Why You May Want To Skip The Lime For Your Next Gin And Tonic

The humble gin and tonic is among some of the most ordered mixed drinks, and it's in part to do with how well tonic water complements the nuanced flavors in gin. Though, that lime wedge that often finds its way into your drink might actually be taking away from your experience. Lime can mask the delicate flavors otherwise prevalent in gin spirits as this garnish is oft squeezed into one's drink without thinking twice.

In order to understand this revelation in more detail, Chowhound spoke exclusively with a couple of industry experts. When discussing whether lime worked with most gins and tonics, Rob Hoffman, beverage director at Lucky Charlie, said, "There are such a wide variety on both that a one size fits all approach, while not necessarily wrong, definitely leaves a lot on the table in terms of being able to enhance the various flavors in a G&T." Francesco Lafranconi, the vice president of beverage and hospitality culture at Carver Road Hospitality, which includes Starchild Rooftop, shared a similar perspective. Lafranconi said, "Lime is the most common, but it's not always the best way to drink a G&T." 

Clearly, it's not to say that lime is a bad move. Lime happens to be a suitable garnish for many variations of this drink. Lafroncini added that it works especially well "with simpler gins because it adds brightness and balances the tonic, but with more complex, botanical gins, it can overpower the subtle flavors." Fortunately, there are many garnish options out there that might be better suited to the gin or tonic you plan to use, and therefore worth considering.

When considering other garnish options, Francesco Lafranconi told Chowhound, "The best way really depends on the gin itself and what you want to taste." According to him, since many gins are made with citrus peels, fruits similar to lime may also work well. "The acidity lifts the flavors and makes the drink feel fresh," Lafranconi said. Rob Hoffman added to this sentiment, having observed what locals in Spain drink to gain perspective on other garnish options during his travels. "A popular pairing there tends to be lemon and rosemary, which is what the recipe in our house made tonic at Lucky Charlie centers," he said.

When asked about underrated garnishes to try, Lafranconi said, "Some of my favorites are grapefruit peel, fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme, or even a thin slice of cucumber." In addition to our expert's recommendations, there are many other garnish options worth adding to your home bar. Some of these include botanicals like lavender or lemon thyme. If you're looking to go a little more experimental, try vanilla pods, tomatoes, or even peaches.  

There are various ways to make the most of your gin and tonic without overdoing the citrus. Hoffman expressed that there isn't one garnish that happens to be the best option, "be it a lime, lemon or some other exotic fruit, herb, olive or flower. I've even seen melon and prosciutto!" It seems finding the right garnish comes down to allowing the flavors between the spirit and tonic to lead you. And if you find you've tired of gin and tonic entirely, try these five other non-tonic mixer options instead.