Aaron Knoll

Price: £3.00 / 4 bottlesBest consumed: With a good classic style gin.Sweetener: Cane SugarAvailability: As Lemon Tonic in Europe, as Bitter Lemon statesideRating: For a bitter lemon, it accomplishes the goals set out. Heavy with the citrus, with plenty of tart, literal lemon juice notes, it feels less balanced than other bitter lemons, partially because of … Read more

Russet in hue, Haber’s Hibiscus Spicy Hibiscus Tonic is the more floral offering to complement their primary offering Haber’s Tonic. Crafted in my very neighborhood, I’ve seen Haber’s locally at a few bars and small local stores. I included their tonic in my tonic syrup giveaway this past fall, and when I did, they sent … Read more

Ruby D’s Citrus Quinine Tonic takes their main tonic syrup offering and subtracts some of the herbs and spices and instead veers in a totally different direction with citrus zest and citrus oils. It’s part of a series of tonic syrups which instead of cultivating a following based around catering to one subset of the tonic … Read more

Price: $6  pack of 4, 10 oz. bottlesBest consumed: Contemporary or classic style gins that could benefit from a hint of added citrus flavor in a Gin and TonicSweetener: Cane SugarAvailability: Online or your local high-end groceryRating: A well executed high-end tonic that hits all the expected marks but doesn’t really innovate much on the formula. … Read more

Best consumed: With an unaged juniper forward gin  Incredibly well balanced, with plenty of citrus, spice, and bitterness to make the perfect gin and tonic. One of our favorites, and an excellent pairing for nearly all gins, but especially classic styles with a heavy juniper head.  We’ve reviewed Bradley’s Kina Tonic ([icon name=”star” class=””][icon name=”star” class=””][icon … Read more

As Tonic Syrups become more and more part of everyday gin and tonic culture, we’re starting to see established brands expand their offerings. Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. who is among the earlier names in this area recently put out an Elderflower Tonic. Though amber/gold in hue (vivid, and quite beautiful by the way), it’s not simply elderflower; … Read more

El Guapo Bitters British Colonial Style Tonic Syrup fits squarely into the modern day trend of commercial tonic syrups. It’s also designed to be “highly concentrated” so that you only need a dash for each serving, Whereas many syrups minimum G&T serving is around 1 oz. [and therefore 8-9 servings per bottle], El Guapo suggests ¼ … Read more

Previously, we’ve reviewed Strong Tonic’s Extraordinary Tonic Syrup ([icon name=”star” class=””][icon name=”star” class=””][icon name=”star” class=””][icon name=”star-half” class=””]). From Oklahoma City, they’ve done quite well since their launch and their newest product is a floral spin on their initial offering. Hibiscus has begun appearing in a few contemporary style gins, but has nowhere reached the popularity of … Read more

If you’ve been living (and drinking perhaps) under a rock the past five years, let me catch you up. Elderflower.  It’s big in cocktails. It’s big outside of the cocktail world, and it’s especially big within and in gin. Need I remind you of Knockeen Hills Elderflower Gin? If that’s not enough for you (or … Read more

Occasionally, it takes me a while to get around to getting a review up. I’ve had this wonderful bottle of tonic syrup chronicled in my notes for some time. I unexpectedly received another bottle very recently which prompted me to look in my notes and realize [to my chagrin] that I have not written about … Read more