The Best Gin and Tonics for Spring

Spring has finally arrived and as we all get ready to enjoy the outdoors, what better accompaniment to your garden party than a refreshing G&T? From small batch British distillers and independent tonic producers, to New York, France, and Australian craft gins, here’s our pick of the best gin and tonics for spring.

Ealing Gin and Cushiedoos Tonic

Created by husband and wife team, Amanda and Simon Duncan, residents of Ealing for four generations, Ealing Gin is designed to embody the welcoming spirit and rich cultural heritage of the West London borough. The gin is distilled using a traditional copper still in the heart of Ealing in a small distillery built by its creators. The recipe combines classic gin botanicals with a few modern twists, inspired by the parks and gardens of Ealing. Notes are chamomile flowers, garden mint, scented rose petals and rosemary.

https://www.ealingdistillery.co.uk/gin/

Pair with Cushiedoos Tonic, made with a blend of healthy botanicals. Unlike nearly all tonics Cushiedoos contains no quinine. Loved even by those who hate tonic, Cushiedoos have also just launched a programme of planting two trees for every case of tonic water sold.

cushiedoos.com.

Dorothy Parker Gin and Lixir Blood Orange and Cinnamon Tonic

Led by Allen Katz, one of the world’s foremost authorities on cocktails and distilled spirits, New York Distilling Company are based in an independent distillery in the heart of Brooklyn where they produce Ragtime Rye whisky and Dorothy Parker premium gin, named after the popular American writer and socialite. The brand was created by bartenders, but designed for everyone to enjoy.

https://www.nydistilling.com/dorothy-parker

Pair with Lixir’s Blood Orange and Cinnamon for an intense kick. Lixir Drinks have designed their tonics and mixers to be bold in flavour, but with less sugar, fewer calories, nothing artificial and with reduced quinine, making for a less bitter, more balance profile.

https://lixirdrinks.co.uk/product/lixir-blood-orange-cinnamon-tonic/

Fair Gin and The London Essence Indian Tonic

This fair-trade company in France, Fair, make a point of championing producers and farmers to ensure their spirits are delicious, while also kind to the people who make them. Fair Gin has the scent of perfume when the bottle is first opened. On tasting, its floral tones dominate, instantly transporting you to a French summer’s day.

http://www.fair-drinks.com/spirits/gin#:~:text=Exceptional%20Distilled%20Gin%20with%20a,Clear

Pair with The London Essence Original Indian Tonic Water for a classic G&T with a French flavour. The London Essence Indian Tonic doesn’t shy away from quinine, in fact, it embraces it, bringing a satisfying bitter taste for an authentic gin mixer.

https://www.londonessenceco.com/en/our-drinks/tonics/original-indian-tonic-water/

Plymouth Gin and Artisan Drinks Pink Citrus Tonic

The oldest working gin distillery in England, Plymouth Gin have used the same recipe since 1793. The scent is fresh and clean when you first pop open the bottle. On tasting, the gin is warming and very smooth. The botanicals include coriander seeds, lemon peel, angelica root, and green cardamom. There is also a navy strength gin available, a sloe gin, and a fruit cup.

https://www.plymouthgin.com/en-EN

Pair with Artisan Drinks Pink Citrus Tonic. The zesty citrus flavour of blood orange and lemon in this award-winning mixer, gives the G&T a tasty tang.

https://artisandrinks.com/drinks/pink-citrus-tonic/

Portobello Gin and Merchant’s Heart Hibiscus

Using English grown wheat and 9 botanicals from around the world, Portobello Gin are based in the iconic Portobello Road in London. The gin was founded by two bartenders, who wanted to create a gin that tastes great in cocktails and is also punchy and flavoursome enough to stand its own in a G&T.

https://www.portobelloroadgin.com/

Pair with Merchant’s Heart Hibiscus. This unique spirit enhancer has a core of lemon and lime, bringing a zest to your G&T, but it’s the subtle hibiscus flowers that make this mixer a gentle accompaniment to any gin.

https://www.merchantsheart.co.uk/collection/hibiscus/#1

Dockyard Gin and Merchant’s Heart Pink Peppercorn Tonic

This small batch distiller in Chatham Dockyard might sound quintessentially English, but their signature gin, Dockyard, includes the botanicals Italian juniper berries, Bulgarian coriander seeds, Spanish orange peel, Guatemalan green cardamom, and grains of paradise from Africa. All this combined creates a strong and distinct taste that is truly international, with the subtle sent of fruit lingering in the aftertaste.

https://www.copperrivetdistillery.com/product/dockyard-gin/

Pair with Merchant’s Heart Pink Peppercorn Tonic for a full flavour G&T. The pink peppercorn is a gentle spicy kick of an enhancer, that works perfectly with the Dockyard. The soft, slightly bitter note of the pink peppercorn builds the more you sip, taking you on a journey through your drink.

https://www.merchantsheart.co.uk/collection/pink-peppercorn/#1

Minke Gin and Fever-Tree Light Tonic

From award-winning family run Irish Distillers Clonakilty, Minke Gin is inspired by the Minke Whale, who swim off the Atlantic coastline. On the sea cliffs, the distillers sustainably harvest Rock Samphire, the unique botanical which gives Minke Gin its distinctive flavour.  The base spirit is derived from whey, produced from the family’s 9th generation farm near Galley Head Lighthouse. 

https://clonakiltydistillery.ie/

Pair with a light Fever-Tree Tonic for a classic G&T. The Fever-Tree Light is a traditional tonic that works perfectly with the strong taste of the Minke Gin. Together they work in harmony and create the perfect balance.

https://fever-tree.com/en_GB/products/refreshingly-light-indian-tonic-water

Hyke Orange Gin and Navas Ginger Ale

For Hyke Signature Series Orange, oranges that would otherwise go unused are sourced, making this a sustainable spirit that strives to use the surplus. Fruit and botanicals are added to make the award-winning Hyke Gin. This is then supported with an additional botanical maceration for complexity and balance. The result is a zesty, fruity and delicious orange gin. Produced by Foxhole Spirits, this full flavour orange gin has a spicy scent and a wonderfully citrussy taste.

https://www.foxholespirits.com/products/hyke-gin-orange

Pair with Navas Ginger Ale for a spicy spring taste. Founded in Cornwall, Navas Drinks exist to elevate the individual qualities of the spirits it is paired with, to create an enhanced drinking experience. Working with distillers, Navas carefully experiment with recipes to develop mixers that that are as considered as the spirit, honouring the traditions and dedication which go into making them.

https://www.navasdrinks.com/mixers/ginger-ale

Hepple Gin and Navas Soda Water

Hepple is a slow gin distillery based in the Northumberland Moors, one of Britain’s last wild sanctuaries for juniper to grow freely. As a result of the landscape, juniper is the main focus on this very traditional gin. Hepple have also created an ultimate G&T which uses their gin, any light tonic and their specially created Douglas Fir Sherbet around the rim, which is made from Douglas Fir needles. The sherbet lends a tang to the bitter juniper and lifts the taste beautifully.

https://www.hepplespirits.com/

Pair with Navas Soda Water for an earthy and leafy G&T. Crafted with the aim of heightening, not overpowering, Navas showcases the provenance of ingredients and celebrate heritage. 100% natural, Navas mixers are made from a blend of the finest distilled botanicals, natural plant extracts and Cornish Spring Water. If you want a little more flavour, add a few drops of Butler and Brewer’s elderflower, cucumber and apple tonic enhancer.

https://www.navasdrinks.com/mixers/soda-water

Brookies Gin and Lixir Elderflower and Lemon Tonic

This Cape Byron Distillery is located in the hinterland of Byron Bay. The gin is distilled with the finest regional botanicals such as Byron sunrise finger limes, aniseed myrtle and native raspberry. From the 25 botanicals, 17 are native to the surrounding re-generated rainforest. As legendary master distiller and co-creator Jim McEwan explains: “This is without doubt the most natural Gin in the world. Let yourself be transported to that amazing place, enjoy the enlightenment.”

https://capebyrondistillery.com/

Pair with Lixir Elderflower and Lemon Tonic for a light and refreshing flavour. Add in a few drops of Butler and Brewer’s rosemary, mint and lemon tonic enhancer and the flavour really pops.

 https://www.butlerandbrewer.co.uk/product/rosemary-mint-lemon/