Fake and Tonic How to trick your brain

Introduction: Setting the scene

After 30 years in the wine trade, I learned early on that drinking isn’t just about what’s in the glass; it’s about what your brain thinks is in the glass.

A good wine isn’t just tasted; it’s seen, smelled, expected. And sometimes, expectation shapes experience more than we realise.

That’s the thinking behind a little mindful drinking hack I developed called #FakeAndTonic, a way to recreate the gin and tonic experience without the alcohol, calories, or next-day regrets.

When taste disappears

When you catch the flu and lose your sense of smell, you lose your sense of taste too, no matter how powerful the wine. I’ve sat in front of flights of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, fresh Rieslings, and mature Bordeaux and tasted… nothing.

Smell drives taste. Without it, alcohol strength, viscosity, and fruit concentration all fall flat.

Playing with expectation

It got me thinking: if losing smell could kill taste, could enhancing smell recreate it?

Years earlier, I’d already seen something similar happen in the wine world. I worked with a French winemaker to create a Sauvignon Blanc, picked early for freshness and acidity, then fermented with New Zealand yeast strains, the kind commonly used in Marlborough.

We sold it honestly as what it was: a bright, crisp French Sauvignon Blanc. But when customers ordered a glass in pubs, without seeing the label, many swore it was a New Zealand Sauvignon. They weren’t disappointed either, they loved it, and were delighted it cost a few pounds less.

That memory stuck.

The experiment: could I trick my brain into a G&T?

I loaded a glass with tonic water, ice, and a few classic G&T botanicals, lime, a sprig of rosemary, a juniper berry or two if I had them. Then I dipped my finger into a tiny drop of gin and rubbed it around the rim of the glass.

Every time I lifted the glass, the smell of gin hit me first. The visuals were right. The nose was right. And when I sipped the tonic, my brain, primed by sight and smell, filled in the gaps.

The science behind the trick

Turns out, there’s real neuroscience backing it up, and it shows exactly how smell affects taste.

Around 80% of what we perceive as taste is actually smell.

We think we taste with our tongues, but it’s retronasal olfaction, the smell that rises up from the back of your throat to your brain, that does the heavy lifting. If you’re looking for a fake gin and tonic that still feels like the real thing, this sensory trick is for you.

There’s a saying in the wine world: “Sight of the label is worth 20 years’ experience.”

Even seasoned wine critics aren’t immune to expectation bias. In blind tastings, scores can often shift when the label and reputation are revealed. A Grand Cru Burgundy, a First Growth Bordeaux, once you see the name, your brain primes your senses to expect greatness, and often, it finds it.

It’s not about inexperience or weakness, it’s simply how human perception works.
The brain fills in the story it expects to find.

It’s the same with #FakeAndTonic. Your brain sees the glass, smells the gin on the rim, and fills in the gaps. It’s real sensory psychology, not magic.

The catch: It works best if…

It’s worth being honest.

If you usually pour a heavy-handed double and love the weight and burn of alcohol, you’ll notice the difference. The #FakeAndTonic hack nails the ritual, but it can’t fake the viscosity and heat of a full-strength spirit.

The lighter your usual G&T serve, the better the illusion.

Think of it as a sensory remix, not a straight swap.

One final caveat: the #FakeAndTonic doesn’t work perfectly for everyone, every time.

If you sit and concentrate hard enough, analysing every sip, you’ll notice what’s missing. I do too.

But that’s not really the point. Sitting in the garden on a hot summer’s day, chatting with friends, your brain isn’t analysing, it’s soaking up the moment. And that’s when the trick shines. You enjoy the ritual, the refreshment, the feel of a proper drink, without needing the real thing.

You fake it while you save it.

Why it matters

We drink for more reasons than just the liquid: ritual, reward, social connection.

The #FakeAndTonic isn’t about giving anything up. It’s about keeping what matters, the moment, the feeling — without the downsides.

In a world where alcohol-free spirits can cost £25 or more, it’s nice to know you can still have a little magic with what’s already on your shelf.

Closing: A new ritual

Mindful drinking doesn’t have to be boring or expensive.

Sometimes, it’s just about understanding your senses, and working with them instead of against them.

So next time you want the ritual without the aftermath, reach for the tonic, a little garnish, and a drop of gin on the rim.

Smell the difference. Sip smarter.

#FakeAndTonic

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