For anyone that knows me I love a good gin in a tall glass (must be tall!), with lots of ice and good quality gin and a slice of lime or lemon it s my favourite drink. There’s just something about a Gin and Tonic that feels both timeless and adventurous — a drink that carries history in its glass and a dash of wanderlust in every sip. For me, it’s more than just a refreshing drink in summer; it’s a moment, a mood, and sometimes even a memory you can hold in your hand.
A Drink Born in India’s Heat
But the story of this drink I find fascinating. The tale of Gin and Tonic stretches back to colonial times when the British East India Company dominated trade routes. Malaria was rampant, and the British stationed in India struggled to find an effective remedy. Enter quinine, a bitter compound derived from the bark of the cinchona tree, known for its ability to combat malaria. Quinine's bitterness was not easy to swallow, so ingenious British officers in India began mixing it with gin and water, creating the early version of Gin and Tonic. The drinks refreshing and slightly bitter profile not only masked the taste of quinine but also became a popular way to combat the scorching Indian heat.
From there, the Gin and Tonic became a ritual — not just for its health benefits, but as a way to pause, cool down, and soak in the sultry Indian evenings. And all these years later, the drink still feels perfectly at home in India.
Gin, Rajasthan, and the Art of Slowing Down
You’ll often find me with a G&T in hand somewhere in Rajasthan, the land of golden light and endless horizons. I’ve shared more than a few unforgettable sunset drinks with fellow travellers — sitting out on rattan furniture as the Rajasthani desert turns from blazing gold to deep purple. The sound of laughter, the soft chime of ice cubes in a glass, the faint spice in the air — it’s the kind of moment that imprints itself in your memory forever.
I’ve sipped gin in Palladio in Jaipur, arguably the most Instagrammed bar in the city, all deep blues, bold patterns, and a touch of Venetian glamour. I’ve sat in quiet palace courtyards where peacocks strut by as the first stars appear. But sometimes, the magic is in the unexpected — like finding a tiny bar tucked away down a narrow alley, the kind of place where the bartender remembers your second drink before you’ve even finished your first.
And then there was Agra. One evening, I found myself with my partner on a modest rooftop terrace, the chatter of the streets below fading into the background. A Gin and Tonic in hand, we watched the sun melt into the horizon, casting the Taj Mahal in the softest shades of rose and gold. In that moment, the world felt hushed — the chaos of India giving way to stillness, the marble monument glowing as if it held the last light of the day just for us. We were still and overwhelmed by all that surrounded us.
Gin and Tonic is also laced with memories from long before I ever travelled to India. My parents were both gin aficionados, my father would never serve gin with anything less than a quality tonic and a perfect slice of lemon cut fresh from our backyard tree. Gin meant family — it was the quiet clink of glasses on our houseboat at sunset, hot nights by the pool with a cool drink in hand, or the satisfying first sip after a sweaty game of tennis. Sometimes it was just watching my parents sitting together, gin and tonics in hand, surrounded by friends, the air full of chatter and the easy comfort of people who belong together.
My Most Memorable G&T
But my most cherished Gin and Tonic moment? That happened far from Rajasthan — at the bottom of the Spanish Steps in Rome. I’d been backpacking solo for months, living off hostel kitchens and night trains, when I met up with my parents. We spent the afternoon basking in the Roman sunshine, ordering round after round of gin and tonics at a little outdoor café.
It wasn’t just about the drink; it was about that feeling — of shifting from the solitary rhythm of solo travel into the easy comfort of family. The way my mum’s laugh sounded after the second round, the way my dad leaned back in his chair, sunglasses on, looking completely content, like he owned Rome.
Why It’s More Than a Drink
For me, a Gin and Tonic is never just gin and tonic. It’s the clink of a glass in the desert dusk, the cool reprieve after a hot day travelling, or the sudden burst of nostalgia in a European square. It’s history, adventure, and belonging all in one.
So whether it’s a sunset in Rajasthan with Samsara Lifestyle, a night in Jaipur’s most photogenic bar, or a spontaneous afternoon with family by the pool— here’s to the perfect drink in the perfect place.
Cheers.
(always drink responsibly)