All the secrets to an artisanal Italian Gin Tonic with Acqua Brillante

Just two ingredients make up one of the world’s most famous and beloved cocktails, releasing a harmony of juniper and botanicals sip after sip. We are talking about the Gin Tonic, born by chance as a medical remedy for British soldiers and now a weekend ritual that graces the finest aperitivi and after-dinner drinks across Italy.

While gin distilleries were once few and far between, the cocktail’s popularity led to an exponential boom in production. Today Italy is home to a remarkable variety of gin labels, offering diverse aromas and flavours that showcase the country’s finest botanicals through artisanal distillation.

Thanks to Italy’s immense botanical biodiversity, Italian craft gins produce intriguing, vibrant combinations best enjoyed alongside a crisp, versatile tonic water, creating the delicate aromatic balance that makes the Gin Tonic an enduring favourite. If you cannot resist the appeal of a great Gin Tonic and want to impress your guests with a brilliant mix, read on.

To craft a great Gin Tonic, pairing it with the right tonic water is essential: citrus, balsamic, spicy, herbal, fruity and floral notes come together in unique blends that call for a versatile, lively mixer. In this setting, Acqua Brillante stands out as the ideal Italian tonic water for a drink with an iconic taste, ready to surprise any guest with its distinctive flavour and elevate an aperitivo shared with friends.

To raise a glass to the heritage and charm of this drink—an international cocktail icon—let yourself be won over by an exceptional Gin Tonic made with top Italian gin and Acqua Brillante:

•   fill a glass with ice;
•   pour in 5 cl of gin;
•   top up with 15 cl of Acqua Brillante;
•   stir gently with a bar spoon;
•   garnish with a slice of lemon.

When choosing the ideal spirit for a fresh, appealing Gin Tonic celebrating Italian flavour, turn to the Flawless selection:

Gin Sabatini

Sabatini Gin is an artisanal premium London Dry Gin with a Tuscan soul, born from a blend of flavours, aromas, heritage and history. Most of its botanicals are harvested on the Sabatini family estate in Teccognano, while the juniper, renowned for its outstanding quality, is gathered across various areas of the region. Gin Sabatini and Acqua Brillante blend seamlessly, offering the quintessential Italian take on the Gin Tonic.

Gin Sabatini Zero

For mindful drinking without compromise, Sabatini Gin 0° is crafted through a careful, exclusive infusion of Tuscan botanicals including sage, thyme, olive leaves, lavender and verbena. This Mediterranean aromatic profile makes this alcohol-free distillate an excellent base for a crisp, refreshing Gin Tonic.

Gin Piero

Gin Piero captures a unique contrast in every bottle: the sweetness of orange, the bitterness of juniper, the spice of cardamom, the warmth of ginger and a delicate floral touch from a secret ingredient. An intense gin with a rich story, best paired with a versatile, iconic mixer like Acqua Brillante for a Gin Tonic with unmistakable character.

Gin Rivo

True to its Italian roots, Gin Rivo is a craft product made with passion and dedication. Distilled in small batches with select botanicals, it offers a balsamic aroma layered with floral and fruity notes and subtle woodland hints. This crisp aromatic combination makes RIVO Gin equally suited to classic cocktails and modern mixology.

Ginepraio

Ginepraio is made exclusively with organic ingredients from Tuscany. The alcohol is distilled from organic wheat grown in the Mugello area, while the juniper comes from three distinct parts of the region: the Maremma coast, the heart of Chianti and the hills of Alta Valtiberina. It makes a striking Gin Tonic when paired with Acqua Brillante, the historic Italian tonic water that highlights its balsamic, peppery and citrus character.

Ginarte

Much like an artist creates a work of art, Ginarte is crafted with artisanal care using wild juniper berries harvested exclusively in the Tuscan Apennines. Exceptionally aromatic, they lend the spirit its distinctive flavour. Rare botanicals such as calamint, safflower, mignonette, madder and woad from Montefeltro make Ginarte one of Italy’s finest craft distillates.

Gil the Authentical Rural Gin

Inspired by the discoveries of Dr Gil, a ship’s doctor shipwrecked in Calabria in the late 1800s, Gin Gil is crafted by distilling four primary botanicals: Rocca Imperiale juniper, wormwood, elderflower and angelica. It is then infused with PGI lemons from Rocca Imperiale, Bergamotto di Pellaro, bitter oranges from Bisignano, oregano from Paola and aloe. Mixed with Acqua Brillante, Gil Torbato Italiano brings out the best botanical flavours of Calabria in a Gin Tonic with genuine Mediterranean character.