Five New Cocktail Trends From The Manhattan Cocktail Classic

Make-Your-Own Ingredients

Bombay Sapphire East's brand ambassador Gary Hayward mixed a cocktail at the Classic that used a homemade watermelon and Thai basil tonic. Hayward predicts that homemade tonics, which require nothing more than a soda siphon and fresh ingredients, will become a popular part of cocktail culture this summer. Check out this recipe for homemade tonic and feel free to add your own signature touch to the recipe. Homemade Tonic Syrup 40g cut (not powdered) cinchona bark 1.5 cups water 220g granulated sugar (about 1 cup + 2 tbsp by volume) 6.5 grams citric acid, about 0.5 tbsp Heat 1.5 cups of water to a boil on the stove. Once the water is hot, add the cinchona bark, kill the heat, and let steep for 20 minutes, covered. Remove from heat and strain out the cinchona bark first using a fine mesh strainer and then either with several layers of cheesecloth or using a jury-rigged aeropress. Move the liquid into a tupperware container and combine with sugar and citric acid at room temperature. Shake, if you’re in a hurry. Once the sugar has dissolved fully, store the tonic syrup in the refrigerator. [Photo via]