The perfect G&T needs perfect tonic

We all love a G&T but the tonic can make or break your favourite gin.

What is tonic

Tonic water is a bittersweet and carbonated drink best used with gin.

The ingredient that gives tonic water its characteristic flavour is quinine.

Quinine is the bitter extract of the cinchona bark and renowned for its antimalarial properties. For this reason, the cinchona tree is commonly referred to as the “Fever Tree”.

Image by Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen

A little bit of history

The name cinchona, legend has it, is derived from the Peruvian Countess of Cinchon. She was struck with malaria and saved from her deathbed by the advice of Jesuit priests, who gave her tonic made from the cinchona tree (consequently it is also called Jesuit's Bark).

In 1640 she gathered large amounts of the bark and distributed it through South America and Europe where it was accepted as preventative and treatment for malaria.

British soldiers who had to take their daily ration of quinine wanted to improve its bitter taste and with a little ingenuity, and the addition of gin, sugar, water, and lime, led the way to the world’s best drink - the G&T. (onlybitters.com.au)

Some cool things about quinine

• There are 24 varieties of cinchona tree. Each variety has differing levels of quinine alkaloids. The most common variety used is Cinchona Succirubra.

• Too much quinine causes cinchonism which can bring nausea, blurred vision, vertigo and diarrhoea.  And no, you can’t blame your drunken side effects on the tonic water as the use of quinine is regulated.

• Today, tonic water doesn't contain enough quinine to have the same antimalarial effects. So you cannot use it as medicine anymore, but it's a great excuse.

• Quinine has the capacity to glow under UV light, this is why your G&T can have a magical glow.

• Tonic water is relatively acidic and is the reason you can get the very cool colour change when you add it to purple gins. Of note, the purple colour comes from the Butterfly Pea Flower (Clitoria ternatea) and is a plant native to Southeast Asia.

• Johann Jacob Schweppe's company was the first to patent the recipe for tonic water in 1858.

Types of tonic

Indian vs Mediterranean. The name "Indian tonic water" originates from the British colonial era, where it was mixed with gin to combat malaria. Mediterranean tonics often reflect regional flavours and culinary traditions and tend to be lighter, more aromatic, often featuring herbal or floral notes.

Dry or light tonics are also more or less two names for the same thing and are just a matter of branding. Both typically contain less to no sugar, making them a slim alternative to classic tonic water.

Robin’s favourites

.....and yes they are all Australian made!

Capi Dry Tonic

Its dry and not super sweet. It doesn’t have a lot of other stuff going on so it really lets your favourite Mallee Spirit gin shine

https://www.capi.com.au/products/dry-tonic

Bickfords Dry Tonic

Bright and crisp, with a nice bitter touch of quinine. A good South Australian brand – and lets face it, they should know how to make a quality mixer as the company also owns 23^rd Street Distillery.

https://www.bickfords.net/products/sodas-mixers/dry-tonic-water/

Longrays Pacific

Its got a bit of floral stuff going on so it goes really well with Mallee Spirit Boobialla and Myrtle gin. Slight sweetness and less bitterness than other tonics.

Strangelove No.8

It packs a punch, you certainly know its tonic water. Not for the faint hearted but if you love tonic – give this one a go.

https://strangelove.com.au/collections/premium-mixers-1/products/tonic-water-8