Lemon Berry Gin and Tonic

Name: Lemon Berry Gin and Tonic
Prep time: 2 min
Total time: 2 min
Ingredients: 3 ounces of gin; 1 6- ounce bottle of citrus-flavored or aromatic-flavored tonic water (substitute: regular tonic water); 8 ripe raspberries; 6 ripe blackberries; 2 lemon slices and the juice of the rest of the lemon; Two mint leaves for garnish

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If your summer vacation plans haven’t turned out exactly as you expected this year don’t fret. I’ve got you covered with this summertime in a glass cocktail. One sip and you’ll be transported to a relaxing vacation paradise without even leaving home.

Two gin cocktails with gold straws - one sitting in front of the other

If you’re a Gin and Tonic lover like me you are going to be head-over-heels with this thirst-quenching twist on a summertime cocktail.

It’s light and refreshing with just the right amount of tartness. And the berries give it such a pretty color. There’s a lot to love here.

Why This Recipe Works

It’s filled with fresh raspberries and fresh blackberries – little fruits with big flavor that infuse their juices into the cocktail.
Who can resist a beautiful cocktail? The fruits create such a lovely color that sparkles again the glass.
The mint springs fill your senses with summertime freshness with each sip.
The Lemon Berry Gin and Tonic has a hidden secret – it’s only 150 calories per glass! Cheers!

Ingreidents

Photo of the ingredients in the cocktail with labels

Gin – I have two favorite brands of gin. The first is Tanqueray which originated in London but is now produced in Scotland and is available worldwide. It has a bit of a citrus flavor with a strong gin (juniper) flavor. My second favorite gin is Bombay Sapphire which also originated in London. It comes in a blue bottle so don’t let the color fool you into thinking the gin is colored blue.
Tonic Water – Tonic is actually sparkling water with a slightly bitter taste. My new favorite brand is Fever-Tree which I used in this recipe. Beyond just the regular (unflavored) tonic, they also make lemon, elderflower, Mediterranean, and cucumber. I used Fever-Tree Aromatic flavored tonic for this recipe. Not only does it have a light pink color, but it’s flavored with angostura bitter bark, cardamom, pimento berry, and ginger for a smooth flowery taste. It works perfectly in this cocktail.

Let’s Make the Lemon Berry Gin and Tonic

Fill a highball glass with ice and add 1-1/2 ounce of gin.
Squeeze 4 raspberries and 3 blackberries between your fingers and place them in the glass.

PHOTO OF THE FIRST TWO STEPS TO MAKE THE COCKTAIL

Add lemon juice and tonic water.
Garnish with a lemon slice and a mint sprig.

PHOTO OF THE SECOND TWO STEPS IN MAKING THE COCKTAIL

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the main ingredient in gin?

The main flavor ingredient in gin comes from juniper berries. Juniper berries are not actually real berries but rather a plant with cone-shaped seeds that looks like berries.

What does gin taste like?

We’ve already established that the main ingredient is juniper berries and juniper berries have a sharp earthy pine taste.

What else mixes well with gin?

Gin, like vodka, can be the base for many cocktails. Gin goes great with cranberry juice, tomato juice (think bloody Mary), ginger beer (think mule cocktails), grapefruit juice, and sodas like 7-UP and Cok.

krazy kitchen mom cocktail tips

My Dad taught me this first tip…always add the ice to the glass first and then pour the alcohol over the ice to instantly cool the liquor. After the liquor, you add the other ingredients and mixes.
If you have room, store liquors like gin and vodka in the freezer. They will not freeze, but they will be icy cold when you pour them over the ice.
Buy a good quality liquor. You don’t need to go to the very high end, but you do need to spend a little more money to buy quality. I promise, if you’ve ever had cheap liquor, you know it. When you order a drink in a bar or restaurant you will most likely get what they call “well” or “call” liquor which is usually a lower-cost liquor. However, if the bartender or waiter asks you what type of liquor you’d like and you specify a particular brand, you are most likely ordering premium brand liquor. Both Bombay Sapphire and Tanqueray are premium liquors.
When I entertain, I always like to make one signature cocktail for the event. Even if I have other liquor and mixes available, everyone usually migrates toward the signature cocktail and it’s usually something new or something different than they would usually drink.
Whenever possible, garnish with fresh herbs. My favorites are mint, rosemary, thyme, and even sage.
Get creative with cocktail additions like black pepper, hot sauce, or jalapenos to give them a little kick.
Use fresh produce for garnish – cucumber, celery, lemons, limes, apples, peaches, and berries.

Berry gin cocktail with a gold straw and mint leaves

More KKM Signature Cocktails

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