Espresso & Tonic has been a huge trend in the last couple of years. It is a mix of chilled, strong coffee and bittersweet tonic water, often garnished with an orange peel.
But a boozy combination of Gin, espresso coffee, and tonic water is even better. Bright, refreshing, bubbly, and bittersweet. This drink is a creative riff on the G&T and something you should definitely try this summer.
Ingredients of an Espresso Gin and Tonic
You don't need much to make this cocktail. In fact, the technique is what is most important, because you want chilled but fresh ingredients. So, to make a caffeinated Gin Tonic, you'll need:
- Gin
- Tonic water
- Freshly brewed yet chilled espresso coffee
Gin
Picking the best Gin for a Gin & Tonic can be an overwhelming task. But in this cocktail, things are a bit easier. The strong coffee notes and bittersweet taste of the tonic water will dominate the flavors of the drink.
Therefore using an expensive Gin in this drink is a bit of a waste. Go with a solid yet affordable London Dry Gin like Bombay Sapphire, Beefeater, or Tanqueray. If you feel fancy, you can try a Hendrick's Gin.
Tonic water
Tonic water is an essential cocktail ingredient. No matter if mixed with Gin, Rum, or Vodka - tonic is one of the most popular mixers.
It's also amazing how many different tonics there are at the moment. There are countless varieties and flavorings available, and matching tonic water with a Gin has become a science of its own.
In combination with Gin and espresso coffee, you may want to opt for a more classic Indian tonic water. I don't recommend choosing an overly sweet tonic. Instead, go with Fever-Tree Indian tonic or its Dry version.
If you feel the drink lacks sweetness, you can still add a bar spoon of simple syrup at the end.
Espresso
Using freshly brewed espresso in this cocktail is vital. -The fresher the coffee, the more aromatic and flavorful the resulting drink.
So, the challenge is to cool down your espresso as fast as possible. One way to do this is by pouring it into a freezing cold glass directly after brewing.
Alternatively, you can put the espresso cup into an ice bowl to speed up the cooling process.
Garnish
A Gin & Tonic often comes with lime or lemon peel. Nonetheless, the espresso tonic is often served with orange peel.
That has to do with the dominant flavor in the drinks. Espresso pairs much better with orange aromas than it does with lemon or lime.
Probably you've even seen the viral videos on social media where people combine espresso with orange juice. -It sounds a little appalling, but it really works.
So for our Espresso Gin and Tonic, you should also opt for orange peel. By the way, before dropping it into the cocktail, you can twist it to release the essential oils, making the cocktail more fragrant.
More coffee cocktails
If you're intrigued by the Espresso G&T, you, in general, might like coffee in cocktails. Why not try some other cocktails that combine booze with caffeine. Here is some inspiration for delicious coffee cocktails.
- Espresso Martini - Probably the most popular coffee cocktail in the world.
- Irish coffee - A classic from Ireland made with filter coffee, Irish Whiskey, heavy cream, syrup, and nutmeg.
- Carajillo cocktail - A simple combination of coffee and Licor 43.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz London Dry Gin
- 4.5 oz Indian tonic water
- 1 oz Freshly brewed espresso (chilled)
- Orange peel
Instructions
- First, brew the espresso and try to chill it down as fast as possible. Put the espresso cup into an ice-filled bowl for this matter.
- Then, add ice cubes into a Highball glass and stir for 10 seconds to chill it.
- Remove excess water and pour in half of the tonic water. Then add the Gin, followed by the other half of the tonic water.
- Gently float the drink with the chilled espresso.
- Press or slightly twist the orange peel above the drink and drop the peel into the Highball glass.