The Classic Gin & Tonic

Despite the innovation and growth of gin, the old classic still holds firm as the best way to sample gin. This serve remains popular because of the influx of different tonic water brands and flavours, meaning there are more combinations guests can sample.

Pairing specific gins with the right tonic has become an art form, and learning to match flavours and aromas can make you a much more accomplished bartender.

Try pairing juniper-forward gins with bitter tonic water to amplify the characteristics of the berry. When serving floral or citrus-heavy gins, match them with a zesty tonic to tie the serve together.

Garnish Experimentation

A gin and tonic isn't complete without an appropriate garnish. Usually, a simple lemon or lime slice would work, but many top bartenders use different garnishes to elevate their serves.

Today, it's popular to use more interesting fruits, vegetables and spices to impart more flavour to the cocktail. The problem is that these can do more harm than good.

Garnishes affect the balance of a good gin and tonic and can negatively impact the flavour if you use the wrong one. Used well, they should elevate and celebrate the flavours of the serve.

To ensure this, Tristan recommends a few rules when garnishing gin and tonic:

• Use woody herbs for garnishing bright and citrus-driven gins. Think rosemary, sage, or thyme.
• For classic gins with a juniper flavour, garnish with citrus like the classic lemon, lime, or grapefruit.
• It's often best not to garnish delicate, floral gins, but soft fruits like raspberry or cucumber can work well.

Gin Cocktail Trends

Gin cocktails are making a resurgence, as customers are increasingly curious about the gin serves that emerged in the early 20th century.

Often paired with vermouth, such as in a classic Martini, the growth of boutique vermouth brands and new releases has driven the gin cocktail trend further.

Try adding these gin cocktails to your menu to meet customer demands:

• The classic Martini. A popular summer drink thanks to its crisp mouthfeel. To serve a quality martini, chill your spirits and glass in a freezer to prevent dilution.
• The Gin Fizz is a great cocktail and universally loved. The combination of citrus and egg whites creates a great texture for the drink, and the gin offers lovely floral notes and spice.
• For a zingy and wild berry hit, offer a Clover Club. This sweet cocktail relies on quality grenadine, so make your own with fresh raspberries and pomegranate.

You can also offer one of Tristan's creations, the Salted Gin Rickey. Based on a bourbon cocktail from the 1880s, gin has been swapped in and is served with no sugar, making it distinctive from a Gin Collins.

The Salted Gin Rickey Recipe uses salt to buffer the lime's acidity, giving the cocktail a nice balance.