Chloroquine and the Gin & Tonic | How to Drink

Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine have been all over the news lately, today I'm diving into quinine, the gin & tonic, the history of malaria treatment, and media criticism. Oh boy. What exactly does a drinking channel have to do with the current news surrounding Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine Well they're both quinine derivatives, and quinine is the active component in "Tonic Water", it's what makes turns club soda into tonic basically, AND quinine (and it's derivatives) are anti-malaria medicines, and so was tonic water, and actually the Gin & Tonic. That was a hell of a run on. Quinine is refined from the bark of the Cinchona tree (also known as the Quina Quina tree) and it's been used medicinally for centuries. Quinine's use as an anti-malaria medication was first discovered in the 1700's by a Scottish Dr. called George Cleghorn and was swiftly prescribed to British soldiers stationed in India to prevent and treat malaria. They hated the way quinine powder tasted, it's insanely bitter, disgusting really. So when they could they'd mix up a tonic by putting their quinine powder into soda with a little sugar. Thus tonic water. They quickly figured out that they could really improve on the tonic by adding some lime and gin, and the Gin & Tonic was born. Probably the only alcoholic beverage that has every actually been a useful medicine. I'm making the G&T two ways here, because I really like Tomr's Tonic syrup, but using that requires a really weird ratio that won't help anyone not using it. The important thing to note about the G&T is that it's not a highball, it should be roughly 50/50 Gin and Tonic. Too much tonic makes it awful. Tomr's G&T 1 oz. -or- 30 ml. Tomr's Tonic Syrup 2 oz. -or- 60 ml. London Dry Gin 3 oz. -or- 90 ml. club soda Build over ice and stir gently Garnish with a lime wedge G&T 1 part London Dry Gin 1 Part Tonic Water (more or less to taste) Squeeze some lime in Build over ice The other thing I'm talking about in this episode is Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine and my objections to