Just the Tonic by Kim Walker

Just the Tonic is Kim Walker and Mark Nesbitt's illustrated history of tonic water, quinine and the gin and tonic.

The book starts with quinine, an antimalarial alkaloid taken from cinchona bark that became a tool of empire, and follows it into the glass. Tonic water was originally drunk as a digestive, and quinine was mixed with brandy, rum and wine long before anyone reached for gin. From there the authors trace the rise, fall and second rise of the gin and tonic, with cocktail recipes tied to historical events and illustrations drawn from archival posters, advertisements, photographs and botanical art. Walker is a trained medical herbalist working on a PhD on cinchona at Kew and Royal Holloway; Nesbitt curates Kew's Economic Botany Collection.

It suits gin drinkers who want to know what they are actually drinking, and readers who enjoy botany and empire told through one everyday product. Handsome enough to leave out, short enough to finish, and a good gift for anyone with a favourite tonic.