Gin and Tonic with Blackberries

Gin and tonic has been my go-to cocktail for years and the addition of blackberries elevates this classic to a higher level – and it’s super easy to mix!

How do you make the perfect gin and tonic?

I have sampled the classic gin and tonic all around the world, from fancy bars and restaurants to camping cookouts to sketchy bars in Moose Jaw! I don’t like beer and sometimes when you’re at at a bar or event, wine isn’t an option but they always have gin of some kind and with a little tonic, it’s nearly always passable. However, we aren’t going for passable, and truthfully, we aren’t going for perfect either. We are just going for a nice cocktail on an ordinary day.

How much alcohol is in a gin and tonic?

When you’re mixing your own cocktails, you are in control of the quality of the ingredients and that’s what makes a good GT. Good gin, good tonic, fresh limes. I have been enjoying Tanqueray Gin lately and Fever Tree tonic water. Some mix GTs with one part gin to 2 parts tonic. In a straight-up GT, I usually adjust the ratio and use about 2 shots of gin to 3 shots of tonic plus a whole lime juiced. My friend Corey is famous for his “Supersonic Gin and Tonics” which are basically gin, lime juice and a splash of tonic. All this is to say, you can make your GT to taste.

Are tonic and soda the same?

Tonic and club soda are not the same thing. Tonic is pop, as we say in Canada. It has sugar in it like other sodas. Club soda, however, is just carbonated water with no sugar. My sis swears by cutting the tonic in her GTs by half and subbing in club soda. For many people, it’s the sugar in cocktail mixers that’s the killer so combining tonic and club soda is a good solution.

Gin and Tonic with Blackberries

I made this cocktail when I was on vacay in Alabama and had frozen blackberries to use up.

I decided to make a quick blackberry simple syrup by combining a half cup sugar, half cup water and a cup of frozen blackberries in a pot. I brought it to a boil, stirred till the sugar dissolved, then cooled it in the fridge.

I ended up with about 1 1/2 cups of blackberry simple syrup and divided it up between 3 drinks (2 for me, one for my husband – we were on vacation after all!).

I personally love chunky fruit in my cocktails, though I know some dislike that texture. If you really dislike it, you could muddle the blackberries in the pot then strain the simple syrup to retain the flavour and colour without the chunks. Either way, the result is a nice and easy variation on the Gin and Tonic! Hope you like it as much as I do! Please enjoy responsibly!

xoxo Nicole

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Gin and Tonic with Blackberries

The classic gin and tonic is elevated by the addition of blackberry simple syrup for an nice and easy cocktail on an ordinary day!

Course Drinks

Keyword gin and tonic

Prep Time 20 minutes

Servings 3 gin lovers

Author The Spirited Thrifter

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup frozen blackberries

Add to pot, bring to a boil and stir till sugar dissolves. Cool in fridge.

Then, in each of 3 glasses add:

• 1/2 cup blackberry simple syrup
• 2 shots gin
• 1 shot tonic
• 1 shot club soda
• 1 lime, juiced

Instructions

1. Add blackberry simple syrup to glass.

2. Fill glass with ice.

3. Add remaining ingredients and stir.

4. Garnish with a slice of lime.

5. Enjoy on an Alabama dock OR while thinking about an Alabama dock. Etc.