Gin & tonic (or equal tonic)

Bitter and bubbles against a salty board

The highball is the pairing. Ice and citrus are the constraint. Keep a zero-proof tonic build in the same glassware. Do not batch gin — build to order, ice last.

Opened tonic does not keep. Citrus keeps. There is no leftover cocktail — make a fresh one.

• Gin or zero-proof spirit1.75 cups
• Tonic5 cups
• Citrus3 ea
• Ice4.4 lb

Multiplying the ingredients is the easy half. These are the parts of the recipe that the batch count does not move.

Cooking time

Nothing cooks, so batch size does not change a cooking time. Chilling does not scale either — it is set by the depth of the container, so a double batch in one deep tub takes far longer than two shallow ones.

1. Read the whole method before you shop. This is a planning recipe for gin & tonic (or equal tonic), not a certified kitchen test.
2. Amounts below are one batch: 8 portions. Build a plan and this card scales itself to it.
3. No heat. Assemble from cold ingredients. Keep covered until service.
4. Hold time is short (10 min). Finish close to service. Do not guess a longer hold.
5. Drink pairing: The highball is the pairing. Ice and citrus are the constraint. Keep a zero-proof tonic build in the same glassware. Do not batch gin — build to order, ice last.
6. Leftover route: Opened tonic does not keep. Citrus keeps. There is no leftover cocktail — make a fresh one.
7. Confirm every ingredient and every allergen yourself. Dietary tags are planning filters, not safety guarantees.