As things are starting up here at theBeerean.com, I want to broaden our horizons as a beer drinking family.  I hope that you don’t judge me too harshly, but there are times I just don’t feel like a beer.  The meal or the moment just call for something a little harder/sweeter/smoother/warmer/etc.  Therefore I reach for the spirits.  I have a feeling I’m not the only one that feels this way.  So I’m occasionally going to share some thoughts and tips on the harder stuff.

This first time around, I would like to share a recipe my friend Greg Mays (gregmays.com) came up with for a Gin and Tonic with Kumquats.  He likes to call a GT and K.  In his words:

Yesterday I made a gin and tonic for a friend and I didn’t have any limes on hand.  I usually like to use lots of lime juice in my G&Ts because I love the combination of citrus with  tonic water.  Searching for an alternative in the fridge, I found a box of these adorable bite-sized Asian fruits:

Now kumquats are like an orange that’s the size of a grape, though they are bitterer than oranges and frankly can be outright sour.  As a snack, you eat the whole thing, skin and all.

So here’s the recipe for my GT and K:

• 1 1/2 oz gin
• top with tonic water (I use Schweppes Diet to avoid high fructose corn syrup)
• 4 juiced kumquats

garnish with a sliced kumquat

For more information on the GT and K, check out the full post at GregMays.com.