Up until a few weeks ago, I'd been drinking gin with mediocre tonic. There, I said it. And it's not like I've been sticking to the same tonic either. I've experimented with various varieties - fancy expensive bottles, with impressive fonts, classy names. The ones that scream 'oh hey pretty' from the shelf, cost an arm and a leg, and make at best, 2 drinks.

Last month, I went on a 'ima buy all the fancy booze things online and make me a proper bar for the holidays' spree, and in my search, I found this Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. 17fl oz hand crafted in the South, bottle of the best dang tonic I have ever tasted. People, if you like gin and tonic, you need to order a bottle pronto, because it is a game changer. And I'm pretty sure that after that kind of statement, I'm gonna have to order another one because all the people I know are going to be stopping by for a g+t.

I'd heard some good things about this tonic (from various people and sources, all reputable and having exquisite cocktail taste) before I took the plunge and bought a bottle. A bottle costs $16 for 17 fl oz, which some of you may be thinking is outrageously high, but here's the catch, it's not tonic water, it's tonic syrup. This means that all you need is .75oz per drink, and you can store the bottle in the fridge for 6 - 12 months. You can buy it online through the Jack Rudy  site, or I believe they now sell it at Crate and Barrel.

The tonic is a concoction of concentrated lemongrass, orange peel, sugar and quinine, which turns out, is the perfect combination for a tonic. I've been using the tonic solely for g+t's, but I'm now at the point (and my bar is fully stocked) where I can confidently dabble with a few of the recipes they've provided on their website, leaning heavily towards the KY 75. I'm thinking that a bottle of this tonic would make a pretty great Christmas gift, along with a bottle of Hendricks, a few limes, and some collins glasses, wrapped up in a pretty decorative basket. 

JACK RUDY GIN AND TONIC

makes 1 drink

2 oz gin

.75 oz

Jack Rudy tonic

5 oz soda water

ice

lime wedge

In a collins glass, add the gin, tonic, soda water. Stir.

Fill the glass with ice.

Add lime wedge. Enjoy