Gin, please.

February 13, 2011 6:51 PM

Where can I find the best gin and tonic in downtown Toronto?

As you may have guessed from my username, I'm a fan of gin. I especially like it with tonic and a bit of lime. And while I'm pleased with what I can make at home, I've been pretty disappointed with what I've found when I've gone out. Perhaps I'm just looking in the wrong places?

Anyway, if you can recommend a spot where you've had a particularly remarkable G&T, or other gin-based, non-martini beverage, I'd love to hear about it. Oh, and as nice as Toronto's Temperance Society's homebrew tonic sounds, I can't exactly afford their membership fee.

posted by Gin and Comics to Food & Drink (9 answers total)

Hmm, do you know to ask for specific brands of gin? If you don't request something special, you'll just get the cheapest house gin.

Or are you looking for fancy g&t-inspired drinks that are actually something a bit different?
posted by bluedaisy at 7:26 PM on February 13, 2011

Make your way through different brands of Gin to see what takes your fancy. I personally like a good Hendrick's and tonic.

If you are after a different Gin cocktail, try a Negroni. Made of one part gin, one part sweet vermouth, and one part bitters. Cheers!
posted by Hazy Star at 7:33 PM on February 13, 2011

About a year or three ago, Torontoist or BlogTo had a brief article about a place that used blood-orange juice in place of lime. At home,it makes a nice change from using lime juice or lime cordial.
posted by Chuckles McLaughy du Haha, the depressed clown at 7:54 PM on February 13, 2011

Disclaimer that I woefully haven't been, but BarChef seems like a place you might enjoy. I mean, any place that has the balls to put a $45 manhattan on the menu ought to know how to mix a drink, right?

As an aside, I'm awfully fond of a Henkdrick's martini. With a twist instead of the usual olive. Next time I'm going to try it (or a Hendrick's G&T) with a cucumber wheel.... I hear that's the bee's knees!
posted by miss_kitty_fantastico at 7:58 PM on February 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Hmm, do you know to ask for specific brands of gin? If you don't request something special, you'll just get the cheapest house gin.

Or are you looking for fancy g&t-inspired drinks that are actually something a bit different?

I have requested specific gins at the places I've been, but I'm still not that happy with the results. I'm looking for recommendations regarding particular places I should try.
posted by Gin and Comics at 8:00 PM on February 13, 2011

Best answer: Answers so far have have focused on the gin. The tonic is more than half of the drink, and most of the taste. Standard tonic water is just another high fructose corn syrup containing soda (it actually has more calories than cola). No one debates which high end bourbons are the best for dousing with Pepsi.

Try using a better tonic water. I recommend Q Tonic. Their availability page lists the following establishments in Toronto:

• Miller Tavern
• Roof Lounge at Park Hyatt Toronto
• Saving Gigi
• The Rushton
• Vertical Restaurant
• Wild Thing

Less important but also often overlooked is the ice. There have been not one but two FPPs about cocktail ice.

Generally, the places that are high end enough to do a gin and tonic well are focused on more elaborate drinks. You may find that a bottle of your favorite gin, a bottle of good tonic water, square ice cube trays, and a lime will let you make a better gin and tonic at home than you could hope to get at even the fanciest establishments.

If you find a bar that makes ice cubes out of frozen tonic water, let me know where it is.
posted by outlaw of averages at 11:05 PM on February 13, 2011

If the problem's in the ratio, perhaps you could ask for the gin and the tonic to be served in separate glasses, and mix to your own tastes. If the bar you're in serves the tonic in those little mixer bottles, so much the better. I mean, there aren't that many factors that go into a good G+T, really... I suppose quality of the ice, freshness of the lime (and whether or not they squeeze it a little) all count.

Frankly I would just shrug and settle for a neat gin if the highball wasn't up to scratch. But then, I like that sort of thing.
posted by Ted Maul at 2:18 AM on February 14, 2011

Try the GT at Moxies. Go on a Friday, it's on special.
posted by purephase at 4:57 AM on February 14, 2011

If you are after a different Gin cocktail, try a Negroni. Made of one part gin, one part sweet vermouth, and one part bitters. Cheers!

By bitters you mean Campari, right? While it is indeed bitters, when one lists 'bitters' as an ingredient it's assumed that those bitters are Angostura.
posted by Jawn at 5:05 AM on February 14, 2011