I’m not sure you can really call this a gin & tonic. Sure there’s gin in this cocktail and there’s tonic water but a true G&T is just that, right? Gin plus tonic. Maybe you can throw in a little piece of mint or something pretty like rosemary or cucumber as a garnish but the main ingredients are traditionally gin, tonic and ice. So if you’re reading this and saying to yourself that the title alone gives it way too many ingredients to be a true gin and tonic, I get it and I know. I hope you find comfort in knowing that I’ve already thought of that but here we are.
Moving on. A while ago, I made a very random purchase of orange blossom water from Amazon. You can buy anything there. I bought the orange blossom water for a dessert that failed and never made it to the blog. As the days went by, I was anxiously wondering what to do with this fragrant, unique ingredient in my kitchen. Orange blossom water is highly regarded in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cultures but I was at a loss as to what to do with it. So when all else fails, I make an orange blossom simple syrup for cocktails!
I’ve preached the need to make your own simple syrups multiple times here. I usually do equal parts water and sugar (sometimes a little less sugar) but this simple syrup I approached a little bit differently. Since the orange blossom water is so powerful, I did equal parts orange blossom water, water and sugar. I just wanted the syrup to have a hint of orange but not too overpowering. Also orange blossom water reminds me of perfume and I wanted to limit that.
Gin & Tonic (plus a few more ingredients)
The truth is, you can make this cocktail without the cardamom. I added it because I go through spurts where I’m obsessed with it and this was one of those times. The drink is fine with it or without it – the choice is yours.
Ingredients
- Gin
- Orange blossom simple syrup
- Tonic water
- Ground cardamom, garnish
Instructions
- In a glass filled with ice, add gin and simple syrup; stir.
- Top with tonic water then sprinkle with a bit of cardamom on top.
