It would probably surprise you that it took me a few years to truly appreciate a proper Gin & Tonic. I started my gin journey with KWV Cruxland Gin and Dry Lemon; yes quite a combination. today i enjoy a good quality gin with the appropriate tonic, not to mention the garnish which enhances the combination; not your average “fruit salad” some may have.
Garnishes are suppose to add to the flavour of the gin; enhancing or complementing the signature botanicals in the gin. Secondly your garnish makes your gin look amazing.
I just got lucky with my unorthodox combination of earthy South African gin and Dry Lemon; the Cruxland Gin boasts notes of fresh juniper and lemon, further enhanced by coriander and spices with an earthy character from the Kalahari truffles. Hence why the dry lemon enhanced the gin and it just worked.
First we need to understand the botanical and type of gin you enjoy:
Use the chart to determine what kind of gin you enjoy, floral, spicy or “clean” (London Dry Gin)?
| STYLE / TYPE OF GIN | EXAMPLE OF GIN | SUGGESTED GARNISHES |
| London Dry Gins | Mother’s Ruin
Tanqueray Aviation Gin |
Works well with fresh or dehydrated lime, lemons, grapefruit, orange |
| Citrus Gins | Clemengold Gin
Triple Three Citrus Gin Malfi Con Arancia |
Works well with fresh Coriander, fresh Basil, fresh thyme, fresh Rosemary, lime |
| Floral Gins | Musgrave Pink gin
Six Dogs Karoo Gin |
Works well with cucumber, edible flowers, citrus peel and all berries |
| Spicy Gins | Pienaar & Son Orient Gin
Ginologist Spice Opihr Oriental Spiced Gin |
Works well with cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, orange, peppercorns, red and yellow bell peppers |
| Fynbos Gins | Wilderer Fynbos Gin
Geometric Gin |
Works with rosemary, rocket, apple, basil, strawberries, grapes |
| Savoury Gins | Hope on Hopkins Mediterranean Gin | Works with olives, thyme, rosemary, tomato slices, basil |
I used the Bloedlemon Handcrafted Gin with Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Mediterranean Tonic. With a slice of fresh orange and a sprig of thyme.
Here’s some pointers to the best Thyme & Citrus gin.
- Use fruit which is in season and fresh.
- Use fresh sprig of Thyme when decorating.
- Cut a slither of the peel of the orange (not the white pith, this is biter and doesn’t taste of orange) and shake your measurement of gin with the citrus to infuse the flavour. Make sure when you cut off the zest, with a peeler, you do it over the glass, the oils that spray off will lightly coat the glass and give the G&T an extra zest.
- Open the Tonic as you are about to serve, to prevent it from going flat.
- Add lots of ice to the glass, before adding your gin, to chill the glass. This will ensure your glass stays cooler for longer, before the ice cubes start to melt.
- Serve immediately when mixed.
Measurements:
- Ice cubes
- 60ml Bloedlemon Gin
- 1 whole Orange; zest and sliced.
- 2 Sprigs Thyme
- 1 x 200ml Fever-Tree Light Mediterranean Tonic
Use a variety of citrus combinations, as these fruit are now in season.
