I've developed a taste for them lately, but am finding that when I have a couple, I'm tossing and turning all night. I don't think there's caffeine in the tonic, but I'm wondering if the small amount of quinine has insomniatic properties.

Ask Walter.

More likely the gin.

Walter says one should always finish the bottle of gin that he has opened.

You will sleep very soundly he says. You won'r suffer any tossing and turning

Indian tonic water has quinine, try just tonic water - I can't taste the difference.

Then get some Plymouth gin, far better then the London type.

What type of gin are you using?

I slept like a baby with one or two a night with the quinine in the tonic. Don't know if there was enough quinine to help the malaquine (sic) but I kept trying.


Dutch

After a couple Bombay Saphire and tonics I slept like the dead each night of my May trip to RSA. Of course walking several miles each day helped too.

I strongly recommend you trying the following liquids for a proper Gin and Tonic;

Plymouth Navy Strength Gin (57%)


Fentimans Tonic Water

Which is made up from milled quinine bark and lemon grass from Asia. It is sweetened using cane sugar which gives the tonic a much more natural woody taste.

In short - The Woodward of Tonic water!

Drink the G/T the British Imperial way -no ice of course!

Believe that you don't have any trouble go to sleep after a few of these

Quinine is one of the active ingredients in tonic. Quinine is one of the drugs used for restless leg syndrome. Probably not the tonic, coould be the gin. You may need more testing to be sure.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Walter says one should always finish the bottle of gin that he has opened.

You will sleep very soundly he says. You won'r suffer any tossing and turning

It is about time Walter offered something constructive to the forums...

I hope you guy's love for all things Brit never extends to soccer. I do imagine, though, that if I spent an hour watching a 1-0 soccer game, I would look for someone to throttle too.

As someone who has severe sleep problems, I can tell you that the first questions they ask in the hospital when being tested for sleep issues is whether you drink or do cocaine?

Alcohol disrupts sleep patterns. It is worse in some people that others.

Me personally, if I have even a single drink I toss and turn all night. This is why I drink 10 instead!

Try vodka and tonic if you still have the same problem don't blame the gin blame the tonic.

quote:

Alcohol disrupts sleep patterns

Absolutely yes! Tonic is full of sugar too. A few G&T is like drinking a Monster before bed. Stay away from cheap Gin. Saphire is good stuff readily available and use best tonic - Schwepps off the shelf. Too much citrus either lemon or lime will get your GI working OT while you're trying to sleep as well.

I think Tanqueray 10 is a good gin, to my tastes better than Sapphire. Most gin and tonics actually taste better with lower proof gin and you can drink more of them.

As far as the sleep problems go, I can't help, sleeping ain't my problem, staying awake after a long day is.

As to the horrid suggestion above to drink gin and tonic without ice "in the British style". Yuck and double yuck. The lack of the British ability to appreciate ice in drinks and cold beer is undoubtedly why we're not flying the Union Jack over here today. I mean, if you're in the middle of nowhere with only gin and tonic and no ice then survival conditions apply, otherwise I prefer a civilized gin and tonic with lots of ice, mexican limes preferred, please.

If you are staying awake after a few G+Ts it could be the sugar in the tonic - Schweppes Slimline tonic is pretty good - tastes the same especially if you have the right amount of gin in there (!) and you are keeping off some of those calories. Practically the healthy option...

Or, you could do like my grandfather and have gin and water. That's a real 1940's man's drink. I enjoy it too - you have to like the gin of course. And no, you don't need ice in it.

quote:

Originally posted by bullterrier:
If you are staying awake after a few G+Ts it could be the sugar in the tonic - Schweppes Slimline tonic is pretty good - tastes the same especially if you have the right amount of gin in there (!) and you are keeping off some of those calories. Practically the healthy option...

Godness!
I thought this was a CIVILICED forum!

'Slimline tonic' -better add slimline calibres, slimline buffaloes, slimline Loxodonta Africana...

Godnees!

There will always be an England...

Tanqueray 10 s great stuff, as is Hendrick's. They are the only Gin that I drink without a mixer.

Both are great on the rocks, the former with a twist of lime and the hendricks with some fresh cucumber.

You'll soon work out if it is the Tonic or not

FB

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
I think Tanqueray 10 is a good gin, to my tastes better than Sapphire. Most gin and tonics actually taste better with lower proof gin and you can drink more of them.

As far as the sleep problems go, I can't help, sleeping ain't my problem, staying awake after a long day is.

As to the horrid suggestion above to drink gin and tonic without ice "in the British style". Yuck and double yuck. The lack of the British ability to appreciate ice in drinks and cold beer is undoubtedly why we're not flying the Union Jack over here today. I mean, if you're in the middle of nowhere with only gin and tonic and no ice then survival conditions apply, otherwise I prefer a civilized gin and tonic with lots of ice, mexican limes preferred, please.

That's where you guys went wrong. If you'd only learned the rules of cricket instead of rounders and to forget ice and appreciate tea then you'd still be civilised!

Getting back on topic, if you're really masochistic, you might like to try a pink gin.

Alternatively, you could try a properly civilised drink like a good malt whisky or whiskey. I'd suggest you start with a good Islay whisky such as Ardbeg.

Something I don't get about Sapphire:

Gordon's (cheap gin) has a strong flavor. Regular Bombay has a mild flavor, which leads one to believe that that is the sign of an "good" gin. But then Sapphire has a strong flavor!

I admit to never having tasted Sapphire and Gordon's back to back, but for the money, Gordon's a good value.

Actually, I buy my booze based on the look of the label more than anything else!

Sir Winston Churchill choise was Plymouth Gin!

What happened to Gilbys Gin? This is the gin with Schwepps Tonic tha I was introduced to in Zimbabwe many years ago. Been hooked ever since.

Two ounces gin to to five tonic.

In the heat of the moment, the brand of gin is less important than it's availability.

A slice of lime if you're feeling tacky but otherwise nothing else is needed.

If some of you colonials insist on ice, consider freezing the glasses before hand, rather than diluting the medicine.

quote:

Originally posted by Macifej:

quote:

Alcohol disrupts sleep patterns

Absolutely yes! Tonic is full of sugar too. A few G&T is like drinking a Monster before bed. Stay away from cheap Gin. Saphire is good stuff readily available and use best tonic - Schwepps off the shelf. Too much citrus either lemon or lime will get your GI working OT while you're trying to sleep as well.

I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine, so do normally have some sleep problems. But beer, wine and other liquor doesn't affect my sleep.

I'm leaning to the sugar in the tonic water. I don't drink soft drinks, period, so it's certainly something my body isn't accustomed to.

Obviously, the situation calls for more gin and less tonic.

If the tonic is suspect, try switching to Gin Gimlets: 4 parts Bombay Sapphire, one part Rose's Lime Juice. You'll sleep through an atomic bombardment, and it's 'Hemingway' as hell...

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Nderobo:
If the tonic is suspect, try switching to Gin Gimlets: 4 parts Bombay Sapphire, one part Rose's Lime Juice. You'll sleep through an atomic bombardment, and it's 'Hemingway' as hell...

Or why not a Pink Gin (out)!

Can't help you with the sleep problem, other than to comment that any alcohol may create sleep disruption.

But I ALWAYS drink a gin and tonic (or two) upon embarking on any trip of significance. I had the experience a number of years ago when traveling with a group of eight that on the first night out two of the group drank gin/tonics, while others had various other drinks or none at all. Subsequently, all six who drank something else came down with severe intestinal difficulties, but the two who drank gin/tonic stayed healthy.

It could be simply coincidence, but having "religiously" taken my "medicine" at the beginning of each trip since, I have yet to experience any significant intestinal illness. I don't know whether to attribute this to the gin, the quinine, the combintation of the two, or God's Will, but put me down as a believer!

(Gilby's is cheap enough and is as palatable as the "designer" brands!)

Another vote for Bombay Sapphire. Schweppes, of course. But I would like to try this Fentiman's that Husky spoke of, if I can find a distributor.


Dutch

Gordon's is also a good runner-up.

The old adage comes to mind, "Location Location Location"

It's not what you're drinking but where, although a cool refreshing G/T is good anywhere they never quite satisfy when taken from the couch.

Now if you are enjoying them under the southern cross it's a whole different matter.

Still awake after a few gin and tonics?

Easy answer.

Needs more gin!!!!

I like pink gin and love gimlets but for a "proper" sundowner, taken just after climbing out of the bakki and before showering off the red dirt, one must, simply must, have a G&T. However you mix it, nothing else will do. It is the reason the sun never set on the Empire and it allows one to venture out in the noon-day sun. "Cheers Everyone! Clink!"

If it keeps you awake, or you think it might, I suggest a liberal application of SA brandy after dinner.
kh

quote:

Originally posted by Dutch44:
Another vote for Bombay Sapphire. Schweppes, of course. But I would like to try this Fentiman's that Husky spoke of, if I can find a distributor.


Dutch

Gordon's is also a good runner-up.

If you can't get Fentiman locally, try Amazon.

quote:

Gilbys Gin

Best suited for stripping metal parts in a bucket ...

As LBJ was supposed to have observed: never trust a drink without color! Switch to scotch

quote:

Originally posted by Macifej:

quote:

Gilbys Gin

Best suited for stripping metal parts in a bucket ...

So what's wrong with having a versatile, multi-use brand? Besides, Gilby's is proven safe for porcelin -- just look at the excellent condition of all of the bathtubs it's been made in

Gin and tonic is much safer than pink gin. Almost anyone can make a G&T but when I tried to get a pink gin on my last safari, they mixed it 3 parts gin to 1 part bitters!

My favorite:

Rick R:
You mixed Bombay Saphire with tonic? Blasphemy!