Orange Rosemary Gin & Tonic

• March 9, 2023
• Cocktails

The perfect cocktail to get you through the in-between season.

by Erin Henderson

Here's the thing about March. It's frustrating. 

One day it's warm and sunny and you're showing off your winter-white arms in a t-shirt with the carefree joy double-digit temperatures inspire. The next, it's a blizzard and the lawn chair you hauled out of the garage is now frozen to your patio stones. 

As American humourist Garrison Keillor is quoted, "March is the month God created to show people who don't drink what a hangover is like."

It's probably ill-form to speak of hangovers when introducing you to a fabulous take on a classic cocktail, but we're all adults here, so I assume you can handle the gory bits. 

This take on the classic gin and tonic elegantly straddles the boundary between winter and spring. Keeping one foot frozen in winter with flavours of forest herbs, while allowing the other to prance into the lightness of spring with  buoyant notes of orange is a most diplomatic way to appease both moods: comfort and joy. 

Orange Rosemary Gin & Tonic

Makes: 1 drink
Bartender level: easy

For the flavoured gin:

• 1 sprig fresh rosemary
• ¼ large orange sliced into wheels
• 2 cups London Dry gin

Into a measuring cup or mason jar place the rosemary and orange and pour over the gin. Give it a shake or stir the it vigorously to release some flavour but not pulverize everything to bits. When ready, strain the gin into a clean container until ready to use.

For the drink:

• 2 oz gin
• 3-4 oz good quality tonic
• ½ lime
• Small sprig fresh rosemary
• 1 wheel of orange

Into a rocks glass, squeeze half the lime. Pour in gin. Add ice and stir to combine. Gently pour in tonic. Place an orange wheel along the side of the glass and wedge the rosemary spring beside it. Serve.