Name: Green Apple Gin & Tonic
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 2 Cocktails
Ingredients: For the Apple Extract; 1 teaspoon honey; Pinch of sea salt; 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice; 2 Granny Smith apples; 4 ounces London dry gin; 8 ounces premium tonic water (Fever Tree is a good brand); Ice; 6 thin slices green apple; 2 strips lime peel

Drinks

Green Apple Gin & Tonic

Author: Mary DiSomma

There’s something about the end of summer that tempts me to bring home every apple I can find. I love my local farmers market and I love baking with apples! Sometimes I want to enjoy one in a completely different way. That's where this drink comes in.

First I make a quick apple extract with Granny Smith apples, lime juice, honey, and a pinch of salt. It captures that bright green-apple flavor without making the cocktail too sweet. A splash of London dry gin, plenty of ice, and some good tonic water, and you've got a refreshing apple gin and tonic ready to enjoy. This apple gin and tonic recipe is perfect for late summer and early fall evenings.

Green Apple Gin & Tonic

Tart Granny Smith apples, London dry gin, lime, and bubbly tonic water come together in this refreshing green apple gin and tonic. Perfect for late summer sips.

Yield: 2 Cocktails
Prep Time: 5 minutes 5 min
Cook Time: 20 minutes 20 min
Total Time: 25 minutes 25 min

Ingredients

For the Apple Extract

1 teaspoon honey
Pinch of sea salt
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 Granny Smith apples

For the Cocktail

4 ounces London dry gin
8 ounces premium tonic water (Fever Tree is a good brand)
Ice

For the Garnish

6 thin slices green apple
2 strips lime peel

Instructions

For the Extract

In a medium bowl, combine the honey, salt and lime juice, whisking until the honey dissolves. Using a coarse grater, shred the apples directly over the bowl, stirring frequently to prevent browning. Once well mixed, press firmly with the back of a spoon to draw out the juices. Leave to macerate for 20 minutes.
Strain the apple mixture through a fine sieve, pressing firmly to extract maximum juice. You should have about 3-4 oz of concentrated extract. Chill until needed.

For the Cocktail

Divide the gin and the apple extract between two highball glasses filled with ice. Stir to combine.
Express a strip of lime peel over each glass and drop it in. Slide the apple slices down the inside of each glass, using the ice to anchor them.
Top each drink with 4 oz of tonic water, giving a single gentle stir to combine, and serve immediately.

View Mary's Tips

Green Apple Gin & Tonic — Did you make this recipe?
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Ingredient Tips

Nope! I actually prefer leaving the skin on. The green skin adds even more flavor and gives the extract some color. Just wash the apples well before grating.

Apples brown quickly once they're grated. That's totally normal, and the extract will still taste delicious even if it darkens a little. To stop the apples in this particular recipe from browning, mix the honey, salt, and lime juice first. Then, grate the apples directly into the bowl a little at a time, stirring as you go. The acidity from the lime helps slow the browning.

A London dry gin doesn't actually have to be made in London. The name refers to the flavor profile of the gin and how it’s produced, not its geographic origin. London dry gin is usually very juniper-forward, with no added sweetness. That herbaceous and botanical character makes it especially good in a G&T, where you want the gin to stand out. It's also a classic choice for a dry martini, negroni, or other cocktail where you don’t want too much sweetness.

I like to tuck the thin apple slices down the inside of the glass before I add the cocktail. The ice holds them in place, and once you pour in the drink, the slices get coated with the lime-infused mixture. If you'd rather place an apple slice on the rim, just rub the cut surface with fresh lime juice first. It's an easy way to help slow browning and add a little pop of citrus flavor.

Preparation + Preservation Tips

Personally, I use a highball glass. Its tall, slender shape leaves space for ice and helps preserve the tonic water’s carbonation. Spanish gin and tonic recipes are usually served in a large, stemmed copa, sometimes called a gin balloon. The stem allows you to hold the glass without your body heat inadvertently warming it up, just like a stemmed wine glass.

Quite a bit! Try adding it to green tea (hot or iced), blending it into a smoothie, or mixing it with club soda for a homemade apple-lime soda. It's also wonderful in other cocktails. Use it to add tartness and brightness without adding more sugar. Try it as a glaze or drizzle, add a splash to apple pie filling, or whisk a little into homemade salad dressing. You never know what you’ll fall in love with!

Extra Tips

Looking for more cocktail recipes? Try this sweet limoncello-bourbon based cocktail.

Every cocktail party needs a classic negroni.

Like unique drinks? You have to try my passion fruit hurricane.

Making a Good Gin and Tonic

There are plenty of ways to enjoy a gin and tonic, and little details can change the whole personality of the drink. A classic gin and tonic ratio is one part gin to two parts tonic, but you can adjust that depending on how strong you like your drink. For this recipe, I use 4 ounces of gin and 8 ounces of tonic for two cocktails.

You can use your favorite gin here. Whether you're a fan of Beefeater and tonic, Bombay Sapphire gin and tonic, Hendrick's and tonic, Seagram and tonic, or Tanqueray and tonic, you will enjoy this recipe. Pick your favorite! The apple and lime complement all of them.

When I'm making a drink with just a few ingredients, I go for good-quality tonic water. I like Fever Tree, but go ahead and choose one that you enjoy. Whether you call it a G and T, G&T, or gin tónica, the important thing is to keep it cold, bubbly, and balanced. Cheers!