Gin is a well-known spirit and has seen a surge in popularity in the last few decades. It was originally developed by the Dutch but was popularised by British soldiers in India, who mixed it with tonic water to treat malaria (inventing the gin and tonic almost by accident!). Gin is a wheat alcohol infused with juniper and often other elements like lemon peel, anise, almonds, violet root and coriander.

Maybe you’re a gin connoisseur, or maybe you want to try gin for the first time. Here are 3 ways to drink gin:

If you like your whiskey neat, chances are you’ll like gin on its own too! It’s best served chilled or over ice – this brings out the cool juniper flavours. Naturally, higher-quality gin will taste better straight than cheap gin. If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding some lemon, olives, pickled onions or even capers. These will bring out different flavours in the gin.

Gin goes well with a lot of mixers, which is good news for people who don’t like drinking straight spirits! You can mix it with soda water, juice, flavoured mineral water and of course tonic water. Experiment with different combinations and strengths to find something you like. A classic gin and tonic is usually topped with a wedge of lemon or lime.

As gin has a mild, clean taste, it’s perfect for mixing in cocktails. Some classic gin cocktails include the Gin Martini, Negroni, Tom Collins, Gin Fizz and French 75. Feel free to experiment – gin is a very versatile drink!

Do you have a favourite way to enjoy gin? Comment below!