Gin & Tonic: History of a Classic Cocktail

Nothing quite beats the refreshing taste of a Gin & Tonic (G&T) on a warm summer night. Today this classic cocktail usually consists of gin, tonic water, and lime. But when was the first G&T made? Where did tonic water come from? Why did it become so popular? We break down it all down in this latest edition of history of a classic cocktail: Gin & Tonic.

What is the Origin of Gin & Tonic?

Let’s start with the first ingredient in this classic cocktail: the gin. Gin was first produced by a Dutch doctor, Franciscus Sylvius de la Boe, in the Netherlands. 

In the 16th century, he made schnapps distilled with juniper berries, called “Genever”. Eventually this spirit came to England where it transitioned into modern day gin. Gin was originally made for medicinal purposes, specifically to ward off fever.

Tonic water also has origins as a medicine. In the 1630s, Jesuit missionaries in South Africa used the bark of the cinchona, or quina-quina, tree to ward off malaria. In the 1800s, quinine (taking its name from the tree) was extracted from the bark and purified into a powder. This new quinine powder was given to British soldiers during the colonization of India during the 19th Century. 

Quinine was a very bitter tasting powder and the British soldiers tried mixing it with sugar water, but that didn’t take away the bitter taste. At some point the soldiers began mixing the quinine powder with gin and voila! the Gin & Tonic was born. 

In 1858 a British man named Erasmus Bond invented the first official tonic water, making it even easier to create the classic cocktail. 

Can Gin & Tonic Actually Help Prevent Malaria? 

Nowadays the quinine content of tonic water is minimal, and more effective antimalarial drugs have been developed. According to, “Malaria: Parasite Biology, Pathogenesis and Protection”, drinking a glass of a decoction of Cinchona bark (made by soaking the bark in brandy or gin for 5 or 6 days) two or three times a day would have provided at least 1-2g quinine per day. This amount of quinine could have prevented malaria. However, modern day tonic water has such little quinine, you would need to drink 67 liters of Gin & Tonic to prevent malaria! 

What is in a Gin & Tonic?

In the 19th century, the G&T recipe was simple: tonic water with a splash of gin. This was such a common drink for the British soldiers that Winston Chruchill said, “The Gin and Tonic drink has saved more Englishmen’s lives, and minds, than all the doctors in the Empire.”

With that endorsement, Gin & Tonics became more popular in the 20th century. By mid-century, the recipe changed to focus more on the gin and less on the tonic water. Today’s G&Ts consist of gin with a splash of tonic water and lime for additional enhanced flavor. With only two ingredients, it's one of the easiest cocktails to make at home. Cheers!

Ingredients:

2 oz. Gin

4 oz. Tonic Water

Lime Wedge (for garnish)

Directions:

Fill glass with ice Pour gin and tonic over ice. Stir well. Garnish with a lime wedge. 

Cheers!

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