Gin and Tonic with Lemon

If you prefer lemons to limes, get ready to fall in love with this gin and tonic recipe! It's wonderfully sweet and crisp, making it the perfect pairing for a warm summer evening. 

While the gin and tonic with lime is admittedly iconic for a good reason, there's a special place in my heart for gin and tonic with lemon. It was actually the very first cocktail I learned to craft in bartending school, and I've come to deeply appreciate it's the simplicity and versatility of this cocktail.

As someone who loves to shower my friends and family with hospitality, I love that this cocktail recipe has much room for customization to fit my guests' needs or even the occasion's theme. There are many different options for gin and tonic out there and countless combinations. 

Plus, they're also super quick and easy to whip together, allowing me to spend less time behind the bar and more time enjoying the company of my loved ones! 

National Gin and Tonic Day is on April 9th!

🎥 Video

🥘 Ingredients

• Ice Cubes – Filled to the brim of your glass
• Gin of Your Choice
• Lemon Juice
• Granulated Sugar
• Tonic
• Lemon and Drinking Straw for Garnish

See the recipe card for quantities.

🍹 Step-by-Step

🔪 Instructions

As far as cocktails go, this one's pretty simple and easy to whip together!

Squeeze half of your lemon. You'll be adding in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, 1 ½ oz gin, and some ice into a cocktail shaker.

Go ahead and close your shaker and be sure to mix well. Personally, I like to do this while singing the chorus of "Conga" by Gloria Estaban and the Miami Sound Machine. The rhythm and timing work out really nicely!

Fill your high ball or balloon glass to the brim with ice. 

Once everything's been mixed well, pour the mix over your ice-filled highball or balloon glass. If you happen to be using a Boston shaker, strain the mix through a julep strainer.

You'll fill the remaining space in your glass with tonic. A typical highball glass holds 1 cup to 1 ½ cups, so there'll definitely be room left over for the tonic after you pour.

Finally, all that's left to do is garnish with a lemon wedge and a fun, reusable drinking straw!

🍋 Variations

If you're looking for a little more sweetness to cut down the tartness of the fresh lemon, I recommend adding an extra dash of granulated sugar to your cocktail. 

The classic gin and tonic has endless varieties because of the available gin and tonic varieties. (For in-depth reading, check out our Gin&Tonic Guide!)

🍽 Equipment

• Jigger
• Cocktail Shaker
• Lemon Squeezer
• Julep Strainer (If you are using a Boston Shaker)
• Highball Glass or Balloon Glass (Chilled)

🌡 Storage

For many reasons, this cocktail should be enjoyed right away. One of the biggest reasons is that tonic water will eventually go flat – ruining the fresh, crisp taste that gin and tonics are so famously known for.

🙋🏻 FAQ

OTHER RECIPES FOR YOU TO TRY

• Strawberry Spritz Cocktail
• Refreshing Lavender Daiquiri
• Cucumber Gin and Tonic
• Homemade Vodka Sidecar
• Lovely Lavender Spritz Cocktail
• Vanilla Vodka and Tonic

If you make this recipe, let me know how you liked it by ★★★★★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. This would be awesome! You can also sign up for our Newsletter or follow me on Pinterest or Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @combinegoodflavors and hashtag #combinegoodflavors, so I don't miss it.

📖 Recipe

⛑️ Food Safety

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

For further information, check Safe Food Handling - FDA.