Gin and tonic is a drink first invented by the army of the British East India Company in the 1700s, almost by chance. As malaria became more of a threat to the Empire, soldiers were given doses of quinine powder to prevent and treat the disease.
Tonic water thus became an essential part of Britain's colonialism, though its taste in those days was bitter and harsh. Brits soon found that the addition of gin, sugar, ice, and citrus was the perfect way to temper the bitterness and make the cure palatable. And as a bonus, the inclusion of limes prevented scurvy.
This is also thought to be where the term 'Dutch courage' comes from, referencing Dutch soldiers reportedly enjoying a stiff drink of gin before a battle to bolster their morale.
The common understanding is that gin and tonic resulted from the need to protect sailors and soldiers abroad from malaria. Admiral Vernon preceded the venerable G&T and created the first cocktail in an effort to protect his sailors from dehydration and scurvy (although the latter effect was unintentional).
Gin & tonic to fight malaria
Gin remained popular with the Brits, notable for its use by soldiers and colonials living in lands prone to malaria infections. When they came to India, they brought gin with them, and soon they were struggling with malaria.
The introduction of gin
The name “gin” is derived from the Flemish “genever” and was discovered by English soldiers in 1580 during the Dutch War of Independence in Holland. They nicknamed it ”Dutch Courage”.
According to the Travel Doctor, to get the required amount of quinine from Gin & Tonic to prevent contracting malaria, one would need to consume 67 liters of tonic water. If true, there are definitely easier ways to prevent Malaria, including medication, even if not as pleasant as sipping a glass of Gin & Tonic.
Gin had become the poor man's drink as it was cheap, and some workers were given gin as part of their wages. Duty paid on gin was 2 pence a gallon, as opposed to 4 shillings and nine pence on strong beer.
Winston Churchill once declared, “The gin and tonic drink has saved more Englishmen's lives, and minds, than all the doctors in the Empire”, but how has this venerable drink achieved such lofty acclaim?
In the British Navy, gin (and maybe rum) was stored on ships next to the gunpowder. Should the gin barrels spilt and get into the gunpowder, then this higher alcohol content would ensure that the gunpowder was not spoiled, and it would still explode.
First came the tonic (as treatment), then came the gin (for flavour!) Did You Know? Malaria kills around 400 thousand individuals annually.
The juniper berries in gin contain flavonoids, which can clean clogged arteries. It can also reinforce the connective tissues of the veins. Having moderate amounts of gin every day (one small glass) can decrease the risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases.
Gin is one of the common alcoholic drinks that can get you drunk quickly. It has a high percentage of alcohol content (usually at least 40% ABV, sometimes as strong as 60%, dubbed 'Navy Stremgth') which makes it rank as one of the contenders to get you drunk within a very short period of time.
But what was her drink of choice? Elizabeth II was known to love a Dubonnet, a French drink by Pernod Ricard which combines fortified wine with herbs and spices – so much so that she gave it a Royal Warrant in November 2021. She preferred a cocktail of two parts Dubonnet to one part gin, garnished with lemon.
Drinking from a shoe has historically been performed as both a bringer of good fortune, a hazing punishment, or a party piece. Drinking champagne from a lady's slipper became a symbol of decadence in the early 20th century. The practice remains particularly popular in Australia, where it is called (doing) a shoey.
Gin has less sugar and fewer calories than some other liquors. If you already consume alcohol, gin may be a slightly healthier option. Be careful with mixers, however. They can make the sugar content of your drink skyrocket.
In fact, he was a fan of a very dry Plymouth gin martini (“I would like to observe the vermouth from across the room while I drink my martini,” he once said), and he would deal with the best part of a bottle of Pol Roger Champagne at dinner and sip brandy for the postprandial remainder of the evening.
Many of his most famous quotes are from the war years and a recurring theme of his speeches was the need for perseverance. A lot of these can be applied equally well to our everyday life: “Never, never, never give up.”
So when you agitate gin — say by shaking it for a martini — you're causing the top notes to dissipate. Those bits of pine and botanicals that you look forward to start breaking down and become dull. The end result: A cocktail that's nowhere near as crisp as it should be. “This is what we call bruising,” Stewart said.
As more women became hooked on gin between 1720 and 1757, this led to the mistreatment of their children and a rise in prostitution. Women became more addicted to gin than their male counterparts – gaining the juniper-based spirit the nickname 'Mother's Ruin'.
And here we come to the nickname. Much of the excess consumption of gin was done by the poorest women, striving to fend off the cold and the hunger they faced. They would go to any length to get a dram – there are even reports children being sold to pay for a bottle! Thus, the term Mother's Ruin was coined.
There is a short answer to the question: 'Is gin bad for your liver?' 'Yes it can be. ' As with any alcohol, you should drink gin in moderation.
Quinine is used to treat malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Plasmodium falciparum is a parasite that gets into the red blood cells in the body and causes malaria. Quinine works by killing the parasite or preventing it from growing.
The reason that people continue to use tonic water today is for its signature bitter but sweet taste. Quinine is the compound that gives tonic water its bitter qualities. It is also the same compound used to lend strong, bitter flavors to other products, such as those intended to taste like “bitter lemon.”
Medical. As of 2006, quinine is no longer recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a first-line treatment for malaria, because there are other substances that are equally effective with fewer side effects. They recommend that it be used only when artemisinins are not available.