Tanqueray or Bombay Sapphire. Or, a smaller production distillery version. Try to avoid cheap gins unless they are going into something like a long island iced tea which has 5 different liquors and you don’t want any one to stand out above the rest.
For our cocktails today, we suggest a little experimentation. But, we want to stay close to the original drink. basically, we want a simple gin and tonic with an extra layer of flavor. Adding fresh herbs, a juice or two, even a berry or other fruit can be quite refreshing. So, without further ado. Here are a couple drink recipes for your sipping pleasure. You won’t say: What a curiously British Concoction.
Cheerio!
Lemon Thyme Gin and Tonic
Ingredients
- 8 Oz Good Quality Gin
- 16 Oz Tonic Water with Quinine
- 2 Each Large Lemons
- 8 Sprigs Fresh Thyme
- 2 Oz Sugar
- Ice
Instructions
- Zest 1 Lemon with a micro-plainer. Squeeze the juice from that lemon and muddle the zest, juice, sugar, and 4 sprigs of Thyme in a pitcher. Cut the other lemon into wedges, and reserve for garnish. Add ice and gin to the muddled ingredients. Then add the tonic water. Pour into glasses and garnish with lemon wedges and remaining thyme sprigs.
New England Fall Cider Gin and Tonic
Ingredients
- 8 Oz High Quality Gin
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 2 Oz Turbinado Sugar
- 1 Oz Lime Juice
- 4 Oz Fresh Apple Cider
- 12 Oz Tonic Water
- Apple and Lime for garnish
- Ice
Instructions
- Muddle cinnamon, Sugar, and Lime juice in a pitcher. Add The gin and Cider and Stir. Add the Tonic and Ice. Pour into Glasses and Garnish with Apple and Lime Slices.