How you garnish your gin and tonic can make a big difference to the flavour. The right garnish for your gin will enhance the characteristics of your gin (and mask others!). With this in mind, here’s our guide to garnishes, and how to pair the right garnish with your gin.
Don’t worry about identifying the flavours in your own gin - the label on the bottle will list them out for you; then it’s just a question of matching the botanicals in your drink to the complementary flavours of your garnish.
To take your experiments to the next level, try different ways of using the same garnish. A slice of lemon will taste different than a lemon peel!
And don’t forget, it’s not just about flavour: it’s about aromas, textures and mouthfeel, and above all, it’s about fun and individual tastes! Have a play around with the garnishes we’ve suggested below or come up with your own. You’ll be amazed at the difference this little tweak to your G&T can make.
Happy experimenting, gin-lovers!
If your gin has dominant flavours of:
Citrus (e.g. lemon, grapefruit)
… Garnish it with:
Bergamot, Basil, Star Anise, Mint, Lemon Thyme
If your gin is:
Spiced (cinnamon, star anise or pepper)
…Garnish it with:
Black Pepper, Black Tea Leaf, Ginger, Orange, Cinnamon, Pink Peppercorns
If your gin is:
Classic, juniper-led
…Garnish it with:
Grapefruit, Juniper Berries, Lime, Lemon
If your gin is:
Floral (rose, chamomile, elderflower)
…Garnish it with:
Rosehip, Lavender, Apple, Rosemary, Chamomile, Rose, Rhubarb
If your gin is:
Fruity (raspberry, strawberry, apple)
…Garnish it with:
Chilli, Basil, Berries, Redcurrant, Pomegranate, Black Pepper
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