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Cocktail History
The Trellis Gin & Tonic is a simple pink and purple gin cocktail that we created using the classic gin and tonic formula. Its beautiful ombré color is achieved by using purple Victoria Distillers Empress 1908 Gin, Fitch & Leedes Cucumber & Rose Pink Tonic Water, and crushed ice, and its bitter quinine taste is balanced by a dash of fresh lime juice.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Butterfly Pea Blossom Gin: This is the base spirit. It’s a type of gin made with juniper, butterfly pea blossom, ginger, grapefruit, spices, and alcohol. We used Victoria Distillers Empress 1908 Gin because it has light and refreshing juniper taste, herbal black tea flavor, and beautiful purple color. For a mocktail version of this drink, try butterfly pea blossom tea in place of the gin.
Pink Tonic Water: This is a type of mixer made with rose petals, cucumber, and sparkling tonic water. We used Fitch & Leedes Rose & Cucumber Pink Tonic Water (gifted) because it has refreshing garden-inspired flavors and a unique light pink color.
Lime Juice: This adds sour citrus flavors for balance. We used fresh citrus juice because it’s less bitter than the bottled stuff and tastes better.
Cucumber Ribbon: This is the garnish. It adds a fragrant cucumber aroma and brings out the cucumber flavor in the tonic water when dropped into the drink.
Tasting Notes
The Trellis Gin & Tonic features aromas of cucumber from the garnish and florals from both the tonic water and gin, an initial savory floral taste, a bitter sharpness from the quinine on the finish, and lingering notes of rose and cucumber in the throat on the swallow.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: By going with the Empress Gin for the Trellis Gin & Tonic, you not only get additional cosmetic character but also extra botanicals that take the tonic to the next level. Alex thought the two ingredients packed enough flavor that nothing else needed to be added, while Kendall preferred it with a splash of fresh lime juice to soften the bitterness. Either way, it’s a dazzling garden-inspired beverage that is great for springtime.
Recipe
AuthorSips From ScriptsPrep Time5 minsAdd crushed ice to a highball glass.
Pour in pink tonic water.
Carefully top with gin.
(Optional) Add a dash of lime juice.
Garnish with rolled cucumber ribbon.
Ingredients
Directions
Add crushed ice to a highball glass.
Pour in pink tonic water.
Carefully top with gin.
(Optional) Add a dash of lime juice.
Garnish with rolled cucumber ribbon.
Make It a Mocktail: Use butterfly pea blossom tea in place of the gin to try a booze-free version of this drink.
Tools & Glassware We Recommend
More Gin Cocktails
If you like this gin cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Rosemary Gin & Tonic: A gin cocktail made with grapefruit shrub, lime juice, grapefruit tonic water, grapefruit slices, and rosemary
Gin Rickey: A classic gin cocktail made with lime juice, club soda, and a lime wheel
Florodora: A gin cocktail made with lime juice, raspberry syrup, simple syrup, ginger ale, a lime slice, and raspberries
Lemon Thyme Gin & Tonic: A lemon gin cocktail made with lemon juice, thyme syrup, Indian tonic water, and a lemon wedge
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