A pink cocktail always is an eye-catcher, and this Pink Fig Gin Tonic does not only look gorgeous, but it also tastes so good. The addition of fig creates an extra layer of fruity flavors and brings a little sweetness to the highball. And, certainly, the pink drink is not only a bright and joyful way to start a weekend; it is a beautiful serve on Valentine's, birthdays, or weddings, as well. And actually, it does not need a special occasion at all.
You have to choose your ingredients carefully, though, because otherwise, the drink might turn out too sweet. With Gin usually not bringing much bitterness, you don't want to end up with a drink more suitable for a candy bar.
Ingredients for our Pink Fig Gin Tonic
To make sure you get a nicely balanced drink, here are a few tips. By following these when picking the ingredients, you will get the cocktail just right.
Best Gin for a Pink Fig Gin Tonic
You might want something more juniper-forward that isn't too fancy, a classic London Dry Gin is the best option here. It won't interfere and overpower the subtle Fig flavor coming from the syrup. And the Gin counterbalances the additional sweetness nicely, as well. My recommendation here is something traditional like Sipsmith.
Tonic water
Like the Gin, the tonic water also shouldn't be too sweet. With most G&Ts, I prefer tonics less quinine-forward, like, for instance, the Mediterranean version from Fever Tree. But in this case, the subtle quinine notes would get lost between the fig syrup and the intense juniper notes from the London Dry. Hence, for the Pink Fig Gin and Tonic, a standard Indian or even a dry tonic works best.
Fig syrup
And now we're getting to the star of the recipe: the fig syrup. Made from plenty of fresh figs, boiled down with demerara sugar, and a little bit of vanilla and cinnamon. It brings a beautiful fruity sweetness to what otherwise would be a very basic Gin and Tonic.
For making about 10oz of fig syrup, you need 5 fresh figs, 1½ cups of demerara sugar, a cup of water, ½ tsp of vanilla extract, a cinnamon stick, and one tbs of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Add all these ingredients to a saucepan and boil everything down until it has a nice gooey, syrupy consistency. You can find the detailed recipe for our fig syrup here.
How to make the perfect Pink Fig Gin Tonic
To ensure that the fig syrup mixes with your Gin Tonic nicely, first add the syrup, some lemon juice, and the Gin to your cocktail glass. Now give it a good stir until the syrup is fully blended with Gin and lemon juice. Only now add ice and then top everything up with tonic.
If you add the tonic before stirring, you will lose carbonation, and your drink falls flat. If you add the ice before stirring, it will dilute the G&T. Plus, it would complicate the process of stirring itself. So, preparing your Pink Fig Gin and Tonic in the correct order is crucial to get a consistent color and taste.
Also, if you're not yet happy with the color of your drink, you can adjust the recipe and add a bit more syrup. But make a tester before serving it to your guests. In case you went too far, you would end up with something for the candy bar after all. If it should turn out just a bit too sweet, add an extra splash of lemon juice.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz London Dry Gin
- 4.5 oz Tonic Water Indian or dry
- 0.5 oz Fig Syrup
- 1 splash lemon juice
- 2 slices fresh fig for garnish
Instructions
- Add Gin, fig syrup, and a splash of lemon juice to your highball glass. Give everything a good stir until Gin and syrup are blended fully.
- Now add a large ice cube and top up everything with tonic water.
- Use two slices of fresh fig to garnish your drink. Cheers!
