Today, I am so excited to share a fun twist on a classic cocktail, the gin + tonic! Recently, we’ve been to two different local bars that served cocktails with fruit-infused ice cubes. I love the idea of an ice cube that adds to the flavor of your drink as it melts.
If you sip slowly, it eventually becomes almost like a slushy. OBVIOUSLY, I had to go home and try to recreate my own version. And I couldn’t stop at one flavor because… rainbow gin + tonics!!
This is one of those SUPER SIMPLE ways to feel fancy at home. And after a long, stressful week… we all deserve to feel a little fancy!
Here’s how it’s done–
Purée fresh fruits with a tiny bit of water. This is a whole grapefruit. You can add 1 tablespoon sugar to your cubes for a sweeter drink, but I didn’t.
Use a variety of fruits and fill giant ice cube trays with purée. My favorite flavors were mango and pineapple because they are naturally sweet.
You’ll need some short glasses that are large enough to fit these giant cubes in as well as some tonic water and gin. If you want to make a virgin drink, skip the gin and just use tonic water. That’s what I did because I made these at 10 am… not a drinking hour for me. 🙂
If you want to make a gin + tonic, the recipe is super simple! Mix 3 ounces gin, 4 ounces tonic water and add a squeeze of lime juice at the end. This combined with your fresh fruit cubes will be DELICIOUS.
Aren’t the cubes pretty? These would be really easy to pre-make for a party! Easy, self-serve cocktails are a BIG hit at all my parties.
Mix it up and enjoy. 🙂
Want to make some this week? They’re perfect for spring! xoxo- Elsie
P.S. Looking for more recipes? Check out 20 of our favorite cocktails.
Fruit & Tonics
Ingredients
- fresh fruit
- fresh citrus
- fresh herbs
- gin
- tonic or sparkling water
Instructions
-
Purée fresh fruits with a tiny bit of water. You can add 1 tablespoon sugar to your cubes for a sweeter drink, but I usually don't.
-
Use a variety of fruits and fill giant ice cube trays with purée. My favorite flavors were mango and pineapple because they are naturally sweet.
-
You’ll need some short glasses that are large enough to fit these giant cubes in as well as some tonic water and gin. If you want to make a virgin drink, skip the gin and just use tonic water. That’s what I did because I made these at 10 am… not a drinking hour for me.
-
If you want to make a Gin + Tonic, the recipe is super simple! Mix 3 ounces gin, 4 ounces tonic water and add a squeeze of lime juice at the end. This combined with your fresh fruit cubes will be DELICIOUS.
Credits// Author and Photography: Elsie Larson. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
30 Comments
Just be aware – the idea and look are more exciting than the execution. If you’ve ever had a cocktail with a pureed ice cube, you’re going to experience two things: 1) You wish it would melt faster because you actually wanted that flavor IN your drink and possibly 2) You wish you’d strained that puree. Most cocktails are best with large ice cubes because they melt slower so you don’t water down the drink. Making cocktails, you’re always trying to control how much water ends up mixed in, whether that’s the number of stirs or how much you shake it. Using flavored ice cubes can be a good way to not water down a drink that already has those flavors in it (where you match the ice cube flavor to your drink, minus the alcohol), but naturally an ice cube this large won’t melt very quickly, so you’ll only get a little of that flavor in your drink. If you try to bite the ice cube or mash it, you will notice that the texture of your drink is probably no longer what you want. Berry cubes?Random seeds in your drink is not the most desirable – strain your puree if you still want to try this.
Oh my gosh – so dang cute! This would be adorable for a mimosa at bunch as well! Or a gin & tonic at brunch… I mean really, either works 😉
This is such a great idea!! And they look so pretty too.
Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Paris with an A
Oh my goodness these are definitely going to be the first drinks I make for myself post-pregnancy. They look amazing!
www.typeatypeb.com
Such a cool idea. Will be doing this during the hot summer months!
I love this idea, I like vodka and tonic, I’m guessing that would be good too. I’m keeping this idea handy next time I have the girls over for a girls night!!
I love the pineapple puree sounds great.
I am having a birthday brunch party this weekend and these look so nice and springy! What is the best way to serve them at the party? Do I keep them in the freezer and let people go in there and help themselves? I feel like in a bowl, they might just melt into a big mixed fruit soup, but maybe I’m not thinking of the right way.
thanks!
This looks delicious! I’m normally a wine person and not much of a cocktail person, but these cubes could convert me! And the fruit makes it much easier to justify has healthy…
http://danielleandco.com/blog/2016/hiding-cords-sofa-table
Oh, I’m going to make this happen.
Yum! I love the idea of making these as “mocktails” – I have younger siblings who would love to join in on the fun with these oversized fruit ice cubes 🙂
This idea is fantastic! I’m a total lover of gin and tonic, and I will definitely try this fruity version next time. Thank you for sharing this!!
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Looks really good! http://www.hannamarielei.com
Looks so cute and delicious!
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Seems perfect for spring and summer!
www.kelseymarie.co
Ahhhh genius!! I love gin and tonic! mmm..hendricks! I also love them with strawberries and a sprig of rosemary. But this looks fabulous! Thanks for the idea 🙂
Ahhh genius!! I love gin and tonic…mmm hendricks. I also love it with some strawberries and a sprig of rosemary…but this looks fabulous! Thanks for the idea 🙂
i’m not the biggest fan of gin & tonic but I love the idea of using fruit flavored ice cubes =o)
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Amazing recipe – these look delicious!
<3
katsfashionfix.blogspot.com
These all look so yummy and refreshing! I’ll have to try them this week!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
These would also be fun in champagne for brunch.
Wooow!! I need to buy a blender (yeah, i know… right?) to try this!! seems really refreshing 😀
G+T is the go-to drink for me and my husband–not too long ago we had 4 different open bottles of gin in our bar! This sounds delish though, especially the blackberry. Blackberry with a hint of lime? Mmmmmm. We already have the giant cube trays too.
Amazing!!! Such a great idea
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Try mixing with tonic water and freezing.
Oh wow these look fantastic for summer and so easy to make ?
Oh my gosh, I love this post. I’m always looking for ways to make better cocktails and DIY amazing drinks, I love the idea of making fruit purees and freezing them. I absolutely hate how ice can ruin a drink, every part of a recipe should enhance it!
I actually made my second ever blog post on how to make your own kahlua and my third on how to make amazing chocolate coffee milkshakes with said kahlua. I’m hoping to do another post on five more drinks that can be made with it, and I’m always looking for inspiration!
If you want to check them out:
https://girlsarenotmachines.wordpress.com/2015/11/20/saving-money-on-alcohol-diy-kahlua/
and
https://girlsarenotmachines.wordpress.com/2015/11/20/diy-spiked-chocolate-coffee-milkshake/
I’d love to see more posts like this, keep up the good work! xoxo Jess
I have put fruits in my ice cubes before but I never actually thought of blending them! Great idea.
These look amazing! What a simple way to make a drink that much more fun and classy. But, most importantly, healthy! 😉
-Molly
http://www.modcircus.com/
These sound amazing. Going to make them when we have a summer bbq 🙂 x
This is such a great idea!These fruit tonics look great and I’m sure they taste really yummy 🙂
xx, Carmen