Grapefruit Basil Gin & Tonic: Perfect, Easy Summer Drink

Name: Refreshing, Easy Grapefruit Basil Gin & Tonic
Prep time: 2 min
Total time: 2 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 2 ounces of London Dry gin (see notes); 4-8 ounces of good tonic water (Q or Fever Tree; I like their lighter versions); 1-2 thick grapefruit peels; A couple sprigs of basil (including for garnish)

Move over lime wedges! This barely qualifies as a recipe, but I can’t keep it from you any longer.

As we slide deeper into a much-needed (but gray and rainy) Memorial Day Weekend, this grapefruit basil gin & tonic combines two of my favorite flavors for a more interesting twist on the classic!

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First, let’s talk about what makes a great gin & tonic. It’s one of the most classic drinks, and also the easiest. I find them absolutely refreshing, but also get quite a few mediocre ones when I order at a bar…and that’s because PROPORTIONS MATTER.

Now, this tends to be subjective, but personally I don’t like super gin-heavy gin & tonics—all you taste is alcohol, which deadens everything else. I usually do about 2 ounces of gin and 6-7 ounces of tonic, which is more tonic than most people would tell you but to me, it lets the botanicals and garnishes shine through more. Just find what works best for you taste-wise.

But—and this is critical—that’s assuming you’re using high-quality tonic water. None of that sickly, corn syrup-laden nonsense like a Schweppes or Canada Dry. My go-to brands are Q Tonic and Fever Tree. I like both of their “lighter” versions (which are not totally sugar-free, but less sweet). They used to be made with organic cane sugar but both seem to have sadly moved away from it. They’re still the more quality options though.

Now let’s talk about flavors, and in particular what types of gins will work well to make a grapefruit and basil gin & tonic. People who aren’t into gins (or tell you they hate them) often cite the juniper/evergreen taste. But that’s not every gin. Here you’re looking for a fairly traditional London Dry style, with citrus notes.

I’m a huge Fords Gin fan, and you can find it much more widely these days. It has an amazing and flexible botanical profile, but the grapefruit and citrus notes come through for me.

Other good options for grapefruit (that are pretty easy to find) include Bulldog, Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, Marylebone, St. George Botanivore, The Botanist, and Tanqueray. I’ll shout out Drumshanbo as another fave of mine, and I actually like all of these.

By the way, a major shout-out to Ginsanity’s Gin & Garnish guide, which I reference frequently when in doubt.

If you’re looking to mix up your regular gin & tonic, I highly suggest this grapefruit and basil version!

Other crazy easy cocktails you’ll love:

How to Make a Gin Rickey (low carb, no sugar)
A Classic Gin Gimlet Cocktail
Porto Tonico: Why You’ll Love the White Port & Tonic
“River Boyne Fizz” Irish Whiskey Cocktail

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Refreshing, Easy Grapefruit Basil Gin & Tonic

Yield: 1 drink

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 2 minutes

Forget your boring gin & tonic with lime, and instead whip up this refreshing grapefruit basil gin & tonic! This is the easy summer cocktail you need in your life, with an interesting flavor combination but a bit more special than the classic.

Ingredients

2 ounces of London Dry gin (see notes)
4-8 ounces of good tonic water (Q or Fever Tree; I like their lighter versions)
1-2 thick grapefruit peels
A couple sprigs of basil (including for garnish)

Instructions

Fill a rocks glass or highball halfway with ice. Pour the gin over it.
Twist the grapefruit peel and add to the glass. Hold the basil in your hand and "clap" it with the other hand (this releases some of the oil), then add to the glass.
Pour tonic water over, and garnish with more basil.

Notes

You want a gin that will pair well with grapefruit flavors. Fords Gin is my go-to, and other good options include Bulldog, Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, Marylebone, St. George Botanivore, The Botanist, and Tanqueray.
The proportions are somewhat subjective. Personally I don't love super gin-heavy gin & tonics---all you taste is alcohol, which deadens everything else. I usually do about 2 ounces of gin and 6-7 ounces of tonic (because that's the size of the can), which is more tonic than most people would tell you but to me, it lets the botanicals and garnishes shine through more. Just find what works best for you taste-wise.