IN BREVE
- October 19 marks International G&T Day, honoring the Gin & Tonic, a beloved drink both in Italy and internationally.
- The day was established in 2012 by Jayne Withers in memory of Mary Edith Keyburn, a gin lover who passed away on the same day in 2010.
- Two recipes, one with No.3 London Dry Gin and the other with GinGum, to try at home.
- The G&T is a versatile drink, giving everyone the opportunity to customize it to their liking.
International G&T Day is celebrated on October 19. The Gin & Tonic remains one of the favorite drinks not only in Italy (where according to statistics it ranks second only to Spritz and Mojito) but also internationally. So let’s leave the Ready to Drink G&Ts on the supermarket shelf and make our perfect drink at home. Just a few simple steps are needed.
INTERNATIONAL G&T DAY
According to an urban legend, supported by the International G&T Day social media pages, International Gin & Tonic Day was founded in memory of Mary Edith Keyburn, a gin lover who passed away on October 19, 2010. It was reportedly her niece, Jayne Withers, who established the day starting in 2012.
“Mary Edith was an extraordinary woman,” writes Jayne, “who loved to sip a Gin & Tonic from time to time. She died in hospital on October 19, 2010 at the age of 95, with a G&T by her side, smuggled into the hospital in a water bottle and served in a teacup… we hope you’ll drink a toast on October 19 and that we may all end our lives with the same grace as Edith.”
THE PERFECT GIN & TONIC, AT HOME
A few simple touches to make our favorite Gin & Tonic at home. Above all, “our” G&T. A simple yet immensely versatile drink where you just need to vary the ingredients or change their proportions to achieve different results. So everyone can have their favorite Gin & Tonic; here are two recipe examples suggested by two different gin producers.
No.3 London Dry Gin, Gin & Tonic
An English gin with an international soul, No.3 is a clean, crisp, and fresh London Dry. The company suggests enriching our G&T with rosemary and pink grapefruit. Here’s the recipe.
Ingredients:
- 45 ml No.3 London Dry Gin
- 150 ml tonic water
- 1 pink grapefruit
- 1 sprig of rosemary
- Ice
Preparation: Pour 45 ml of No.3 Gin into a highball glass with ice. Add 150 ml of tonic water and stir gently. Garnish with pink grapefruit and a sprig of rosemary.
Tip: No.3’s straightforward character pairs well with different types of tonic water. You can experiment with softer tonics like Mediterranean and Botanical varieties or opt for the more bitter and citrusy notes of Indian tonics. Everyone has their favorite Gin & Tonic.
GinGum, Gin & Tonic
Italian artisanal Distilled Gin with an aromatic, floral, elegant, and slightly spicy character. It shines in a traditional “one to two” G&T (one part gin, two parts tonic).
Ingredients:
- 50 ml GinGum
- 100 ml tonic water
- 1 grapefruit peel
- Ice
Preparation: In a highball glass, or even better in a goblet, pour 50 ml of GinGum with ice. Add 100 ml of tonic water, stir gently, and serve with a grapefruit peel.
Tip: GinGum’s aromatic character delivers its best expression with a neutral tonic water. You can vary the proportions using more or less tonic water to find your perfect G&T.
“There’s an old man sittin’ next to me
Makin’ love to his tonic and gin”
Billy Joel
