Upgrade your gin and tonic with the perfect garnish. In this handy gin garnish guide, we’ll teach you how to match your garnish to your drink and share our top tips for creating the perfect garnish. A great garnish is essential to enhancing you G&T, and the easiest way to give the full gin experience in a glass.
You drink with your eyes and nose
Gin is a sensorial drink: it engages sight, smell, and taste.
By immersing all the senses, you don’t just drink a Beefeater & Tonic, you experience it. The cool condensation on the glass. The clinking ice cubes. The fizzing tonic. The juicy and fragrant fruits. The aromatic display of garnish. The refreshing juniper on the palate.
G&Ts are timeless for a reason: they are an experience in a glass. In order to do that, a G&T must have all the important elements. Starting with the most crucial item: Beefeater Gin, then you should have a refreshing tonic, add lots of ice and the final touch, the garnish.
But first things first, what is a garnish?
A garnish is the a finishing touch in food and drinks. Think of a basil leaf on a pizza or a drizzle of dressing on a salad. It’s the final flourish to make the mouth water and bring some freshness to your dish or drink. When selecting a garnish for a Beefeater and Tonic, we’ve taken the reins and offer some advice.
What garnishes go with gin?
When it comes to garnishing gin, the possibilities are virtually endless! The beauty of gin lies in its versatility and complex flavour profile, which pairs well with a wide range of ingredients. From the classic lemon twist to the adventurous chilli pepper, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer—it’s all about discovering what delights your palate and elevates your favourite gin cocktails.
how do you choose a garnish for a gin and tonic?
The gin! If you are unsure what garnish should accompany your G&T, a great place to start is the gin itself. Take a look at the botanicals used in the gin and any flavours added before or after distillation. You want your garnish to enhance and complement the gin- not fight with it.
what is a classic garnish for gin and tonic?
Adding fruit is the simplest (yet most effective!) way to garnish a G&T. When it comes to which kind, always refer back to your gin for inspiration. For example, if the gin is citrus-forward, take a look at what kind of citrus is used.
In Beefeater London Dry’s recipe we have 9 botanicals, including sweet lemon peel and Sevillian bitter orange peel. So when it comes to a garnish, we love our B&Ts with a slice of both lemon and orange!
If you are trying one of our flavoured gins, pick the fruit that’s in the gin. Don’t worry, we’ve created a cheatsheet below. Sliced strawberries for Beefeater Pink Strawberry, a couple of blackberries for Beefeater Blackberry… you get the idea.
Gin & Tonic |
Suggested Garnish |
| Beefeater London Dry | Lemon and orange wheel |
| Beefeater 24 | Grapefruit slice (& sprig of rosemary) |
| Beefeater Crown Jewel | Grapefruit slice |
| Beefeater Pink Strawberry Gin | Halved strawberries and sprig of mint |
| Beefeater Blood Orange | Blood Orange wheel and sprig of basil |
| Beefeater Peach & Raspberry | Peach slice and raspberries |
| Beefeater Rhubarb & Cranberry | Lime wheel (fresh or dried) |
| Beefeater Zesty Lemon | Slice of lemon (& sprig of lemonthyme) |
| Beefeater Blackberry | Fresh blackberry |
Using fruit as a garnish for gin
Fruit is a classic garnish for a G&T, but it can be used with so many other gin-based cocktails too to add flavour, colour, texture and visual appeal to your drink. It’s incredibly versatile as well as you can use it fresh, dried, candied and even powdered to dust the rim of your glass. Plus, a huge variety is readily available at your nearest supermarket, so you’ve always got scope to experiment.
Lemon
Lemon is a classic gin garnish that adds a zesty brightness, enhancing the gin’s botanical flavours. Its fresh citrus notes curled into decorative twist perfectly complement a Lemon Cosmo, which is made with Beefeater Zesty Lemon gin.
Orange
Orange brings a sweet and tangy twist to gin cocktails, complementing the herbaceous and floral notes. Try it in a Beefeater Negroni or a Frozen Gin & Tonic for a splash of sunshine in your glass.
Grapefruit
For a slightly bitter yet refreshing edge, grapefruit is a great match for gins with bold botanical profiles. Perfect for a Grapefruit Martini or simply floating a slice in a Beefeater 24 Gin Spritz.
Strawberry
Strawberries add a touch of sweetness and a beautiful pop of colour, balancing the gin’s juniper bite. Ideal for a summery Pink Gin Spritz or keeping things on theme in a Pink Gin & Tonic.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb doesn’t have to be confined to crumbles. It provides a tart and slightly sweet flavour, enhancing gin’s complex taste. It’s a great garnish option for a Rhubarb & Cranberry Sour if you want to enhance the tartness of the cocktail.
Peach
Peach slices introduce a juicy sweetness that pairs beautifully with gin’s botanicals. Plus, their vibrant orange hue certainly catches the eye. Try them in a Peach Frosé for a succulent treat.
Apple
Apple slices offer a crisp, refreshing flavour that complements both citrus and herbal notes in gin. Strawberry and apple are also a great pairing so if making a cocktail with Beefeater Pink Strawberry gin, why not try a thin slice or apple or a dried apple ring as a fun and fruity garnish?
mango
Mango adds a delicious tropical sweetness, creating a delightful contrast with gin’s herbal notes. Perfect for a Mango Fresh Ginita, which is our take on a mango Daiquiri.
Blackberry
Blackberries bring a rich, dark and slightly sour fruitiness that pairs well with gin’s juniper and citrus flavours. Ideal in a Beefeater Gin Bramble cocktail or muddled in a Berry Gin Sour.
how do i prepare fruit for a garnish?
You want the get all the benefit of your garnish, without turning your drink into a smoothie. Follow our advice on how best to prepare your fruit garnishes:
- Select fresh, ripe fruit for your drink
- Large fruit like oranges and peaches should be sliced- selecting the middle slices for your drink
- Medium fruits like strawberries can either be cut into thin slices, or halved
- Small fruits like berries can be popped in whole
CAN I USE DRIED FRUIT FOR A GARNISH?
Dried, or dehydrated, fruit is still packed with those essential oils, but will be more subtle on the nose, especially citrus fruits. They also have a longer shelf life and are great if your garnish is harder to find in a regular supermarket.
using spices as a garnish for gin
Adding other spices are a great way to enhance the flavours and build on sensations when drinking at G&T.
JUNIPER
Juniper ‘Berries’ are actually seed cones rather than a berry, but work very well in a G&T when you fancy emphasising the traditional juniper flavour. Afterall, you absolutely cannot have gin without juniper.
If the gin is especially juniper-forward, dropping a few juniper berries in your G&T will emphasise that – just make sure to squeeze them before adding as this is what releases their essential oils!
PEPPERCORNS
Black peppercorns can also be added to bring out the peppery coriander seeds that feature in many gins, including Beefeater.
BTW: Hot gin cocktails go extremely well with spices – try a cinnamon stick or cloves in your next gin toddy!
cinnamon
Cinnamon is one of those spices that adds warmth and a touch of comfort to a drink. Cinnamon sticks are an easy-to-use garnish which add spice making them perfect for autumn and winter gin cocktails and as a bonus, they can also double up as a stirrer! Try using one next time you make a Ginger Apple.
star anise
Star anise adds a distinctive liquorice flavour, enhancing the complexity of the gin. It works incredibly well with citrus flavours too which is why it’s used as a garnish four our Hot Blood Orange Punch.
using herbs as garnishes for gin
Herbs can be wonderful additions especially when used with citrus. So why not play around and find your perfect combination straight from the herb garden?
To ensure maximum sensory overload, smack your sprigs. Yes, you read correctly. This will release their oils and give you a fresh oomph of herby goodness.
Word to the wise: stay away from parsley – this is gin, not soup. Also, whilst we are here, please leave the jar of Mixed Herbs (that’s been sitting in the cupboard for five years) alone. Just trust us on this one.
mint
Mint is a cocktail garnish classic because it adds a refreshing, cooling effect, enhancing the crispness of gin cocktails while adding a vibrant pop of green. Use it to complement a Pink Strawberry Cooler or add contrast to the sweetness of a Mango Cup.
basil
We may think that basil belongs on top of spaghetti rather than it does adorning a gin cocktail, but its aromatic and savoury flavour really lends itself to gin’s botanical, particularly citrus and fruit notes. If you don’t believe us, try a Gin Basil Smash and we’re sure you’ll change your mind.
thyme
Thyme brings an earthy, aromatic note that complements gin’s herbal and floral flavours and dances beautifully with lemon notes. Try it with a Rhubarb & Cranberry Hot Toddy or as a garnish to a cocktail made with Beefeater Zesty Lemon.
rosemary
Rosemary’s piney, aromatic flavour enhances the juniper and citrus notes of gin. Perfect for pairing with London Dry Gin and adding a different edge to a Beefeater 24 Gin & Tonic.
lemongrass
For a fresh, citrusy twist, ideal for tropical gin cocktail, lemongrass may be the garnish you are looking for. You can also try adding it to a classic gin and soda for a spicy new take.
lemon thyme
Lemon thyme combines the earthiness of thyme with a hint of citrus, perfect for gin’s botanical profile. Ideal for adding extra zing to a Lemon Gin & Tonic.
using flowers as a garnish for gin
There are several edible flowers that work really well in a G&T. Now we don’t mean add a full floral arrangement to your G&T, but some elements can work really beautifully with gin.
In some gins, you may find the flavour or aroma to be a little floral. In this case, adding flowers such as lavender and violets can bring out more of those flavours and make your G&T very Instagrammable.
lavender
Known for being delicate but distinctive, lavender adds a floral aroma that makes drinking your gin feel like going for a walk through the garden. It’s known to pair wonderfully with lemon so keep that in mind when crafting your next cocktail.
violas
Violas are very mild in flavour so as a garnish, they are largely used more for the aesthetic. They come in a range of colours so you can opt to match the hue or provide contrast by simply letting a few float on the top of your drink.
rose
A flower synonymous with love, rose petals add a romantic, floral fragrance, perfect for enhancing gin’s botanical elegance. Why not add a few to your glasses the next time you are having a loved-up evening for two?
hibiscus
Hibiscus flowers add a tart, cranberry-like flavour and a vibrant red hue. It’s great for a sour cocktail or for if you simply want a splash of colour.
unusual garnishes to use in gin
The classic garnishes are classic for a reason – they lend themselves to gin’s botanicals and make your cocktail look good too. However, you don’t have to stay to what you know – you can try pushing the boat out with new and novel garnishes:
tomatoes
Tomatoes bring a savoury, umami twist, making them perfect for gin cocktails with a culinary edge. Try them with a Spicy Gin Margarita that’s sure to tantalise your tastebuds.
celery
Another garnish which is great for adding something savoury, celery is also crisp and refreshing. Add a stalk to a Beefeater Red Snapper, which is our take on a Bloody Marry cocktail, for the perfect touch to your brunch time beverage.
coffee beans
A few coffee beans can look really elegant when placed atop the foam of your cocktail and add a rich, roasted aroma, creating a unique contrast with gin’s botanicals. Next time you mix up an Orange Gin Espresso Martini, use coffee beans for a final flourish.
vanilla pod
Vanilla pods introduce a sweet, creamy note, balancing the juniper and citrus in gin and complementing fruity flavours. They certainly add a decadent touch to a Perfect Lady cocktail.
chilli pepper
Chilli peppers add a spicy kick, creating a bold and exciting gin cocktail experience. They can be used to ramp up the heat in already zesty cocktails but also work well to cut through sweetness too. They are a recommended garnish for our Citrus Spice cocktail which is an enticing combination of fruity, fresh and fiery flavours.
coriander
Look, we know coriander is divisive at the best of times, but it is very aromatic and fresh which makes it a unique yet wonderful garnish for pairing with gin. Try it next time you want a herbal twist and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Waste not, want not!
At Beefeater, we hate wasting perfectly good ingredients. So we suggest that you freeze any garnish that would potentially go to waste. Cut up your fruit, flowers or herbs and use large ice cube moulds to freeze them. It’s basically hitting two birds with one ice cube. Not only will your G&T stay chilled, you will also get your garnish. Work smarter, not harder.
Glassware and Garnish
Using the correct glass for a G&T will help the garnish shine. We recommend a copa glass or a highball glass to ensure the aromas of the gin and garnish smack you in the face (metaphorically of course).
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