If you are a gin fan, then this is the cocktail for you. Crystal clear gin & tonic is such a classic combination, made with summer gin (flavoured with lemon and orange), lemon, fresh basil leaves and clear ice cubes. Summer evening just got more fun.
We all love cocktails. Right? Either alcoholic or alcohol-free. However, sometimes the prettiest cocktails are too difficult to make because of too many “exotic” ingredients, which you can’t find or it’s not worth buying them (for instance, a whole bottle to use one drop). Having said that, I still made those, too. Here are two of my delicious pretty cocktails: Jack Frost made with vodka and the super green margarita with tequila.
Gin and tonic is one of the most classic cocktails I know. Also, it happens to be one of my favourites. If you like to enjoy a lovely and a simple-to-make cocktail, then, this is the perfect one for you. Just make sure you have ice cubes ready. Wink.
Maybe you are wondering why is this crystal-clear gin & tonic recipe so long when there are only two ingredients to mix together. The reason is simple. Since this topic seems to be popular, I wanted to explain everything about clear ice cubes and how to make them.
Why should you make crystal clear ice cubes in the first place?
Firstly, they look beautiful. Opposite to the cloudy ice cubes, which get the look from very small air bubbles trapped in it, clear ice cubes are made of pure water. Secondly, clear ice cubes melt definitely slower than the cloudy ones. Consequently, you can enjoy your drink longer with no chance of getting too diluted. Thirdly, it tastes better too. It’s only water, I know. But, the cloudy ice tends to “pick-up” all the funny flavours and odours from the freezer, while the clear ice doesn’t.
Cool! But is it worth the effort? I say yes. Everyone will admire your ice cubes. If you keep reading, you’ll get the picture. Also, don’t get scared of the big number of words. It’s way more talking than doing. Wink.
How to make clear ice cubes?
Let’s start with the ice container. You can use almost anything, that fits in your freezer. However, smaller the ice cube container, faster the freezing time. Consequently, your ice will get cloudy. Forget small and go big instead. Make one big ice block. I picked a square plastic container (20x20x15 cm) which I could fit in my small freezer.
I’ve read a lot of posts and watched many videos on how to make clear ice and here’s how I did it. Basically, I improvised with the things I had at home. As already said, I used a larger square container and I filled it with tap water. Yes, you don’t need any filtered or cooked water.
Slow and one direction freezing
The important thing is, the water has to freeze slowly and in one direction. What does that mean? Firstly, you should provide an insulator, as an obstacle, between the freezer and the ice container. Secondly, the insulator should be placed on all sides but one. The uncovered side is where the air bubbles are pushed out of the ice. I simply used pieces of cardboard around the container and leaving the top uncovered. Styrofoam would work, too.
Moreover, allow it to freeze for 24 hours. Once you remove the container from the freezer, let it sit for 10 minutes and the ice should slide easily out of it. Also, there is a chance some water might still be trapped under the ice. Therefore, make sure to drain that first. Then, place the ice block on a clean kitchen towel to keep it stable.
At this point, you’ll need a bread knife or a mini saw to cut the block into smaller cubes. Of course, you can use an ice breaker, too. After you “created” your clear ice cubes, store them in plastic bags or in a plastic container for the next use.
Juniper berries
Now, I am not promoting the consumption of alcohol neither as medicine nor as an every-day drink. Not at all. But, I just wanted to say that small amounts of alcohol now and then, might have some health benefits. My grandmother always said, “a small glass of red wine a day is good for your blood”. Wink.
Take Gin, for example. Gin is distilled from juniper berries, which are a wonderful source of antioxidants and they might have anti-inflammatory powers. Moreover, I picked Black Forrest summer gin, with a light lemon and orange note, which pairs great with this cocktail. Lemon and basil are the colourful and flavoured ingredients. While lemon is a great detoxifier and rich in vitamin C, basil brings bright green colour and freshness to this drink. And, they both enhance the flavour in gin and tonic.
This recipe has an option of using sugar syrup, too. However, if you decide to make it, instead of buying it, you can make it in 5 minutes. For a normal sweet syrup combine water and sugar in 1:1 proportion and cook until the sugar is melted and until thicker. If you want a really sweet and thicker syrup, double the amount of sugar. I suggest making it one day ahead.
Ingredients for one crystal clear gin & tonic:
- 100 ml Gin (I used german Black Forrest summer gin)
- 200 ml tonic water
- 1 lemon (juice, plus some lemon slices)
- 5 fresh basil leaves
- 1 Tbsp of sugar syrup (optional)
- clear ice cubes
To begin, squeeze the lemon juice out of one lemon, wash and tap dry the fresh basil leaves and prepare the glass. It should be a 400 ml glass, in order to be able to put everything in it.
Then, lightly muddle the lemon juice, sugar syrup and a couple of basil leaves at the bottom of the glass, add an ice cube, then a slice of lemon, more ice cubes, another lemon slice and the last ice cube. As next, pour in the gin and finish with adding the sparkling tonic water as last.
Finally, serve the crystal clear gin & tonic with a matching paper straw and garnished with a slice of lemon and fresh basil leaves. This refreshing gin cocktail is perfect to sip on a hot summer evening, along with some small snacks.
Cheers!
PS
If you like the recipe, if you make the recipe or if you have any new ideas how to improve or change it, let me know in the comments section below or alternatively share your photos and reactions with me on Instagram (@Passionspoon), Facebook or Twitter (@PassionSpoon1). Simply use the hashtag #passionspoonrecipes in your posts. I would love to see them! (wink)
