Give your G&T a twist with these fun variations

By Georgina Torbet Published April 9, 2025

Spanish gin tonic — Jez Timms / Unsplash

Today is National Gin & Tonic day, so it’s the perfect excuse to enjoy one of the finest (and simplest) cocktails out there. A classic Gin & Tonic is just two ingredients — perhaps with the addition of a slice of lemon or lime — but you can add endless extras to the drink to give it a personal twist.

One aspect of a G&T you shouldn’t overlook is the tonic water, as not all tonic waters are created equal and a high quality option really does make for a better drink. These recipes come from Badger Bevs, a brand which produces a premium tonic water perfect for mixing. And the Badger Bevs Brand Ambassador, Jillian Vose, has come up with suggestions to give your G&T a bit of a special twist.

Recommended Videos

Porch with a View

Created by Jillian Vose

Ingredients:

2 oz Dolin Blanc Vermouth
1 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
Badger Tonic

Glassware: Highball glass
Garnish: Manicured Grapefruit Wedge

Method:

In a highball glass, add ice and build the drink. Add Dolin Blanc Vermouth (or other light-fortified wine) and grapefruit juice. Top with Badger Bevs Tonic Water. Garnish with a manicured grapefruit wedge.

Don’t Look Up

Created by Jillian Vose

Ingredients:

0.25 oz Pineapple Syrup
0.5 oz St. George Green Chili Vodka
1.5 oz Ford’s Gin
Badger Tonic

Glassware: Highball
Garnish: Dried Pineapple

Method:

Add all ingredients to highball glass (10 oz) except the Badger Tonic. Add ice, stir well to chill and mix. Add Badger Tonic, then give a light stir.

Georgina Torbet

Georgina Torbet is a cocktail enthusiast based in Berlin, with an ever-growing gin collection and a love for trying out new…

Food & Drink

How does an espresso machine work? Uncovering the magic behind your favorite brew

The inner workings of your favorite kitchen appliance

Espresso shot from an espresso machine

My espresso machine is by far my favorite kitchen appliance (even more so than my air fryer, which is next in line). Once you adjust to drinking shots of espresso, a concentrated, pressurized version of coffee, just using a drip coffee maker simply isn't enough. Though many people rely on the magic brewing process that ensues inside espresso machines, few take the time to appreciate the process of how an espresso machine works.

Let's examine the brewing process to discover what makes espresso machines so special (and different from a regular coffee maker). Doug Parkison, Category Director at De'Longhi Group, shared his expertise to explain what happens inside your espresso maker.
How an espresso machine works

Food & Drink

Learn to love cognac with these beginner-friendly cocktail recipes

Courvoisier

Cognac is one of those spirits which you've heard of but even the experienced bartender might not be so familiar with. Though it has a fancy reputation, you needn't be scared of mixing cognac into cocktails, as its intense and rich flavors work well to easily elevate even simple mixed drinks into something special.

As today is National Cognac Day, below we have two recipes to share which make use both Courvoisier, a premium French coganc, and Grand Marnier, a cognac and orange liqueur, that can ease you into the delicious world of this classic French spirit.

Food & Drink

The secret varietals hiding in your glass of Champagne

Glasses of champagne on a tray

By now, you’re probably aware that Champagne is a sparkling wine produced in a specific region of France, and that the name is proprietary: No other sparkling wines produced elsewhere (even in France) can be called Champagne. You might also know that all sparkling wines are the result of certain processes which preserve some of the carbon dioxide by product of fermentation in order to be carbonized. Obsessives like me will also drone on about other secrets of Champagne, like the kind of yeast used -- which imparts that sublime aroma and taste of brioche. So, if all the other ways Champagne is crafted sets it apart, the same must be true for the grapes used, right? Is there such a thing as a champagne grape?

The answer is an echoing yes, because there’s more than one. Most Champagnes are blended wines. In fact, a lot of wine lovers might be surprised at the actual number of grape varieties permitted to be used in Champagne. Ask any Champagne fan which grapes are used and they’ll likely answer, correctly: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. But there are many other permitted Champagne cultivars – sometimes referred to as “the forgotten four” – as well as one created in this century specifically to combat the fallout from climate change; one which was only permitted to be planted in 2021. So, let’s get into the weeds…or, vines on the grapes used in Champagne.