TNT (Tequila and Tonic)
Build ∙ 2 min ∙ 10.8% ABV ∙
The TNT, or Tequila and Tonic, is a highball built from reposado tequila, fresh lime juice, and tonic water over ice. Effervescent and lightly bittersweet, it drinks crisp and refreshing, with a soft oaky warmth underneath and a clean, tart finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Pour all ingredients into the ice-filled glass: Tequila reposado 45 mlLime juice 10 mlTonic water 100 ml
- Stir gently
- Garnish with a lime wedge
Tips
- Pre-chill the glass so the drink stays cold without over-diluting from melting ice.
- Pour the tequila and lime over ice before topping with tonic, then stir just once or twice to keep the fizz.
History
The TNT — short for Tequila 'N' Tonic — is a simple highball that swaps tequila into the gin and tonic template, pairing the agave spirit's earthy character with tonic water's bitterness. Its earliest documented recipe appears in the revised 1972 edition of Trader Vic's Bartender's Guide, the mixology reference originally published in 1947 by Victor Bergeron, the San Francisco restaurateur behind the Trader Vic's tiki-bar chain. Beyond that listing, no reliably documented creator, bar, or specific year of invention has been established, and the drink is generally understood simply as a tequila-based riff on the gin and tonic that emerged alongside tequila's broader rise in American bar culture.
FAQ
What is a tequila and tonic drink called?
It is commonly called a Tequila and Tonic, or simply a T&T, built over ice and stirred gently.
What is a T&T cocktail?
T&T stands for Tequila and Tonic, a built highball topped with tonic water and finished with a lime wedge.
Can you mix tequila with tonic water?
Yes, tequila and tonic water mix well; the tonic's bitterness and carbonation balance the reposado's agave character, sharpened here with a touch of fresh lime juice.
What tequila is best for a tequila and tonic?
A reposado tequila works well because its barrel aging adds oak and vanilla notes that stand up to the tonic's quinine bitterness better than an unaged blanco. This build uses reposado for that reason.
What's the best ratio of tequila to tonic?
This build uses roughly one part tequila to two parts tonic water, plus a small amount of lime juice, giving a highball that stays tequila-forward without being too strong. Adjust the tonic slightly to taste for a lighter or bolder pour.
What is a 3-2-1 drink ratio?
A 3-2-1 ratio generally refers to a build using three parts of one ingredient, two of another, and one of a third, a shorthand bartenders use to describe proportions rather than a specific named cocktail. This build is not a 3-2-1 — it runs roughly 4.5 parts tequila to 1 part lime to 10 parts tonic.
