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SunApr 9

National Gin and Tonic Day – April 9, 2023

National Gin and Tonic Day is celebrated every year on April 9 to appreciate this vintage drink. Much like pancakes and maple syrup; bacon and eggs; spaghetti and meatballs; peanut butter and jelly; and apple pie and ice cream, something about G&T (gin and tonic) feels right. Alright, that’s enough dreaming about food for now!

What makes gin and tonic special is that it’s surprisingly easy to prepare yet tastes amazing. The ingredients are in the name; it doesn’t get any simpler than this, does it? G&T is the perfect daytime drink. Just kidding, it is equally perfect for nighttime too!

History of National Gin and Tonic Day

Gin has had a rollercoaster ride by falling in and out of fashion throughout the ages. Its origin is even more interesting. Gin and tonic was invented by the officers of the Presidency Armies, the Armed Forces of the East India Company operating in the Indian subcontinent. Malaria was a frequent problem for Europeans living in India and other tropical regions during this time. In the 1700s, Scottish physician George Cleghorn researched the use of quinine in the prevention of malaria. Quinine was consumed along with tonic water but had a bitter taste.

In the early 19th century, the officers of the Presidency armies in India began adding a mixture of water, sugar, lime, and good old gin to quinine to make the drink easier to go down. That’s how the famous gin and tonic cocktail was born! It was easy to make this drink as the officers were already given gin as part of their ration. Since tonic water is not used as an antimalarial medicine these days, it has lower quantities of quinine and is usually sweet and not at all bitter as it used to be.

Winston Churchill said, “Gin and tonic has saved more Englishmen’s lives, and minds, than all the doctors in the Empire.” Now, that’s some noteworthy praise. Soon, Schweppes arrived, the famous tonic water in 1783, which was aimed at the growing market of overseas Britons who had to take a daily preventative dose of quinine. Schweppes and other commercial tonics boomed in the colonies, and eventually in Britain as well. So, it appears we have malaria and the British Army in India to thank for this sweet and delicious concoction called G&T.

National Gin and Tonic Day timeline

1840s
The G&T is Born

Tonic water is created after British citizens and army personnel in India mix quinine with soda, sugar, and lime.

1857
The Great Indian Mutiny

The British Crown obtains control of India after the Sepoy Mutiny, which leads to an influx of Britons and G&Ts in the subcontinent.

1870
Schweppes in the House

Schweppes introduces its “Indian Quinine Tonic” later known as “Indian tonic water.”

2010s
Ginnaisance

After falling out of fashion for a while, gin and G&Ts make a comeback called the “ginnaisance.”

National Gin and Tonic Day FAQs

Why was gin nicknamed “mother’s ruin?”

People’s obsession was blamed for a lot of misery, crime, madness, death, and falling birth rates. Places that served gin let women drink alongside men for the first time and it is thought that this led women to neglect their children and turn to prostitution.

What is the ratio of gin to tonic?

You can go for three parts gin with five parts tonic water. The old school and simple one-to-two ratio is also good.

What kind of people drink G&T?

An Austrian study conducted on 953 people stated that gin and tonic drinkers tend to exhibit more signs of being psychopaths and malevolent than those who prefer other drinks.

How to keep gin and tonic fizzy?

A lot of ice cubes keep the temperature of the drink lower, which means that the carbon dioxide in the tonic finds it harder to escape, keeping the drink fizzy for a long time.

National Gin and Tonic Day Activities

  1. Go for gin

    Just mix some gin, tonic water, lime, and ice for a nice G&T drink to cool down this summer. Whether we’re sipping on the drink by ourselves or at a party, we know it’s going to taste great!

  2. Mix it up

    Why stick to the same boring recipe when we can get creative? Look up some recipes and mix things up this National Gin and Tonic Day by creating an individual take on this classic drink with different flavors and colors.

  3. Head out to your favorite bar

    Check out the nearest bars and restaurants for any exciting offers they might have on this special day. Posting a selfie with this refreshing drink is a good idea. Share its rich and colorful history too.

5 Facts About G&Ts That Will Blow Your Mind

  1. Bathtub gin

    Gin was often made illegally in bathtubs by mixing cheap grain-alcohol with juniper-berry juice, which would lead to several illnesses and death.

  2. “Fleabag” helped G&T sales

    The characters in the popular T.V. show “Fleabag” were seen drinking cans of Marks & Spencer G&T in an episode, resulting in a 24% jump in the drink’s sales.

  3. It’s an intergalactic drink

    Douglas Adams’ book “The Restaurant at the End of the Universe” suggests that the drink is known across galaxies.

  4. Thank Holland for gin

    Holland invented the spirit, which was popularized by the English, who were introduced to it in the 17th century.

  5. The Philippines loves gin

    With almost 43% of the world’s total consumption, the Philippines is the largest consumer of gin.

Why We Love National Gin and Tonic Day

  1. It tastes great

    We all know that there’s no such thing as just one glass of G&T. Thanks to the drink’s delicious and irresistible taste, we just can’t stop having it!

  2. There are many ways to make it

    Although a G&T is usually made up of just a few ingredients, we can still tweak the recipe to our liking by adjusting the amount of tonic water. We can also alter the quantity of lime juice, add different flavors, and get creative.

  3. It’s easy to make

    What other cocktail has all its ingredients listed in its name? G&T is arguably the easiest drink to make; all we need is gin, tonic water, lime juice, and some ice cubes. There’s no way to go wrong, even a child could do it! Wait, forget that last part.

National Gin and Tonic Day dates

YearDateDay
2023April 9Sunday
2024April 9Tuesday
2025April 9Wednesday
2026April 9Thursday
2027April 9Friday

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