Here are 4 ways to prepare Gin Tonic cocktails that are both visually appealing and effective in refreshing you on hot summer days. With just a few simple steps, you can have a delicious drink, let’s cook right away with TasteVN!
1. Fragrant Kiwi Gin Tonic
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Preparation
5 minutes
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Processing
5 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Fragrant Kiwi Gin Tonic For 1 person
Pineapple 50 gr (chopped) Kiwi 45 gr (chopped) Jalapeno pepper 2 slices Lime 1/2 fruit Tonic water 330 ml Gin 44 ml
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh pineapple
- Color: you should choose fruits that have a bright yellow color from the stem to the tip, there may be a few eyes that are slightly green but it still has a certain sweetness.
- Shape: Pineapples that are round and short will have more flesh compared to long-shaped ones.
- Pineapple eyes: Choose fruits with large, spaced eyes as this indicates that the pineapple is mature and naturally ripened, not soaked in chemicals.
- Fragrance: you can try smelling the end of the fruit; if it has a fragrant smell, you should buy it. Additionally, avoid fruits that have a slightly sour smell like fermentation, as they are overripe.
- Pineapple crown: The greener the crown, the fresher the pineapple. Overripe pineapples will have a dry or brown crown.
- Touch: A good, fresh pineapple will not be too hard or too soft; when you press your finger into it, there should be no indentation.
How to choose fresh kiwi
- Choose fruits with a fuzzy outer skin, not misshapen, and free from insect bites or bruises.
- When touching the fruit’s stem, if it feels soft, the fruit is ripe and sweet. If the fruit is still hard, it indicates that it is not ripe and will taste sour; you should not buy it.
What is Jalapeno Pepper?
- This is a popular type of chili in Mexico with a spicy flavor and thick skin.
- It is usually harvested and used when the fruit is still green in salads, pizzas,… and some beverages.
- You can find Jalapeno peppers at specialty import food stores or reputable e-commerce sites.
Required Tools
How to Make Kiwi Pineapple Gin Tonic
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Prepare and Muddle the Fruits
First, wash the pineapple, kiwi, and chili. Peel the kiwi and cut it into small pieces, cut the eyes off the pineapple and slice it, and slice the chili thinly.
Then, put the prepared pineapple, kiwi, and chili into the glass and use a pestle to muddle them to extract the juice.
Tip: You can also put the pineapple, kiwi, and chili into a blender and blend them slightly at low speed, however, the juice extracted will not be as much as when you muddle them.
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Mixing the cocktail and garnishing
Next, add the juice of 1/2 lemon into the cocktail glass and stir well.
Prepare a glass with ice, then strain the cocktail mixture into the glass through a sieve. Next, add 44ml of Gin and 330ml of Tonic water.
Finally, garnish the rim of the glass with a slice of pineapple and chili to finish.
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Final product
The Gin Tonic with kiwi and pineapple is refreshing, with a characteristic sweet and sour flavor from the mixture of kiwi and pineapple combined with a slight bitterness and coolness from the tonic water, making it a perfect thirst quencher.
2. Gin Tonic with blueberry and thyme
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Preparation
5 minutes
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Processing
5 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Blueberry Thyme Gin Tonic For 1 person
Blueberries 20 berries Thyme 2 sprigs Lemon 1/2 fruit Gin 44 ml Tonic Water 330 ml
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh blueberries
- Prioritize selecting berries that are blue or dark purple, firm, and have a thin waxy coating on the outside.
- Additionally, it is advisable to buy blueberries from reputable imported fruit stores or supermarkets to ensure quality.
- Do not buy berries that are leaking or cracked.
What is thyme?
- Thyme is an herb commonly used in cooking, medicine, and landscaping. It originates from southern Europe, from the western Mediterranean to southern Italy. In Vietnam, it is mainly grown in temperate climates like Da Lat and Sapa.
- Thyme is one of the 4 important spices used when marinating turkey (a signature dish during Thanksgiving). It has a slightly spicy, pungent, and salty flavor that is usually added at the end of the cooking process because high temperatures can easily cause the delicate flavor to be lost.
- You can buy fresh thyme at garden centers or find it in large specialty baking ingredient stores as well.
Tools needed
How to make Blueberry Gin Tonic with Thyme
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Prepare and mash the ingredients
Wash the blueberries thoroughly and let them drain.
Then, put the blueberries into the glass along with 2 sprigs of thyme and use a pestle to mash the mixture.
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Mix the cocktail and decorate
Next, squeeze the juice of 1/2 lemon into the glass and stir well to combine.
Prepare a new glass of ice, then strain the mixture through a strainer into the glass. Next, add 44ml of Gin and 330ml of Tonic water
Finally, garnish the rim of the glass with a few blueberries and a bit of thyme to finish.
Final Product
Blueberry Thyme Gin Tonic is visually appealing with a pink color, refreshing to drink, fragrant with the distinctive scent of thyme, and has a sweet and sour taste from the mixture of lemon and blueberries, extremely attractive.
3. Watermelon Mint Gin Tonic
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Preparation
5 minutes
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Processing
5 minutes
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Difficulty Level
Easy
Ingredients for Watermelon Mint Gin Tonic For 1 person
Mint leaves 1 sprig Watermelon 76 g Lemon 1/2 fruit Gin 44 ml Tonic water 330 ml
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh watermelon
- You should choose ripe watermelons with small, dry stems, as these tend to have sweet red flesh.
- In addition, you should prioritize watermelons with a yellow or cream-colored bottom; the more concave and deep the bottom, the tastier it is.
- Choose watermelons with firm, round, and shiny skins, especially those with clearly visible black stripes on the body.
- You can gently press the watermelon skin with your hand; if it feels firm and not mushy, and when you tap it, you hear a “thud, thud” sound, then it is a good watermelon.
- Avoid choosing watermelons with a large top and small tail or those shaped like a gourd; if tapping the skin produces a “thud” sound, you should not buy it, as these are usually not sweet yet.
How to choose fresh mint leaves
- You should choose mint plants with fresh, vibrant green leaves and a refreshing, aromatic scent with a distinctive spiciness.
- Do not choose mint plants if the leaves show signs of yellowing, wilting, or bruising, as this will affect the final product.
Tools needed
How to make Watermelon Mint Gin Tonic
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Prepare and muddle the ingredients
First, peel the watermelon and cut the flesh into small pieces. Rinse the mint leaves.
Then, place the watermelon and mint leaves into a glass and use a muddler to crush them.
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Mix the cocktail and garnish
Next, squeeze the juice of 1/2 a lemon into the glass and stir well.
Then, strain the mixed juice into another glass filled with ice and add 44ml of gin and 330ml of tonic water.
Finally, garnish the rim of the glass with a small piece of watermelon and a mint leaf to finish.
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Final Product
Watermelon mint Gin Tonic with the cool distinctive taste of mint leaves, delicious watermelon flavor, and a tangy lemon taste. All of these provide you with an effective refreshing drink for hot summer days.
4. Cucumber Basil Gin Tonic
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Preparation
5 minutes
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Processing
5 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Cucumber Basil Gin Tonic For 1 person
Cucumber 1/2 piece Basil 1 sprig Lemon 1/2 piece Gin 44 ml Tonic Water 330 ml
How to choose fresh and delicious cucumbers
- Shape: Choose cucumbers that are long, evenly shaped, straight, feel firm when held, and avoid selecting those with a bulging belly or small ends. Additionally, it is best not to choose cucumbers that are too large or too small as they may be bitter.
- Cucumber skin: Choose cucumbers with intact skin, without dark spots or yellowing, and with a layer of white powder on the outside. It is best if they have small bumps on the body, then you should buy them.
- Color: Choose cucumbers that are uniformly green. Avoid selecting those that are pale yellow or overly dark green as they are often spoiled or have been sprayed with pesticides.
- Cucumber stem: Cucumbers with fresh stems at the top and the flower end still intact are young and fresh, and they taste sweeter than the others.
Tools required
How to make Basil Cucumber Gin Tonic
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Prepare and muddle the ingredients
First, wash the cucumbers and cut them into pieces. Next, wash the basil leaves and let them dry.
Then, add the two ingredients into the glass and use a pestle to muddle them to extract the juice.
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Mix the cocktail and decorate
Then, add the juice of 1/2 lemon into the glass and stir well.
Next, strain the juice mixture through a sieve into a new glass of ice and add 44ml of Gin, 330ml of tonic water.
Finally, decorate the rim of the glass with a slice of cucumber and a few small basil sprigs to finish.
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Final product
The Gin Tonic with cucumber and basil has a light basil aroma, a tangy lemon taste, and a distinctive refreshing sweetness from the cucumber. This drink is quite unique yet incredibly delicious, nutritious, and truly deserves your enjoyment.
How to choose fresh and delicious lemons
- Fresh lemons are usually small, with thin and taut skin. When touched, the skin feels smooth, not bumpy.
- Juicy lemons will feel heavy in hand, and when gently pressed, essential oils will be released, giving off a pleasant aroma. If the lemon has a pungent smell, it is likely to be one that has been sprayed with chemicals.
- You should choose seedless lemons for better juice quality.
What is Gin and Tonic?
Gin
- Gin is a type of strong liquor distilled from fermented barley or potatoes. This liquor primarily has a flavor from juniper berries.
- You can find various types of gin at cocktail ingredient stores or reputable e-commerce websites.
- When purchasing, be sure to check the packaging, that the bottle is intact and the expiration date.
Tonic
- Tonic is a type of refreshing drink made from two main ingredients: soda water and quinine.
- This drink has a slightly salty flavor from salt, the sourness of lemon, and a hint of bitterness from quinine. However, when drinking it, you will perceive a sweet taste. Because of this unique flavor, tonic is widely used to mix with gin or vodka.
What is Gin Tonic Cocktail?
- Gin Tonic is a type of highball cocktail made from a mixture of gin and tonic.
- In the 1700s, a Scottish doctor – Mr. George Cleghom researched the use of quinine (the antimalarial drug) to treat malaria. Initially, the quinine in tonic water was quite hard to drink due to its bitter taste.
- By the early 19th century, British officials in India added a mixture of water, sugar, lemon, and gin to make the drink more palatable, thus Gin Tonic was born.
With the simple and quick recipe shared above, you can make 4 beautiful and refreshing Gin Tonic cocktails to quench your thirst during the hot summer. TasteVN wishes you success in your preparation!
*Source for the recipe and images from the YouTube channel Foodies of South Africa
