Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction: The gin and tonic rose to prominence in India at the height of British Imperialism to encourage English colonizers to consume quinine, an antimalarial derived from the bark of the cinchona tree. To make the bitter compound palatable, the story goes, the Brits combined their daily supplement with sugar and water, in a mix that the Schweppes company would eventually go on to label “Indian Tonic Water.” Obviously, the addition of gin helped the medicine go down in a far more delightful way. Nearly two centuries later, this bright and zesty classic remains a staple at home bars and cocktail dens around the globe. Sales of the drink’s two main ingredients are still in the hundreds of millions. You May Also Like: 11 of Our Favorite Gins for Every Drinker In 2022, tonic water sales in the United States reached over $900 million, a figure expected to skyrocket to over $1,456 million by 2030, according to Data Bridge Market Research. In 2023, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States found that close to 9 million cases of gin were sold in the U.S., generating more than $1 billion in revenue for distillers. In the shop Hyde Unbreakable Old Fashioned Glass In Stock | $36 Shop Now As part of that growth, there have been an increased number of tonic waters designed especially to enliven the two-ingredient cocktail even further “with additional flavorings like yuzu or elderflower,” says Wine Enthusiast spirits reviewer Kara Newman. “I have seen tonics made specifically for G&Ts, some with botanicals to complement a specific gin.” You May Also Like: A Mixologist’s Guide to Carbonated Water While the opposite isn’t true—Newman doesn’t know of gins made specifically for the two-ingredient cocktail—she notes that "a wide range of gins work well with tonic water, especially those with bright citrus, pine-like juniper or fresh herb notes.” It’s hard to go wrong (aside from “mixing barrel-aged gins with tonic water,” says Newman), but we figured it was time to make it even easier to do the G&T right. From classic London Dry gins that “are particularly harmonious” to “brisk and crisp” selections with lots of citrus, and even, a novelty pick that changes color when tonic is added, read on to learn all about the best gins for a gin and tonic. Best Overall Gin for a G&T: Tanqueray No. Ten Gin Best Citrus-Forward Gin for a G&T: Gin de Las Californias Citrico Best Craft Gin for a Gin and Tonic: Fort Hamilton New World Dry Gin Best Budget Gin for a Gin and Tonic: Constant Reader Gin Best Splurge Gin for a Gin and Tonic: Procera Gin Best Novelty Gin for a Gin and Tonic: Empress 1908 Gin Most Versatile Gin for a Gin and Tonic: Boatyard Double Gin Best Flavored Gin for a Gin and Tonic: Four Pillars Fresh Yuzu Gin In the shop Wine Enthusiast Brilliance! Shatterproof Tritan Outdoor Wine Glasses (Clear or Assorted) Set of 6 In Stock | $59 Shop Now