Cold? Feeling Down? Here’s a Gin and Tea Pick-Me-Up

Welcome to Originals. Each month, I’ll recommend an original cocktail that I can’t get enough of from a bar that I also can’t get enough of.

Having two small children that are constantly around other small children in day-care situations means there’s so much coughing and sneezing. It seems every two to three weeks I get another cold, so I’m constantly searching for quick remedies. Some of my favorite: honey, daily VietCajun crawfish tastings, and tea … especially if that tea has a little bit of gin.

For that I can head to 1751 Sea & Bar. The Heights-area restaurant is known for its gold-plated drink menu showcasing plenty of fine gin cocktails, which range from traditional (Gin Act, using Martini & Rossi vermouth, orange bitters, lemon twist) to flat-out wild (Porthole, in which gin and other mixers are infused with maple, tea, pear, basil, lemon, orange, and cinnamon). Effortlessly balancing those two sides is G & Tea Time, a hot gin and tonic that’ll help cure any common cold. Or, at least, it’ll get my mind off it.

Here, 1751 starts with a tea with ginger and orange, offering a biting flavor that’s perfect for colds. The tea is stepped into a teacup containing a warm blend of tonic, ginger-flavored liqueur Domaine de Canton, and Bonbay Sapphire East, a variation of Sapphire infused with Thai lemongrass and Vietnamese black peppercorn. The gin pairs perfectly with the tea, bringing out tart citrus notes and some sharpness. 

The drink has only a moderate alcoholic punch, as the gin registers at 42 percent ABV (gins typically range from 40 to 50 percent ABV). It’s perfect for sipping with a good book, and when it’s cold out, it’s hard to imagine a better gin drink for warming you up.

Plus the teacup and saucer, painted in a pink rose motif, are lovely. I just love the little things about G & Tea Time, one of the reasons 1751 Sea & Bar is always a good choice, no matter how you’re feeling (thanks, kids).