One of the essential attributes of a bonafide New Orleans homebody is a well-equipped home bar and a humble bit of cocktail curiosity. If you’re going to be home, you best welcome folks over, and you certainly must offer them a cocktail.
Listen. I don’t make the rules, I’m just here to share them.
My bar has become a collection of memories of friends and places, long nights spent out on the back porch, Friendsgiving holidays, impromptu happy hours… and ok, maybe the occasional morning headache. I’m a human, too.
This cocktail is a Winter version of my favorite: a classic gin and tonic. It’s made Wintery with the addition of fuzzy-soft, tender and lovely fresh sage leaves. Gin lends itself very well to aromatic elements and sage is surprising, and no exception.
This cocktail recipe was a holiday gift from Suzonne Stirling and her cocktail-crafting husband, Michael. Give a girl a cocktail, she has a cocktail. Teach a girl how to make a cocktail… that’s a good time, for a long time. THANK YOU!
I don’t need to explain a gin and tonic to you – the ingredients are right there in the title.
BUT.
We’re Winterizing this cocktail to spiritually warm our insides against the cold cold outsides.
It’s been a cold Winter, hasn’t it? This cocktail is a long time comin’.
We’ll need:
Gin (the gin pictured, and the gin I’m loving right now is this Austin Reserve Gin. It has the most pleasing hints of lavender!)
Fresh sage leaves (a lot, don’t be shy) + Fresh limes
Gran Classico adds an aromatic bitterness and depth to the cocktail. A splash will do just perfectly.
ice and tonic water (Fever Tree is really very good is you’re willing to break the bank, ya know?)
Combine lime wedges and fresh sage in the bottom of a tall glass.
Muddle, smash, crush. Get in there.
We’re extracting lime juice, citrus oils, and sage fragrance and flavor.
Top the muddling with gin and Gran Classicso.
Top the gin with ice.
Top the ice with tonic water.
Add a bit more ice if needed. Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge and a dainty sprig of sage leaf.
We. Are. IN BUSINESS.
Cheers to these chilly days, these warm flavored cocktails, and fine friends to share them with.
Photos with Jon Melendez.
Print
The Winter Gin and Tonic
- Prep Time: 5
- Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
For One Cocktail
- 1 generous lime wedge
- 4 to 6 fresh sage leaves
- 1 teaspoon Gran Classico Bitters
- 1 1/4 ounce gin
- crushed ice
- tonic water
- lime wedge or round for garnish
- a few fresh sage leaves for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, muddle a generous lime wedge with 4 to 6 sage leaves.
- Add the Gran Classico and the gin.
- Fill the glass halfway with ice. Add tonic. Add more ice and tonic to top.
- Garnish with a lime round or wedge and a small sprig of fresh sage. Enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
Feestzaal
Wow … Such an easy recipe for winter gin and tonic cocktail. Definitely trying this. Thank you! :)
saltandserenity
We have really been loving The Botanist Gin, with Fever Tree Tonic. I infuse the gin first, with some dried hibiscus flowers. A slice of grapefruit makes a delicious addition.
This sage version is tempting me.
P.S. I have the same backsplash tiles! I adore them. Your bar is so pretty.
Alice
My home bar isn’t even a bar, I definitely need to step up my game! I have some liquor, but no gin, gahhh! Going to the store tomorrow.
I really just want to hop on a plane and fly out to the States and to New Orleans, eat all the food and drink all the drinks.
Analida's Ethnic Spoon
It has been a long Winter and this sounds so tasty for this weekend’s happy hour. I can’t wait to try the sage-lime combo. Thanks!
Natalie
ohhhh GIN GIN GIN MY FAVOURITEEEE ???
I’ve mixing Gin with lemon or orange all the time by my nature but never followed a recipe exactly
This recipe is so worthy to try <3 <3
Jana H.
Dang. I need to step up my home bar situation. That liquor shelf photo is impressive. I’ve got the ingredients for maybe four different cocktails. I’m not a good hostess at all! lol
Dottie
I need to move to New Orleans now! Three reasons: 1. I’ve really been into making cocktails lately. 2. I need to get away from New England winters (like Angie D.). 3. I would like to be friends with you and sit on your porch with you and Angie D. (and drink cocktails). Snow is coming this afternoon and I would rather be there.
I’ve recently been delving into Italian bitters and blogging a few cocktail recipes using them. I tried Averna in a Bitter Southerner. I’ve been putting Compari in Proscecco and it is so good! I cannot wait to try Gran Classico!
Love your blog. Happy Mardi Gras!
Joan
I’ve tried Jack Rudy, I’ve tried Fever Tree, but it’s only Q Tonic for this girl! I first had it YEARS ago in NYC at Blue Smoke. They brought out a highball glass with gorgeous ice, a lot of gin, and a small bottle of Q Tonic. I was hooked!
Christina
Jon always kills it with the photos but you guys are extra killing it with this post!
Angie D.
Ugh, can we be friends? Cause I wanna sit on a porch in New Orleans drinking these perfect drinks… instead of sitting in a Manhattan office procrastinating a trip to Duane Reade cause it’s gross and cold and…midtown outside.
joythebaker
Yes, indeed we can.
Jeanne
If you are breaking your bank consider Jack Rudy tonic syrup about 1:2 syrup:gin and top with club soda instead of tonic water. Elevates this to a whole New place. And they’ll bring it to your mailbox from Amazon.
joythebaker
I am very into this information! Thank you Jeanne!
Kelsey @ Appeasing a Food Geek
Gin and tonics are my favorite, and I’m pretty sure this recipe might be my new favorite spin on it! The sage sounds like perfection. Thanks for the inspo! xo
John
I have long loved g and t AND NOLA, but NOT winter!
Thanks for this needed bit of inspiration!
Cheers,
John