Rosemary Gin & Tonic Cocktail Recipe
Rosemary Gin & Tonic Cocktail Recipe

Rosemary Gin & Tonic

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Cocktail History

The Rosemary Gin & Tonic is a winter cocktail that was created by the editors of PUNCH and was first published in their book Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold-Weather Cocktails. Just as its name implies, this is a seasonal variation of the Gin & Tonic that is made with gin, citrus, and tonic water, but it adds in a vinegar-based grapefruit shrub for more complex, savory flavor.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Grapefruit Tonic Water: This is a type of carbonated water that has been infused with quinine and flavored with grapefruit. I used Fitch & Leedes Grapefruit Tonic Water.

Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. I used The Botanist Islay Dry Gin.

Grapefruit Shrub: This is a syrup made with grapefruit, aromatics, sugar, and vinegar. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. I used freshly squeezed lime juice.

Grapefruit Slices: This is a slice of grapefruit that has been cut into a half wheel shape.

Rosemary Sprig: This is an evergreen herb.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Muddler: This is used to muddle ingredients. I used the HQY Stainless Steel Cocktail Muddler.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.

OXO SteeL Muddler with Non-Scratch Nylon Head and Soft Non-Slip Grip, Silver, 9-Inch
OXO SteeL Muddler with Non-Scratch Nylon Head and Soft Non-Slip Grip, Silver, 9-Inch
Perfect for muddling fresh herbs, citrus fruits and more; Generous nylon head won’t damage glass
$16.30 Amazon Prime
OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
Sturdy, stainless steel blade; Soft, comfortable, non-slip handle ensures a safe grip; Hand wash with warm, soapy water and promptly dry
$11.99 Amazon Prime

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-02-09.

Rosemary Gin & Tonic Cocktail Recipe

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

Appearance: Pale pink hue with an ombré effect

• Aroma: Rosemary and citrus

• Taste: Surprisingly not-bitter flavor that combines sweet grapefruit, sour vinegar, and herbal gin

• Finish: Slight quinine tang and fizz

Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kendall’s Take: “I’ve never been the biggest fan of the classic Gin & Tonic because tonic water is too bitter for my palate. It doesn’t help that I started out trying gin drinks that were much sweeter when it’s common for tonic water to be the gateway to liking gin. The Rosemary Gin & Tonic is my favorite I’ve tried so far though, and it’s all thanks to the grapefruit shrub. Its unique vinegar flavor cuts the bitterness of the tonic just enough to make it much more palatable for me. I’ve already made it again!”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold-Weather Cocktails by the editors of PUNCH.

Sale
Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold-Weather Cocktails
Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold-Weather Cocktails
Hardcover Book; Editors of PUNCH (Author); English (Publication Language); 160 Pages – 10/02/2018 (Publication Date) – Ten Speed Press (Publisher)
$10.56 Amazon Prime

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-02-09.

Rosemary Gin & Tonic

The Rosemary Gin & Tonic is a winter cocktail that was created by the editors of PUNCH and was first published in their book Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold-Weather Cocktails. Just as its name implies, this is a seasonal variation of the Gin & Tonic that is made with gin, citrus, and tonic water, but it adds in a vinegar-based grapefruit shrub for more complex, savory flavor.

Prep Time 3 mins Assembly Time 2 mins Total Time 5 mins Difficulty: Intermediate Servings: 1 Calories: 295 Best Season: Winter

Ingredients

Method

  1. Stem one rosemary sprig.

  2. Add rosemary leaves and grapefruit shrub to a shaker.

  3. Muddle gently for 5-7 seconds.

  4. Add gin, lime juice, and cubed ice to shaker.

  5. Shake for 10-20 seconds.

  6. Double strain into a highball glass filled with fresh cracked ice.

  7. Top with tonic water.

  8. Garnish with grapefruit slices and remaining rosemary sprig.

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand All:
How do I make this cocktail recipe non-alcoholic?

Use MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin in place of the gin to try a mocktail version of this drink.

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About The Author

Kendall is the creator of Novel Nightcaps, a mixology blog chronicling recipes she tries from her cocktail book collection.