I wouldn’t think so. Every time one of us posts after work hours, we’re compelled to imbibe of “the correct way to do it.” By the 5th exchange of insults, everybody will br either too sloshed to remember what we were fighting about, or if we’re male, swearing eternal friendship and introducing our opponent to the bartender as “Our Beshtest Buddy.”
Oh, and gin. Vodka is for peasants.
“Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?” – James Bond, Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale
I’m just not clear on why he insists having it shaken. Straight up cocktails–and indeed, any “clear” cocktail, should never be shaken. But it’s Fleming, who also thought that that .25 ACP Beretta would make an appropriate weapon to equip his agent bearing a “license to kill”.
Strabger
I agree. It’s a very good vodka that hardly anyone around here notices. It’s sort of been the unofficial vodka of my very Polish family.
Notice, the Vesper is a gin + vodka drink – and 007 asks for Gordon’s, which is not exactly a fave of the fancy-schmancy set but is perfectly adequate for mixing IMO*. In the absence of naming a vodka brand one would almost be forced to assume Smirnoff’s. Then again, Bond AFAIK was not born posh, he acquired a taste for the better things and can tell if you ordered the wrong wine, but he’s not a snob. (*I’ve always been of the inclination that for mixing you can in most cases settle for a decent-quality middle-of-the-road major brand of whatever the booze.)
Back to the relevant aspect of this discussion, I also vote for the first choice to be gin with your tonic; I do take it with a little lime, we’re talking subtlety here, the key is to not overwhelm, Troy, I feel for you with the bartenders’ abuse thereof. Vodka is also quite appropriate, but of course I must absolutely congratulate **Mr. Moto ** on knowing to choose Don Q over Bacardi 
The Navy takes people to Puerto Rico a lot, or at least it used to. And it was patiently explained to me that Don Q was the Puerto Ricans’ preferred rum. Bacardi was a big employer, but of course was a Cuban company that relocated there and had little place in Puerto Rican culture, and less hold in their heart.
All that aside, there is a noticeable taste difference. I find it smoother.
Am I wrong to assume that one of the most elegant casinoes in the world would have a pretty decent “house” gin in their VIP room and that specifying a brand, in this situation, is a bit redundant?
Another vote for Gin, Gin, Gin & Gin.
Beefeaters, Gordons, Tanqueray, Boodles or any other in the same range will do the job wonderfully
All you’ll need is rocks glass, ice, Gin, tonic, thin slice of lime
Enjoy 
Save the vodka for a gimlet, bloody, screwdriver or marti
Seconded. Never really got a taste for straight gin, and a quality gin (sapphire, beefeater, etc) does make it taste better. Tonic masks the flavor a bit, but if you put crap in the glass, the tonic isn’t going to take that away.