The beauty of a gin and tonic is that it’s simple. Gin, tonic, squeeze of lime over ice. That’s it. Anyone can do it. But just because it’s a simple cocktail doesn’t mean you shouldn’t shake things up every once in a while. Gin + Collins, a cocktail bar in Miami’s AC Hotel, has reimagined the classic gin and tonic by pairing different gins with different tonics. Head bartender Nikos Mantzaridis tested a bunch of different combos to find the matches that brought out the unique flavor of each gin, then took the cocktails to the next level with ingredients like ginger syrup or basil. We have the full recipes below, but even if you don’t have some of the more esoteric ingredients on hand, you can take a page from Mantzaridis’ creations and start pairing gins with well-crafted tonics. Play matchmaker and see if you can give your standard spring drink a new level of flavor.
The Detox
Photo credit: Gin + Collins
Pairs Hendricks Gin with Low Calorie Indian Tonic
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Hendricks Gin
.5 oz. FOS Mastiha Greek Liqueur
.5 oz. fennel syrup
.75 oz. lime
1.5 oz. Fever-Tree Naturally Light Indian Tonic
2 cucumbers
Garnish: cucumber peel
Directions: Muddle two cucumbers and add Hendricks Gin, FOS Mastiha Greek Liqueur, fennel syrup, lime into shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a snifter filled with fresh ice. Add tonic and garnish with cucumber peel.
The Prescribed Gin and Tonic
Photo credit: Gin + Collins
Pairs Prescribed Spirits Gin with Elderflower Tonic
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Prescribed Spirits Gin
1/3 oz. St. Germain
.5 oz. ginger syrup
.5 oz. lime
1.5 oz. Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic
Directions: Add Prescribed Spirits Gin, St. Germain, ginger syrup, lime into shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a snifter filled with fresh ice and add tonic.
Green Gremlin
Photo credit: Gin + Collins
Pairs Botanist Gin with Fever-Tree Tonic
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Botanist Gin
1/3 oz. green Chartreuse
.5 oz. rosemary syrup
.5 oz. lime
1.5 oz. Fever-Tree Tonic
Garnish: rosemary sprig
Directions: Add Botanist Gin, green Chartreuse, rosemary syrup, lime into shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a snifter filled with fresh ice. Add tonic and garnish with rosemary sprig.
ACGT
Photo credit: John Woodcock
Pairs AC Tonic, which is created specifically for the AC Hotels, with Bombay Sapphire East
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Bombay Sapphire East
.5 oz. AC Tonic Syrup (Exclusive tonic for the AC Hotel brand)
3 oz. soda water
Garnish: orange peel and limenwheel
Directions: Add Bombay Sapphire East, AC Tonic Syrup and soda water to a collins glass filled with ice. Garnish with orange peel and lime wheel.
Vilanova
Photo credit: Michael Tulipan
Pairs Gin Mare with 1724 Tonic
Ingredients
2 oz. Gin Mare
1 barspoon orange marmalade
2 dashes orange bitters
.5 oz. lime
1.5 oz. 1724 Tonic
Garnish: orange peel
Directions: Add Gin Mare, orange marmalade, orange bitters and lime to a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a snifter filled with fresh ice. Add tonic and garnish with an orange peel.