It’s bubbly, it’s lightly sweet, and it’s the perfect mixer for cocktails and mocktails alike: tonic water! This carbonated beverage has been mixed into drinks for centuries, like the Gin and Tonic that dates from the 1850’s. It’s more than soda water, and it has an intriguing ingredient that adds nuance to the flavor. Here’s what to know about this bubbly cocktail mixer, and the best drinks with tonic water to try!
What is tonic water?
Tonic water is a carbonated water that also contains quinine and is lightly sweetened. Its flavor is bubbly, bitter, sweet and sour, making it an excellent mixer for drinks. Quinine was historically prescribed as a medicine to fight malaria, and mixing it with carbonated water and sugar helped to mask its bitter flavor. Tonic water was born! It first sold commercially in 1858. Today, the level of quinine is much lower than historical tonic water, and is safe to consume. Classic cocktails use the stuff not only to dilute the liquor with bubbles, but to add a distinct nuance in flavor. The invention of the Gin and Tonic coincided with the availability of tonic water in the 1850’s.
Tonic water ingredients
What are the ingredients in tonic water? This beverage is a mixture of:
Carbonated waterSugar (or high fructose corn syrup, in some major brands)Quinine
What’s the best brand? These days there are a lot of options. Our favorite brand is Q Tonic: it has great flavor and is sold in small cans, just enough for a few drinks. Even better, the only ingredients are quinine and agave. (We also like the Q brand for ginger beer and ginger ale.)
Quinine levels: is it safe?
Is the level of quinine in tonic water safe? Yes. Quinine is a compound that comes from the bark of a tree called the cinchona tree, which is native to South America. It was originally invented as a medicine for malaria, but there are some side effects to using it (like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and more serious side effects). But don’t worry: the level of quinine in today’s tonic water is perfectly safe to drink! The US FDA regulates the level of quinine: it can contain no more than 83 parts per million. So don’t worry: your G&T is safe to drink.
Club soda vs tonic water: the differences!
How is it different from club soda? What about other waters, like sparkling or seltzer? Here are the main differences:
Tonic water is carbonated water with added quinine and sugarClub soda is carbonated water infused with added minerals, which give it a salty flavorSparkling water / seltzer / soda water is carbonated water with no additives (opt for plain, since sometimes flavors or sugars can be added)
Read more at Club Soda vs Seltzer.
Drinks with tonic water
What types of drinks use this carbonated beverage? Since it’s been around since the 1850’s, it’s been a cocktail mixer of choice for centuries. But the popular Gin and Tonic is just the beginning. There are lots of liquors to mix up with this carbonated beverage, including mocktails. Here are the top drinks with tonic water to try!
More cocktail guides
Need more liquor guides? We’ve got them! Here’s all you need to know about home bartending: Ingredients: Gin, tonic water Ingredients: Vodka, tonic water, lemon wedge, lime wedge Ingredients: Whiskey, tonic water, lemon Ingredients: Tequila, tonic water, limes Ingredients: St Germain, vodka, tonic water, lemon Ingredients: Blood orange juice, gin, tonic water Ingredients: Lillet Blanc, gin, tonic water Ingredients: White port, tonic water, orange slice Also try: Virgin Mojito Mocktail Ingredients: Lime juice, lemon juice, pickle juice (optional), simple syrup, tonic water No reviews
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