Hibiscus Gin and Tonics
It's Fridayyyyyyy!!! I always believe in ringing in the weekend with a great cocktail, and today is no exception!?
These Hibiscus Gin and Tonics are just what you need in your life this Friday night, and it's unbelievable twist on a classic with some simple ingredients you probably already have kicking around in your fridge.?
Toronto restaurant Nota Bene has a mouth-watering happy hour menu featuring a delicious Build-Your-Own Gin & Tonic bar, which has definitely influenced this recipe. In their version of the G&T, they first bring out a gin of your choice on ice, with options ranging from Ungava gin and Dillon's, to Hendrick's, to Bombay Sapphire and Tanqueray. A bottle or can of tonic is served on the side along with slices of cucumber, dried hibiscus flower and a slice of ruby red grapefruit. In my version, I've combined all of the additions on the side together to create a delicious, fruity, complexly flavoured Gin & Tonic like you've never had before!?
This is not a sponsored post, but I genuinely love Ungava Gin. The bright yellow spirit is made from six rare botanicals native to the Canadian arctic, such as Nordic juniper and wild rose hips, and it's naturally steeped until the gin takes on a complex, almost fruity flavour and produces a distinctively golden hue. Even if you're not a fan of gin in general, I highly encourage you to pick up a bottle of Ungava; it has a more subtle flavour and is really a delicious addition to any cocktail.
The cucumber and grapefruit blend beautifully to create a smooth, punchy and uplifting flavour that definitely highlights the bubbly tonic water. Though you can sometimes find the dried hibiscus flower at health stores or small multi-cultural shops that sell specialty items, I use hibiscus and rosehip herbal tea because it's easy to find at your local grocery store and the taste is very similar.
Will you be trying these Hibiscus Gin and Tonics? If you try any of my recipes be sure to let me know on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook – I'd love to hear from you!
Hibiscus Gin and Tonic
Ingredients
- 4 oz gin
- 2 cucumber slices
- 2 ruby red grapefruit slices
- 1 can tonic water
Hibiscus syrup
- 2 hibiscus teabags
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 tbsp sugar
Instructions
- Set out two glasses of your choice filled with ice. Pour 2 oz of gin into each glass.
- Add 2 tbsp hibiscus syrup to the glass then top with tonic water.
- Garnish with cucumber and a slice of grapefruit each.
- Enjoy!
Omg Taylor, these drinks!! They sound so damn good. If I still lived in Niagara I’d be planning a drink-filed visit with you. Haha. This is inspiring me to play with beverages more. They photograph so beautifully, too! Awesome stuff.
Drink-filled, dammit. My editing eyes have packed it in early today.
Dana, that would be amazinggggg! I never used to venture outside of my regular sprite and vodka but once I finished my undergrad degree I was able to splurge on the odd cocktail on a night out in the city. That was enough to get me re-thinking my weekend cocktail hahaha
These looks so refreshing! Time to bring out the patio furniture here in Calgary…it was 17 C yesterday and the weekend is looking good!
Oh wow, that’s amazing Bernice!! It was 20 C here the other day – so beautiful! I absolutely cannot wait for patio season!
I am always fascinated by cocktails because I hardly drink them and I never make them. But I like the idea, a lot 😉 . Your Hibiscus Gin and Tonic are gorgeous and must taste sooo good.
I am always fascinated by cocktails, because I hardly drink them and never make them, but I like the idea a lot 😉 . Your Hibiscus Gin and Tonics are gourgeous and I’m sure taste soo good.
Thank you Nicoletta! You need to make cocktails more often, so refreshing after a long hard day of work. It’s the sweet reward that keeps you going 😉
It’s Friday and sunny outside, how will I possibly be able to wait until cocktail’o’clock to make myself this drink? I love switching things up cocktail-wise and this sure looks like a delightful variation on a classic. Cheers!
Hahahaha thank you Marie!! You just made my day!
Heck ya it’s Friday, it’s sunny and mild, bring on Spring and your hibiscus gin and tonic!!! I love hibiscus and it sounds like the prefect match with gin. In my humble opinion gin and tea make a beautiful fragrant partnership 🙂
OMG Meaghan, I’d never thought of mixing gin and tea before!
I’ve never tried gin and tonic before, but this looks so yummy! Seems like it would be very refreshing on a warm, sunny day 🙂
Thanks Katy! My thoughts exactly!
The colors are so beautiful! And the tonic sounds delicious! Oh a side note, how do you take such beautiful pictures of food and drinks? *-*
Hahaha aww thanks Mei!! It’s definitely taken a lot of time for me to build up my photography skills…to learn what sort of camera/lens I use you should check out my blogger resources 🙂 Here’s the link:
I love a good gin and tonic! Can’t wait to try this! Thank so much for sharing the recipe!
Thanks Jody! 🙂
This looks like a really refreshing (not too heavy/cloying) poolside libation! I will be on the lookout for hibiscus tea to make the syrup! Sounds amazing.
Poolside cocktails – that’s what I’m talking about!!
This looks so good! Will have to try this recipe soon 🙂
Thanks Sofia! Let me know how it goes!
This looks fabulous!! I will have to get my husband to make this for me soon!! 🙂
I like your style Carrie – put the man to work!! hahaha
This looks and sounds amazing! I just love the colors.
Woo hoo! Thanks Georgianna!
This cocktail looks delicious! I will definitely have to try this, I think the hubby will like this immensely! Thanks for sharing! :0 xo, Suz | http://www.suzannespiegoski.com
Haha thank you Suzanne! They’re a great after-work drink!
Drooling! Keep up the amazing work girl!
Aww thanks Amber-Lee!! 🙂 That means so much!
These sound amazing! So refreshing!
Thanks Jen <3
I love Hibiscus and I love a good G&T, especially in the hot summer months. Sounds like a winner to me!
I’m a gin and tonic girl and a bit nervous about you messing with my classic :). But it looks so damn pretty I’m willing to take a chance!
Hahaha I promise they are a delicious twist on the classic Janel 😉
Look in the herbal tea section!!
Gin and tonics are my THING I love them. Hibiscus has such a light taste, I could see it being great with gin and all the earthy/floral bits in it, I will have to try it out!
Thanks Kim!! Yes they are definitely my thing too, they’re the go-to cocktail I order on a night out!