Fever Tree’s Premium Bitter Lemon is available stateside and is the American sold name under which you might find their Lemon Tonic (which I think goes by Sicilian Lemon Tonic these days). In the bottle, there’s clearly some sediment in the bottom, likely lemon pulp. The beverage has an ethereal greenish/yellow hue. Fever Tree Bitter Lemon … Read more
Elderflower is a popular flavor in gin and tonics. Take note that we’ve reviewed Fever Tree’s Elderflower Tonic Water before. And we’ve reviewed Jack Rudy’s Elderflower Tonic Syrup before. Elderflower has been referred to (sometime pejoratively) as the “ketchup of the cocktail world.*” Bottle Green Elderflower Tonic Water is squarely within that space. But let’s … Read more
Fentiman’s Light Tonic is their lower calorie variation on their Fentiman’s Tonic. But it’s not just a direct variation. True, it sticks to sugar as the sweetener, but the herbal infusion includes juniper, makrut lime leaves and the botanically brewed part features the former two plus lemongrass as well. Fentiman’s Light tonic is a paltry … Read more
Tassoni is an Italian tonic water that has two unusual botanical takes— first for its citrus flavor— then again for its bitterness. Tassoni uses natural citron in addition to citric acid. Citrons have an incredibly thick rind, which is primarily the part that’s eaten (the minute quantity of pulp is dry rather than juicy). The … Read more
San Pellegrino Old Tonic comes from a brand perhaps best known for their combinations of juice + seltzer. Their Old Tonic is sweetened with glucose–fructose syrup and boasts about 74 calories per 200 mL bottle. Upon pouring, there’s a moderate eruption of bubbles. Medium sized bubbles adhere to the bottom of the glass. Tasting Notes It … Read more
When the fine folks at Liber and Company asked if I wanted to test out their tonic syrup, I was enthusiastic. I am a big fan of the effort to bring tonic back to its roots, to step back from the High Fructose Corn Syrup edge and to offer something that is much more complex … Read more
Vichy Catalán beverages, and Vichy Catalán Tonic Water are renowned for the quality and provenance of their waters. Hailing from Caldes de Malavella, the waters come from a region of thermal spas about 50 miles from Barcelona. I quote one spa guide, “We invite you to indulge yourself in these waters of proven curative and preventative powers,” … Read more
Small Hand Foods’ Yeoman Tonic Syrup uses red cinchona bark (the usual bark in tonic) along with lemon juice, gentian extract, sweet and bitter orange peels, lemon peels and cinnamon. Yeoman Tonic Syrup is described as being inspired by James Burrough and Desmond Payne of Beefeater Gin fame. This syrup is sweetened with both cane sugar and … Read more
My Sodastream was life changing. Mostly because I drink a lot of seltzer. I also frequently use it when I’m doing tonic syrup reviews. But Sodastream also makes their own line of soda flavorings. They range from cola, to lemon lime, and yes, to even tonic. Though in concept Sodastream Tonic is quite similar— ingredient wise … Read more
Ruby D Tonics out of Eugene, Oregon capitalized on the “customize your gin and tonic profile,” campaign with a line of tonic syrups that emphasize different profiles. Their Citrus Tonic is bright and plenty sour; their extra bitter tonic flirts with the upper boundaries of how much quinine you can put in a tonic syrup. … Read more