Single Glass Tonic Water Ice Cubes Stock Photo (Edit Now) 1706640961

Best Overall: Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water

Fever-Tree has a wide range of flavors available, but the classic Indian Tonic Water is one of the best. It’s made using quinine from the “fever trees” found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These trees, which are known as cinchona trees, contain quinine in their bark, which is the source of the bitterness in tonic water. This tonic is not too sweet and can be mixed with any spirit for a tasty highball or cocktail.

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Best Craft: Top Note Classic Tonic Water

Milwaukee-based Top Note got its start in 2014 and has racked up awards for its eclectic lineup since then. In addition to the grapefruit and lime-flavored Indian Tonic Water (which the brand recommends drinking with coffee) and the more traditional Classic Tonic, the company makes grapefruit soda, ginger beer, bitter lemon, and club soda. There may be other brands with a bigger selection of flavors, but Top Note keeps things simple while making products with high-quality ingredients with what they call a “craft brewer’s mentality.” 

Related: The Best Ice Makers

How to Make Tonic Water

Keyword easy tonic water, tonic water, tonic water drink

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

Tonic Water concentrate

• ▢ Zest from 3 limes
• ▢ Zest from 3 lemons
• ▢ Zest from one grapefruit
• ▢ 1 cup sugar
• ▢ 2 cups filtered water
• ▢ 1 ½ tablespoons cinchona bark
• ▢ 1 teaspoon gentian root
• ▢ 1 ½ tablespoons citric acid
• ▢ ⅔ cup chopped fresh lemongrass
• ▢ Spices, herbs or flowers for extra flavor, see recipe note
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Tonic Water concentrate

• Stir citrus zest and sugar together in a small bowl. Store covered overnight in the fridge for flavors to soak in.

• In a medium saucepan, combine water, cinchona bark, gentian root, citric acid, lemongrass, and optional add-ins. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Immediately reduce heat to a low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

• Remove from heat and stir in citrus infused sugar; allow to cool completely. Transfer to a sealed jar and store in fridge overnight. 

• Strain liquid through a fine mesh strainer into another jar or container. Discard all dry ingredients. Store sealed in fridge one or two more days to allow sediment to accumulate at the bottom.

• Carefully pour off the clearer liquid into a larger container and discard sediment. Combine with simple syrup. 

To make simple syrup

• Heat water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir often until melted. Remove from heat and cool completely. Stir in simple syrup. Use more or less to create desired sweetness (add about 2-3 cups of simple syrup).

To serve gin and tonicsIn a cocktail glass filled halfway with ice, stir together 1-½ ounces tonic syrup with 1-½ ounces of gin. Lightly stir in 3 ounces of chilled club soda and serve garnished with a lime wedge.

Notes

The recipe makes 96 ounces of tonic water (concentrate mixed with club soda at a 1-2 ratio), not including alcohol. Adjust serving size as desired.  While zesting all the citrus takes some time, it’s critical for flavor. Do not substitute with citrus juice as it will be too tart and the flavors will not be correct. Flavor add-ins: Try adding 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of some of the following items: lavender buds, star anise, juniper berries, allspice berries, or cardamom. Store tonic water concentrate (without soda water) in the fridge up to a month or freeze for later use. You can use store-bought simple syrup if you prefer. When serving, use the desired amount of tonic water, gin and club soda to reach preferred flavor and cocktail strength. I’ve provided a recommendation, but this can be adjusted.

Nutrition Facts How to Make Tonic Water Amount Per Serving (1.5 ounces) Calories 76 % Daily Value* Fat 0g 0% Saturated Fat 0g 0% Cholesterol 0mg 0% Sodium 10mg 0% Potassium 10mg 0% Carbohydrates 19g 6% Sugar 18g 20% Protein 0g 0% Vitamin C 0mg 0% Calcium 2mg 0% Iron 0.1mg 1% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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