What is tonic water? Here are the best drinks with tonic water and fun facts about this popular cocktail mixer.
It’s bubbly, it’s slightly sweet, and it’s the perfect mixer for cocktails and mocktails: tonic water! This soft drink has been mixed into drinks like gin and tonic for centuries, dating back to the 1850s. More than soda water, it contains an intriguing ingredient that adds nuance to the taste. Here’s what you should know about this bubbly cocktail maker and the best tonic water drinks to try!
What is tonic water?
Tonic water is carbonated water that also contains quinine and is lightly sweetened. Its taste 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 soda water and sugar helped mask its bitter taste. Tonic water was born! It was first marketed in 1858.
Today the quinine content is much lower than that of historical tonic water and it is safe to drink. Classic cocktails use the trick not only to dilute alcohol with bubbles, but to add a distinct undertone of flavor. The invention of gin and tonic coincided with the availability of tonic water in the 1850s.
Tonic water ingredients
What ingredients does tonic water contain? This drink is a mixture of:
- sparkling water
- Sugar (or high fructose corn syrup on some big brands)
- quinine
What’s the best brand? There are many options these days. Our favorite brand is Tonic Q: It tastes great and is sold in small doses, just enough for a few drinks. Even better, the only ingredients are quinine and agave. (We also like the Q brand of ginger beer and ginger ale.)
Quinine Levels: Is It Safe?
Is the level of quinine in tonic water safe? Yes. Quinine is a compound derived from the bark of a tree native to South America called cinchona. It was originally invented as a drug for malaria, but its use has side effects (such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and more serious side effects).
But don’t worry: the quinine content in today’s tonic water is perfectly drinkable! The American FDA regulates the content of quinine: it may not contain 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 water or seltzer? Here are the main differences:
- tonic water is carbonated water with added quinine and sugar
- Soda is a carbonated water enriched with added minerals that give it a salty taste
- Sparkling water / seltzer water / sparkling water is carbonated water with no additives (just choose as sometimes flavorings or sugar can be added)
Learn more about Club Soda vs. Seltzer.
Drinks with tonic water
What types of drinks use this soft drink? Being around since the 1850’s, it has been a cocktail shaker of choice for centuries. But the popular gin and tonic is just the beginning. There are many liquors you can mix with this soft drink, including mocktails. Here are the best drinks with tonic water to try!
The most classic drink with tonic water? A gin and tonic! Its crunchy and botanical flavor is simple but at the same time intriguing: a feat with just 2 ingredients! No wonder it’s one of the most popular cocktails in the world. We’ve done some research to put together some tips on how to make the perfect gin and tonic.
Ingredients: Gin, tonic water
Get the recipe
Another classic with tonic water is vodka tonic! The vodka melts right into the tonic water, making it a tangy and easy-to-drink cocktail (so be careful). While it’s easy, there are a few tips to make it all happen better Tonic vodka. Here’s how to make this two-ingredient cocktail!
Ingredients: Vodka, tonic water, lemon wedge, lime wedge
Get the recipe
Would you like a light and sparkling cocktail based on whiskey or bourbon? Mix it with tonic water for a whiskey tonic! When you think of tonic water, you might first think of a gin and tonic or a vodka tonic. But the sweet, bubbly carbonation pairs perfectly with a woody, spicy whisky. In fact, we like to steam whiskey this way, especially in summer.
Ingredients: Whisky, tonic water, lemon
Get the recipe
Do you like tequila and a good G&T? So here’s your new favorite drink: Tequila and Tonic! Replace gin with tequila and you have a whole new drink. It’s tangy and sparkling, with just the right amount of tequila. It’s a cousin of ranch water and tequila soda, but uses tonic water instead: this gives it an intriguing sweetness and a slightly bitter note on the finish.
Ingredients: Tequila, tonic water, lime
Get the recipe
Derived from the classic G&T, this rum is sparkling and refreshing, with a hint of fruity rum on the finish. It’s almost like a subtle version of Dark and Stormy, less spicy sweetness and more intriguing undertones. While we prefer a G&T or vodka tonic for flavor, a rum tonic drink is definitely worth trying!
Get the recipe
Here’s a drink you won’t be able to stop sipping on. Try St. Germain and Tonic! The taste here is so refreshing, so perfectly balanced, that it’s almost impossible not to take another sip. The secret? Saint Germain of course. This elderflower liqueur is very popular because of its irresistibly sweet and floral taste. Combine it with vodka, lemon and tonic water and it’s a lovely sweet, light and bubbly cake mix.
Ingredients: St Germain, vodka, tonic water, lemon
Get the recipe
Here’s a deliciously glowing drink with tonic water: Blood Orange Gin and Tonic! There’s nothing like a cocktail that you can pour straight into the glass, right? Just like we love a good blood orange margarita or a blood orange martini…this one is even Easier MAKE. Here the botanicals of the gin harmonize perfectly with the bright citrus of the blood orange.
Ingredients: Blood Orange Juice, Gin, Tonic
Get the recipe
Here’s a memorable, botanical and sparkling cocktail: the Lillet G&T! This Lillet cocktail features the popular fortified wine disguised as a gin and tonic. The taste is perfectly fresh, with floral and herbaceous notes of Lillet Blanc and gin. It’s a refreshing cocktail suitable not only for summer afternoons, but also for evening happy hour any time of the year.
Ingredients: Lillet Blanc, gin, tonic
Get the recipe
Here’s a unique drink that we think should trend: White and Tonic Port! Also known port tonic, this Portuguese version of the classic G&T could be even better than the original. White Port is a fortified wine made in Portugal, sweet and light with notes of vanilla, caramel, honey and orange peel. Add this sparkling tonic water and it’s intensely refreshing, with flavors that linger after every sip.
Ingredients: White port, tonic, slice of orange
Get the recipe
Last but not least, a list of tonic water drinks isn’t complete without a mocktail! This virgin margarita is zesty and refreshing, punctuated with that classic salt rim. Even better, there’s a surprise that adds a little funk to the tequila-like flavor. It’s truly the non-alcoholic version of our classic margarita.
Also try: Virgin mojito mocktail
Ingredients: Lime Juice, Lemon Juice, Cucumber Juice (Optional), Simple Syrup, Tonic Water
Get the recipe
The description
Here are the keys to the best tonic water drinks! Mix it up with gin, vodka or whiskey for a different drink each time. (Photo: see Strawberry Gin & Tonic.)
- 2 ounces Gin, vodka or whiskey
- 4 oz tonic water
- Toppings: lemon or lime wedges
- In a tall cocktail or wine glass, pour plenty of ice and stir to chill the glass.
- Pour in the gin, vodka or whiskey. Squeeze lemon or lime. Using a bar spoon, pour the tonic water into the glass (to intensify the bubbles). Stir once and serve.
- Category: drink
- Method: shakes
- Kitchen: cocktails
- Diet: vegan
Keywords: Tonic water, drinks with tonic water, quinine in tonic water, club soda vs. tonic water, tonic water ingredients
More cocktail guides
Need more alcohol guides? We know it ! Here’s everything you need to know about home bartending:
