I don’t know how it happened. I didn’t think I would ever get past the pine needle or spruce tree flavour of gin. I would try it over ice, with tonic and some fresh lime and all I tasted was tree. I started to think that it was going to be one of the few types of alcohol I just would never like. Or maybe it was an old person’s drink? I wasn’t sure how old I needed to be to start liking gin, but I felt it was far away.

Then last summer it hit me. I was 34 years old. Not old at all if you ask me. I figured I would give it a whirl again and picked up a mickey of Bombay Sapphire, a case of diet tonic and some limes and went camping. I also had a cooler full of beers, just in case I still couldn’t drink tree. We drove out south of Hinton to a little spot called Elk River. We paid our $20 to stay for two nights, set up our tent and then I ventured to the cooler to grab all my gin and tonic ingredients. I don’t know if it was that I was expecting the worst, or if it was because it was 32 degrees out and I was really thirsty, or if my taste palate changed (or all of the above); but I took a sip and instantly felt refreshed and wanted more! I was done my first gin and tonic within minutes and back at the cooler to get a second. And that’s the moment when I knew this could be my summer drink!! To honour my first time actually enjoying gin, below is the recipe of a gin and tonic (simple, yet refreshing) and then a different little creation I have been playing with! 

Before I move on, I just want to let you know that this isn’t a sponsored post; just totally my opinion!

Print

Gin and Tonic

Ingredients

• 2 oz. gin I use Bombay Sapphire
• 4 oz. tonic
• 2-3 lime wedges
• ice

Instructions

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add gin and top up with tonic water.
3. Squeeze the juice from a wedge of fresh lime and add the lime as a garnish. Simple!

Print

Gin Fizzy

Ingredients

• 2 oz gin
• 2 oz pink grapefruit juice
• 2 oz lime sparkling water
• 2-3 wedges of lime
• ice

Instructions

1. Fill a with ice
2. Add the gin and top up with juice and sparkling water.
3. Squeeze the juice from a wedge of fresh lime and add the lime as a garnish. Give it a quick stir and enjoy!

And just for fun, here is who comes to visit me when I am taking photos while lying in the grass! Meow!

Do you like gin? Or what is your favourite summer beverage?