Murray Yeatman

Though Gin has been around for hundreds of years, the trusty gin and tonic first emerged in India in the mid-19^th Century. 

Tonic water – a drink containing quinine, which comes from the bark of the cinchona tree – has an unpleasant, bitter taste. The British Army, which was based in India in the mid-19^th Century, used tonic water to both prevent and cure malaria. However, they needed something to make the bitter flavour a little more palatable and settled on a mixture of water, sugar and gin to improve the taste.

So next time you enjoy a delicious and refreshing gin and tonic, you’ll know where it comes from. Cheers!