Faux Gin & Tonic

I used to hate gin until I went to the UK. There I learned that that not all gin tastes like Windex or Pinesol, and not all tonics are created equally (shout out to Fever Tree). Who knew?

Today I drink a ton of the stuff. So much so I’ve been partaking in dry January this year (bad idea by the way). This has lead me yearning for something gin-like. I don’t like a lot of sugary beverages, so juice and most mocktails weren’t really an option for me.

I recently found Seedlip in my local store, which was great but it didn’t provide as sharp of a bite I was looking for so I decided to try and make something myself. So below is the result of dry January — faux gin and tonic! Lucky for me it’s husband approved. We’ll be sipping on these for the next 9 days but really who’s counting?

Faux Gin & Tonic

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• Fever Tree Tonic Water (or your favorite tonic)
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 cup Water
• 2 tablespoons Dried Juniper Berries
• 1 tablespoon Angelica Root
• 1 tablespoon Whole Coriander Seeds
• 6 Green Cardamom Pods

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Gin Flavored Simple Syrup

• Split green cardamom pods open with a mortar and pestle.
• Whisk sugar and water together in a small pot until sugar dissolves into water.
• Combine all remaining ingredients pot and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until desired syrup consistency.
• Remove from heat and pour syrup through a wire mesh strainer to remove all remaining plant matter.
• Place in a container and keep in fridge til ready to use. To serve, fill a glass with ice and pour in desired amount of tonic. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon of syrup and drink up.