Gin And Tonics Were Born From Malaria.

Malaria in colonial India was a major problem for British citizens and soldiers and, as a result, they relied on quinine to combat the disease.

Derived from the bark of the cinchona tree, quinine was popular with European settlers in South America during the 17th century as an anti-fever drug. In colonial India, it was again used for fevers, and due to its bitterness, was usually mixed with soda water and sugar.

The bubbly beverage soon became a new drink – tonic water; the first patents for it appeared as early as 1858. Schweppes tonic water entered the market in 1870 as “Indian Quinine Tonic” and was mixed with alcohol, namely gin. 

The addition of gin to quinine and tonic water had been taking place for decades by the time commercial concoctions came on the scene. In British India, a daily gin and tonic was essential to maintaining imperial control.

Part medicinal and part social, imbibing these cocktails became part of life for British expatriates. When they returned to England or ventured to other parts of the world, gin-and-tonic drinkers took their affinity for the beverage with them.