Aaron Knoll 
Freeway Tonic Water is the store brand for the Lidl chain of supermarkets. I found this one while I was staying in Helsinki. Technically, the first thing that surprises me is that the sweetener is sugar. You rarely see that stateside, especially with some of the more inexpensive tonics. Secondly, this is incredibly inexpensive. I … Read more
Price: $1/ LBest consumed: With any gin that you enjoy with tonic.Sweetener: High Fructose Corn SyrupAvailability: Amazon.comRating: 3/5 Polar is a brand widely available in New England and the Northeastern United States that has a widely devoted following, in particular for their seltzers. Polar has been making seltzer since 1882. Like many soda brands, they … 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Price: $8/ case of 4, 200mL bottlesBest consumed: With a juniper/floral forward gin.Sweetener: White and Cane SugarAvailability: Internationally and in some US States.Rating: 3/5 Indi & Co. Botanical Tonic Water may look like your standard bottled tonic water. But there’s some interesting process going on in the bottle. The Spanish brand actually distills the ingredients … Read more