Summer is in full swing. Bar and restaurant openings vary significantly state by state, but one thing remains true despite this: Americans are buying more alcohol to drink at home than we did before the pandemic hit. We love a good drink – who wouldn’t nowadays? It’s in this spirit (pardon the pun) that we present the only summer cocktail you’ll ever need: the gin & tonic.
Why Gin & Tonic?
Let us be clear: we are not saying that a G&T is the only summer cocktail worth imbibing. Far from it. Various whiskies, rum, vodka, tequila, and even absinthe grace our showroom bar, as do a few beer selections. These all make for great summer drinks, surely.
Still, we think the gin & tonic takes the cake if you’re going to drink in hot weather. Our reasoning is below:
It’s Refreshing
There is a “snap” to a good gin and tonic that’s hard to replicate with other cocktails. A Tom Collins is good, but perhaps a bit too sweet. An Old Fashioned is also a treat, but still a bit “heavy.” Maybe it’s just psychological, but clear alcohol seems light and unfussy, making it even more palatable in the summer months.
Whether you dress your drink with a lime or a lemon (as they do in Greece), a cold gin and tonic is like a breath of fresh air on a 90+ degree day.
Even A Novice Can Make It
Even if you’ve never mixed a drink before in your life, you can make a gin & tonic, though whether it’s well-balanced is another story altogether. You only need the following:
- Rocks or highball glass
- Gin
- Tonic water (not soda water, which has a totally different flavor)
- Lime (or lemon, or no garnish at all if you prefer)
A typical gin-to-tonic ratio is between 1:1 to 1:3. Vary this depending on your tolerance level and just how much fun you plan to have that day (or night).
It’s Easy To Find
Gin can be described in many ways, but “rare” isn’t one of them. Most liquor stores have a decent enough gin selection to cater to a variety of tastes and budgets.
What’s The Best Gin?
We all know the big names like Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire, and Beefeater. These brands will all make a perfectly decent G&T, of course – Tanqueray wouldn’t be the world’s top-selling brand of gin if it couldn’t.
Still, there’s more to life than the big names. Henry A. Davidsen got its start in Philadelphia, so we’re of course partial to Bluecoat Gin, whose distillery is right here in Philadelphia. They’re not just local, though – their gin is dry and invigorating, perfect for a summer cocktail.
We also enjoy Hendrick’s Gin. It’s easy for us to appreciate small batch production as Hendrick’s does it (everything we make for our clients is a one-off, after all), but the “wow” factor comes with the hint of cucumber rolled into the flavor. It’s a unique taste that makes for a unique drink.
Summer Reading
While you relax and have a few G&T’s in the sun, take a look at some other image and style articles we’ve posted:
