Dine&Wine 76 | Osveženje » Refreshment G i n & Ton i c A classic that’s always fashionable This drink’s long tradition is one of those lifestyle elements that have shaped our notion of sophistication. Simple sharpness for sweltering summer days, and how to make it even better Picture a scene that you’d like to be the protagonist of this summer - the balcony of a hotel bar with prewar architecture, a leisurely sunny afternoon punctuated by a warmbreeze, you dressed in linen with pleats lounging like a bohemian on a comfortable wicker chair... What drink do you visualise in your hand? It’s highly likely that it would be a genuinely refreshing Gin & Tonic in a striking crystal glass, right? Of all the bubbly cocktails that exist, it seems that this simple blend enjoys the most stylish reputation. Restrained enough that it can evenbe orderedwhenone’s in the company of business partners, casual enough that one doesn't require special skills to gauge the correct “strength ratio” of gin to tonic when making it at home, and, most importantly of all, without excessive calories from the sugar that’s loaded into some other summer cocktails. Undoubtedly contributing to the fame of this drink are the countless film scenes in which it is ordered by the lead characters. And yet, the story of its origins seems to be even more exciting and layered than a plot fromthe big screen. Gin was first created by Dutch chemist Sylvius de Bouve, who was on a quest to find amedicine that would cleanse the blood and help the kidneys. As he’d used grain spirit alcohol and junipers to produce his remedy, he named it after them: Jenever, with genièvre being the French word for juniper, so the drink came to be known as gin. The popularity of this potion amongBrits came on its own, which isn’t particularly out of the ordinary given that it’s derived from grain alcohol enriched with oil of juniper, but it was only once it found its way to another continent that it gained the status of an impressive cocktail. It was while serving in India that British soldiers first encountered malaria. In order to overcome this vicious disease, they decided to drink tonic water containing a large amount of quinine – a substance proven to be effective in combating malaria. However, they didn’t find the taste of tonic water very appealing, so they added gin and thus created a drink that remains one of the most popular to this day. And the rest, as they say, is history. So, howcanwemake this infallible concoction evenmore appealing today?Here are some guidelines from experienced bartenders. As tonic water represents the largest part of this cocktail, you should first select a good tonic water and only then choose a complementary gin. This might seem counterintuitive, but the fact that this is a cocktail composed of only two ingredients means it’s worth working on the right combination. Chill the glass for approximately 20 minutes prior to serving. This will keep your G&T pleasantly chilled for longer. The correct order is: ice, gin and, finally, tonic water.The ice prevents the bubbles in the tonic water from being absorbed, ensuring the drink retains its sharp fizziness for longer. Avoid straws! This cocktail’s best flavours are retained on the surface, and using a straw means that you’ll always be drinking from the bottom of the glass, preventing you from experiencing the blend of wonderful aromas from the glass, because your nostrils won’t even be close to the drink. You can always add a slice of lemon, orange or ginger, as well as fresh mint leaves. Cheers! Pravilan redosled je: led, džin i na kraju tonik. Led ne dozvoljava mehurićima u toniku da se rastope, pa piće duže zadržava resku penušavost The correct order is: ice, gin and, finally, tonic water. The ice prevents the bubbles in the tonic water from being absorbed, ensuring the drink retains its sharp fizziness for longer
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