Portuguese Porto Tonico: The Two-Ingredient White Port and Tonic for Easy Weeknights

Chill two tall highball or large wine glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes while you gather everything. A cold glass keeps the drink crisp longer.

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 4 oz (120ml) white port, chilled
• 8 oz (240ml) premium tonic water, chilled
• 2 thin orange slices
• 2 sprigs fresh mint
• 2 lemon wedges (optional)
• Plenty of large ice cubes

Instructions

1. Chill two tall highball or large wine glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes while you gather everything. A cold glass keeps the drink crisp longer.
2. Fill each glass to the top with large ice cubes. Big cubes melt slowly and keep the drink from turning watery.
3. Pour 2 oz of white port over the ice in each glass.
4. Top slowly with 4 oz of tonic water per glass, pouring down the side to preserve the bubbles.
5. Give one gentle lift with a bar spoon from the bottom to combine without knocking out the fizz.
6. Garnish each glass with an orange slice tucked against the ice and a mint sprig slapped between your palms to release its aroma. Add a lemon wedge for extra sharpness if you like.
7. Serve immediately. For a crowd, keep a bottle of white port in the fridge and let guests build their own; there is nothing to shake, muddle or measure precisely.
8. Porto tonico is what Porto locals actually drink on a warm evening, sipped at riverside cafes along the Douro while the tourists order tawny. White port is made from white grapes and aged briefly, giving it a light, honeyed, gently nutty flavor that tonic sharpens into something crisp and citrusy at a fraction of the alcohol of a gin and tonic. It is the ideal after-work, mid-week drink: low effort, low proof and endlessly refreshing.

Nutrition (estimated, per serving)

• Calories: 175 kcal
• Protein: 0g
• Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 16g
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 14g
• Sodium: 10mg