On International Gin and Tonic Day, Delhi-based Angad Soni, founder of Sepoy and Co., shared secrets about creating the perfectly balanced gin and tonic with flavoured tonics
Angad Soni, Founder Sepoy and Co. Pic/Angad Soni
Every year gin lovers worldwide celebrate International Gin and Tonic Day on 19th October. If the growing number of home-grown gin brands is an indication, India is in the midst of a gin revolution. Although the alcohol is among the most widely used spirits in cocktails, nothing beats a classic Gin & Tonic (G&T). Tonic water, which is considered as gin’s other half, was first consumed by soldiers of the British Indian army to ward off malaria owing to its quinine content. It should come as no surprise that numerous artisanal tonic waters have flooded the Indian market on the heels of the revolution.
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Whether you’re an aficionado or a casual gin drinker, you know how important it is to choose the right tonic. To cater to the Indian palate and evolving sensibilities, Angad Soni founded Sepoy & Co., a range of all natural botanical mixers in 2018. When asked about what makes a gin and tonic click, Soni says, “A good gin and tonic is one where all flavours complement one another, with no one element overpowering the other. A G&T should be perfectly balanced. “
Crafted by mixologists and botanists in London and India, the award-winning brand offers five variants: Indian tonic water, mint, spiced grapefruit, Elderflower and Hibiscus. “Artisanal tonic waters make the botanicals in the gin really shine through due to the low sugar content and the perfect balance of natural quinine in the tonics”, adds Soni.
Mid-day reached out to Angad Soni to understand more about gin and tonic and how to make the perfect cocktail. Here are some tips to get you started:
With an overwhelming number of gins and flavoured tonics, how does one go about pairing them to create the perfect G&T?
When we look at pairing flavoured tonics and various gins, we take the flavour profiles of the tonics and gins as the base, respectively. Gins can broadly be categorised as: juniper-forward, floral, herbaceous, and spiced.
Keeping the flavour profile of each gin in mind, we pair them with flavoured tonics. For instance, a juniper-forward gin flourishes when mixed with mint tonic because it balances it out and tastes fresh. A floral gin works very well with hibiscus and elderflower tonics as they enhance the floral taste profile of the gin.
Which flavoured tonic goes with my favourite gin?
Mint
A playful contrast between bitterness and fresh mint, the tonic goes well with herbaceous Beefeater and Jodhpur, and floral Hendrick’s. Enthusiasts might want to mix it with the limited edition juniper-bomb Greater Than. Add a handful of basil, mint, or strawberry to ramp up the taste.
Hibiscus
Comprising fresh floral hibiscus with slight citric tartness rounded off with a touch of quinine, the tonic pairs best with robust Tanqueray, floral Roku, and citrusy Gordan’s. Be sure to have it complement your limited edition bottle of Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice.
Elderflower
A popular ingredient across several gin cocktails, Elderflower pairs well with citrusy Terai and Jaisalmer, and robust Samsara. Garnish with cucumber of thyme to give your G&T a flavour boost.
Spiced Grapefruit
With touches of cinnamon and cardamom, Grapefruit complements citrusy Bombay Sapphire, Stranger and Sons, and Monkey 47, floral Hapusa, andPumori. A bit of rosemary can elevate your G&T.
Cheers!
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