Our Family Recipes

250 calories

In the 1800s, British soldiers had to take quinine, a medicine to fight malaria. It tasted awful and bitter so they would add sugar, lime, and their daily gin ration to make it more palatable.

Today store-bought tonic water ingredients include quinine, citrus and a sweetener. However, even with the sweetener tonic water is still too bitter for some people. If you prefer a sweeter or less bitter cocktail, try adding simple sugar or making a substitution below for the tonic water.

• 1 oz simple syrup (optional)
• 4 oz tonic water or seltzer water
• 2 oz gin

1. Fill a highball glass with large ice cubes.
2. Add gin.
3. Slowly add tonic.
4. Lift and stir slowly twice with spoon.