The Gin & Tonic has always been a global cocktail. First popularized by the soldiers of the British Raj who created it as a means of choking down malaria-preventing quinine, the cocktail was soon adopted by the U.K. population at large, and not long after made its way to the United States. But during the past few years, the simple, two-ingredient cocktail has taken on an even more global look, with bartenders from all corners of the Earth putting their own spin on the classic drink.
Why does a basic, two-ingredient cocktail have such worldwide appeal? In part, itโs because of the cocktailโs simplicity. โWhile people do occasionally mess up the G&T, it is also pretty easy to get it rightโyou don't have to be in a Worldโs Top 100 Bar to make a good G&T,โ says Jake Burger, master distiller of Portobello Road Gin and director of the Ginstitute in London. And itโs also thanks to the recent worldwide gin boom. โGin is hot at the moment everywhere in the world,โ says French expat Nico de Soto of NYCโs Mace (along with Danico in Paris and Kaido in Miami). โThe great number of different style gins you can find now intrigue and excite both bartenders and customers.โ