A splash of pink pepper tonic with your GIN?

Flavoured mixers are the new big thing. We discover the yummiest

FEW crazes have taken the nation by storm as much as gin — in the past 12 months, thirsty Britons drank 51 million bottles of it, which is 27 per cent up on the previous year.

Sales have topped £1 billion, and the number of distilleries in the UK has doubled in five years. But it’s not just gin that’s had a make-over. The days when the only choice of tonic was normal or slimline are long gone.

Originally, tonic water was a way to get British soldiers in far-flung places to take quinine, a bitter chemical found in the bark of the cinchona tree, which gives some protection against malaria.

Modern tonic water still contains quinine, though much less than it once did.

But the trend for flavoured tonics, pioneered by top-selling UK brand FeverTree, has transformed the variety of tonics available within just a few years.

From lemon to grapefruit, orange, peppercorn, rosemary and more, the choice of tonic is enough to make you feel dizzy before you’ve even had a drink.

But how do you go about making the perfect gin and tonic?

THE ART OF GLASS

USE a good glass. Preferably one with a wide-ish brim so you can stick your nose in and get the most out of the aromas of the botanicals (plant-based flavours such as juniper or lemon peel) in the drink. The Spanish use a ‘Copa’ or balloon- shaped glass with a stem to drink theirs (and they drink a lot) but traditionally over here we have gone for a highball or tumbler.

Then there’s the ice. Fill a glass with a handful of ice cubes — four or five. If the drink isn’t cold enough, you’ll notice the alcohol rather than the botanicals.

LET A SPIRIT GUIDE YOU

NExT, match the tonic to your gin. Always start with the gin. After all, we’re talking about a G&T, not a T&G.

A good tonic will show off the gin, not mask it. Once you’ve picked your gin, think about the main botanical ingredients (a good label should tell you the key flavour characteristics) and try to match your tonic accordingly. A simple rule of thumb is to think ‘like with like’, so a crisp, citrussy gin generally works better with a citrussy tonic than an aromatic one.

Tonic water should deliver a distinct touch of bitterness so if you can’t taste the quinine, give it a miss. For a lighter drink, there are plenty of slimline options. Look for natural rather than artificial sweeteners.

There are hundreds of possible botanical combinations but to be called gin, juniper must be the main one. Most gins have six to 12 botanicals, such as coriander seed, angelica root and citrus peels. The botanicals determine the flavour profile — citrussy, floral, spicy — so look at the ingredients and it should give you an idea of what to expect.

TRENDY TONICS

ALL these tonics were tried and tasted using the same gin — Sipsmith London Dry — picked for its purity and relatively restrained botanical flavours. Fentimans Pink Grapefruit Tonic Water 500ml, £1.40, Asda ThIS starts well; the colour is lovely. But on its own, sweetness and bitterness fight like toddlers. Luckily, the gin calms everything down and it really does work well as a mixer. It’s refreshing and not too heavy. 3/5 DRINK WITH: A citrussy gin. Fever Tree Refreshingly Light Mediterranean Tonic Water 500ml, £1.80, Tesco ThIS is very delicate, with a gentle floral character. It really lets the gin take the spotlight, supporting it beautifully. This is the ‘light’ version with 32 per cent fewer calories, meaning I can have another drink without feeling too guilty. 5/5

DRINK WITH: A citrussy or floral gin. Merchant’s Heart Pink Peppercorn Tonic Water 200ml, £1.35, Ocado LIGhT on aroma but with real weight on the palate and fruity, spicy flavours. The quinine taste really comes through at the end, carried by its pleasing bubbles. Rounder and sweeter than most, a weighty gin will balance the flavours best. 4/5

DRINK WITH: A spicy or juniperrich gin. The London Essence Co Grapefruit & Rosemary Tonic 4 x 200ml, £3.49, Waitrose I REALLy wanted this to be good, not least because I love the packaging. But the flavours seem to clash rather than get along when tasted on its own. however, put it with the gin and it tastes pretty good, even it does remind me of Parma Violets. 3/5

DRINK WITH: A citrussy or herbal gin. Luscombe Grapefruit Tonic Water 24 x 200ml, thedrinkshop.com, £20.95 ThIS one has a subtle tang of grapefruit and is tasty enough to enjoy on its own, not just as a mixer. But when added to gin, the grapefruit flavour gets a bit lost. Still, the trademark bitter quinine note is there and it’s crisp and refreshing overall. 3/5

DRINK WITH: A citrussy gin. Schweppes 1783 Floral Tonic Water 600ml, £1.95, Ocado SMELLING this on its own, before adding the gin, I’m transported back to childhood — it smells just like pink Play-Doh! Sadly it has the same sort of plasticky taste to it, even with the gin. A bitter disappointment, quite literally. 1/5

DRINK WITH: A floral gin, if at all. Schweppes 1783 Cucumber Tonic Water 600ml, £1.55, Ocado IT’S got a pretty convincing cucumber aroma to it but, on its own, is a little to sweet on the palate. As a mixer the cucumber aroma takes over, completely dominating the flavours of the gin in the glass. 1/5

DRINK WITH: A strong floral gin. Lamb & Watt Basil Tonic Water 4 x 200ml, £3.15, Ocado ThIS one has organic blue agave in it, the same plant tequila comes from, used in this case to give it some sweetness. Indistinct on its own but it is suitably fresh. When mixed with gin, it lets the gin do the talking and adds a gentle herby lift. Subtle, but does the job. Use a sprig of basil as your garnish. 3/5

DRINK WITH: A citrussy gin. Fever Tree Elderflower Tonic Water 500ml, £1.80, Waitrose MORE pungent than most, this one is punchy enough to drink on its own when pepped up with a twist of lime peel. Put it with gin and it still holds its distinctive elderflower character, adding weight to the overall flavours. And the touch of sweetness rounds it off nicely, leaving a smooth taste in the mouth. 4/5

DRINK WITH: A floral or citrussy gin. Fentimans Mediterranean Orange Tonic Water 500ml, £1.91, Waitrose ThIS one’s super aromatic on first sniff with a slightly bitter, pithy taste on its own. When mixed with the gin, the latter struggles to get through and the tonic turns everything orange, in flavour and colour. 2/5

DRINK WITH: A citrussy or herbal gin.