The classic gin and tonic is the single most refreshing thing one could ever experience on a warm day. It is simply made with gin and tonic, served on the rocks and garnished with a lime wedge, although lemon could be used in its place or cucumber if that’s your thing (if so, see Hendrick’s Gin). Be careful if serving a gin and tonic, that actual tonic and not soda is used. That’s quite possibly the most offensive thing a bartender could ever do.
 
The gin and tonic cocktail was created by the army of the British East India Company in India.
 
In India and other tropical regions, malaria was a persistent problem. In the 1700s it was discovered that quinine could be used to prevent and treat the disease, although the bitter taste was unpleasant. British officers in India in the early 19th century took to adding a mixture of water, sugar, lime and gin to the quinine in order to make the drink more palatable. Soldiers in India were already given a gin ration, and the sweet concoction inevitably made sense. Since it is no longer used as an antimalarial, tonic water today contains much less quinine, is usually sweetened, and is consequently much less bitter.