Tonic water has a long history as a medicinal drink valued for its quinine content, which was used to prevent malaria. While less common today as a health aid, tonic water remains popular as a mixer, thanks to its unique bitter-sweet taste profile. Modern tonic waters offer more complex and natural flavors compared to classic brands, with boutique producers like Fever Tree and East Imperial using ingredients like yuzu, elderflower, and agave. Though often confused with seltzer and club soda, tonic water stands apart with its distinct flavor. It brings a singular taste to cocktails like the gin and tonic or vodka tonic. Tonic can also shine in creative combinations, paired with tequila, rum, wine, or in mocktails. With the rise of craft tonics, it’s easier than ever to give this classic mixer a fresh twist.
Our Top Picks For 2025
Q Mixers Premium Tonic Water
Q Mixers Tonic Water is a premium cocktail mixer made with real quinine from Peru and organic agave. It has a crisp, clean taste with sharp flavor to complement spirits without overpowering them.
Q Mixers Premium Tonic Water is expertly crafted to elevate cocktail making. This tonic water is made using pure spring water and real ingredients like Peruvian quinine and organic blue agave for a balanced, crisp flavor.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Real Ingredients: Made with real cinchona bark from Peru for authentic quinine flavor and organic agave as a natural sweetener. No artificial flavors or colors.
- Less Sweet: Carefully blended to be less sweet than traditional commercial tonics so the flavors of premium spirits can shine through.
- High Carbonation: Lively bubbles ensure drinks stay fizzy and refreshing from the first sip to the last.
- Versatile Mixer: The perfect partner for gin, vodka, rum and more. Also delicious on its own over ice with a citrus garnish.
With its excellent carbonation, real ingredients, and subtle sweetness, Q Mixers Premium Tonic Water takes cocktails to the next level.
Schweppes Premium Tonic Water
Schweppes Premium Tonic Water is a crisp, refreshing tonic made with quinine from cinchona bark. It has a balanced flavor that makes a classic mixer for cocktails and spirits.
Schweppes Premium Tonic Water is an expertly crafted mixer for cocktails and spirits. Made with real quinine sourced from cinchona bark, this tonic water balances sweetness and bitterness for a crisp, refreshing taste.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Real Quinine: Made with real cinchona bark extract to provide authentic bitter flavor notes.
- Balanced Taste: Carefully blended sweetness and bitterness creates a versatile mixer.
- Effervescent: Lively carbonation enhances drinks from first sip to last.
- Quality Ingredients: Free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.
- Classic Mixer: The perfect partner for gin, vodka, rum and more. Also delicious on its own over ice.
With real quinine flavor and balanced effervescence, Schweppes Premium Tonic Water brings out the best in cocktails and spirits.
Canada Dry Premium Tonic Water
Canada Dry Tonic Water is a crisp, classic tonic made with real quinine for a balanced bitterness. It makes the perfect mixer for cocktails and spirits.
Canada Dry Premium Tonic Water offers a timeless taste crafted with care. Made using real cinchona bark extract, this tonic balances sweetness and bitterness for a smooth, refreshing flavor.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Real Quinine: Provides authentic bitter notes from the cinchona bark.
- Balanced Flavor: The sweetness blends perfectly with subtle bitter tones.
- Mixes Well: Brings out the best in spirits like vodka, gin, and rum.
- Quality Ingredients: Free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.
- Iconic Taste: Crisp, smooth flavor that’s been enjoyed for generations.
With its genuine quinine taste and balanced sweet-tart flavor, Canada Dry Tonic Water makes an easy-to-enjoy mixer for cocktails.
Navy Hill Juniper Tonic Water
Navy Hill Juniper Tonic Water is an all-natural, low-calorie tonic made with juniper, quinine, and electrolytes. It has a crisp, clean flavor that makes a refreshing cocktail mixer.
Navy Hill Juniper Tonic Water is a premium all-natural tonic crafted with juniper berry flavors and real quinine. This crisp, refreshing tonic has only 35 calories per serving and contains electrolytes for a perfectly balanced mixer.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Juniper Flavor: Made with real juniper berry extract for a crisp, pine-fresh taste.
- Low Calorie: Only 35 calories per 8.45 oz serving.
- Natural Ingredients: Contains no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives.
- Electrolyte-Enhanced: Formulated with electrolytes to replenish minerals.
- Balanced Tonic: Well-rounded flavor that won’t overpower spirits.
With its all-natural ingredients, subtle juniper notes, and crisp effervescence, Navy Hill Juniper Tonic Water brings delightful flavor and balance to cocktails.
Fitch & Leedes Premium Pink Tonic Water
Fitch & Leedes Premium Pink Tonic Water is a unique mixer with hints of rose and cucumber. It elevates cocktails and spirits with a sophisticated flavor profile.
Fitch & Leedes Premium Pink Tonic Water provides a delightful twist on classic cocktails. Crafted with real quinine and subtle notes of rose and cucumber, this tonic water balances sweetness and bitterness for a crisp, refreshing taste.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Unique Flavors: Delicate rose petal and fresh cucumber flavors create an intriguing flavor profile.
- Real Quinine: Made with real cinchona bark extract to provide authentic bitter flavor.
- Sophisticated Mixer: Elevates spirits like gin and vodka with its aromatic botanical flavors.
- Quality Carbonation: Lively bubbles keep drinks fizzy from first sip to last.
- Eye-Catching Color: Vibrant pink hue adds flair and dazzle to cocktails.
With its gorgeous pink color and aromatic rose and cucumber flavors, Fitch & Leedes Premium Pink Tonic makes for unforgettable cocktails full of refined flavor.
Canada Dry Premium Tonic Water
Canada Dry Premium Tonic Water is a crisp, classic tonic made with real quinine and natural flavors for a balanced taste. It makes the ideal mixer for cocktails and spirits.
Canada Dry Premium Tonic Water is a refreshing mixer expertly crafted to enhance cocktails and spirits. Made with real cinchona bark extract, this tonic balances sweetness and bitterness for a crisp, classic flavor.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Real Quinine: Provides authentic bitter flavor notes from the cinchona bark.
- Balanced Taste: Sweetness and bitterness are carefully blended for a versatile mixer.
- Lively Carbonation: Effervescent bubbles enliven cocktails from first sip to last.
- Natural Flavors: Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
- Refeshing Taste: Crisp, clean flavor satisfies thirst on its own over ice.
With its real quinine taste and balanced effervescence, Canada Dry Premium Tonic Water makes drinks taste their best while keeping its crisp, classic flavor.
Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water
Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water is an expertly crafted mixer made with the finest quinine and subtle citrus flavors. It balances sweetness and bitterness for a crisp, refreshing taste in cocktails.
Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water elevates the cocktail experience with its aromatically balanced profile. Made using the gentle bitterness of quinine from central Africa and Mexican bitter orange, this tonic water brings out the subtle flavors of premium spirits.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Finest Quinine: Made using select quinine sourced from the Rwanda-Congo border for delicate bitterness.
- Subtle Citrus Notes: A touch of Mexican bitter orange adds gentle aromatics.
- Balanced Flavor: The sweetness of cane sugar and subtle citrus balance natural quinine bitterness.
- Perfect Carbonation: Crisp bubbles enhance drinkability from first sip to last.
- Natural Ingredients: Contains no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors.
With its aromatic botanicals and balanced flavor profile, Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water is an exceptional mixer for premium gin, vodka, and cocktails.
Canada Dry Premium Tonic Water
Canada Dry Tonic Water is a crisp, classic tonic made with real quinine and natural flavors. It’s a perfectly balanced mixer for cocktails, spirits, and mocktails.
Canada Dry Premium Tonic Water is an expertly crafted soda water for mixing and sipping. With its genuine quinine flavor, balanced sweetness, and lively effervescence, this tonic water adds refreshing flavor to cocktails and spirits.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Real Quinine: Made with authentic cinchona bark extract to provide bitter flavor notes.
- Balanced Taste: The sweetness level allows the flavors of spirits and mixes to shine through.
- Lively Carbonation: Effervescent bubbles keep drinks refreshing from start to finish.
- Natural Flavors: No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
- Versatile Mixer: Pairs nicely with gin, vodka, rum and more. Also delicious on its own over ice.
With real quinine and balanced bubbles, Canada Dry Premium Tonic Water brings a crisp, classic taste to cocktails.
Schweppes Indian Tonic Water
Schweppes Indian Tonic Water is an authentic tonic made with real quinine sourced from cinchona bark. It has a balanced bitterness and carbonation that makes an excellent mixer for gin, vodka, and other spirits.
Schweppes Indian Tonic Water is a premium tonic crafted with real cinchona bark extract to provide quintessential bitter notes. Expertly blended, this tonic balances sweetness and bitterness for a crisp, refreshing taste.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Real Quinine: Made with real cinchona bark extract to provide authentic bitter flavor.
- Balanced Flavor: Carefully blended sweetness and bitterness create a crisp, versatile mixer.
- Lively Carbonation: Effervescent bubbles enhance drinkability from first sip to last.
- Quality Ingredients: Free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.
- Classic Mixer: The perfect partner for gin, vodka, rum and more. Also delicious on its own over ice.
With real quinine sourced from cinchona bark, Schweppes Indian Tonic Water brings an authentic taste and balanced fizz to cocktails.
Betty Buzz Premium Tonic Water
Betty Buzz Premium Tonic Water is a crisp, refreshing tonic made with natural flavors and sweeteners. It has a balanced taste that complements spirits without overpowering them.
Betty Buzz Premium Tonic Water is a high quality mixer made with care using only clean ingredients. Expertly carbonated, this tonic balances sweetness and bitterness for a light and refreshing flavor.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Natural Ingredients: Made with natural flavors and sweeteners like organic agave nectar. No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
- Balanced Taste: Subtly sweet citrus notes balance refreshing bitter quinine flavor.
- Crisp Bubbles: Lively carbonation keeps drinks refreshing from first sip to last.
- Gluten-Free: Suitable for gluten free diets.
- Versatile Mixer: Complements gin, vodka, tequila and more without overpowering them.
With its crisp effervescence and balance of flavors, Betty Buzz Premium Tonic Water brings out the best in cocktails and spirits.
From Quinine to Craft Quenchers: The Revival of Tonic Water
Evolution of Tonic Water: From Quinine to Craft Quenchers
Historical Roots of Tonic Water
Quinine as a Medicinal Remedy
The story of tonic water begins with quinine, a bitter compound derived from the bark of the cinchona tree native to South America. European colonists discovered that indigenous peoples used cinchona bark to treat fevers, including those caused by malaria. By the early 1800s, quinine had been isolated and was being used as an effective treatment for this deadly disease. However, the intensely bitter taste of quinine made it difficult for patients to consume.
Transformation of Tonic Water into a Mixer
To make quinine more palatable, British officers stationed in India began mixing it with sugar, water, and gin, creating the beloved gin and tonic cocktail. The drink became a staple in British colonial life, offering a refreshing respite from the oppressive heat and humidity of the tropics. As the British Empire expanded, so did the popularity of the gin and tonic, cementing tonic water’s place as a fashionable mixer.
Modern Trends in Tonic Water
Rise of Artisanal Tonic Waters
Flavored Varieties and Contemporary Preferences
In recent years, there has been a surge in artisanal tonic water brands, each offering unique flavor profiles and natural ingredients. These craft tonics cater to contemporary tastes, with varieties incorporating botanicals, fruits, and spices alongside the traditional quinine. As Jack Rudy, founder of Jack Rudy Cocktail Co., explains, “We wanted to create a tonic that showcased the beautiful bitterness of quinine while also highlighting other flavors that could complement a wide range of spirits.”
Health-Conscious Consumer Choices
Artisanal tonic waters also appeal to health-conscious consumers, as they often contain lower sugar content and fewer artificial ingredients compared to mass-produced brands. A 2020 study found that 64% of consumers are actively seeking out healthier beverage options, driving the demand for premium, natural mixers.
Niche Market in the Beverage Industry
Lower Sugar Content and Natural Flavorings
Appeal to Premium and Crafted Product Lovers
The artisanal tonic water market has carved out a niche within the beverage industry, appealing to consumers who value handcrafted, premium products. These discerning drinkers appreciate the subtle flavor nuances and quality ingredients found in craft tonics, perceiving them as a superior alternative to mass-produced options. As a result, the global premium tonic water market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% between 2021 and 2026.
Meeting the Demand for Subtle Cocktail Flavors
The rise of craft tonic water has also coincided with a growing appreciation for complex, subtle flavors in cocktails. Bartenders and mixologists are increasingly turning to artisanal tonics to create unique, nuanced drinks that showcase the interplay between the spirit, mixer, and garnish. As celebrated mixologist Jim Meehan notes, “A well-made tonic water can elevate a simple gin and tonic into a sublime cocktail experience, allowing the botanicals in the gin to shine through.”
Consumer Driven Trends
Desire for Handcrafted, Unique Products
The rise of artisanal tonic water is part of a larger consumer trend favoring handcrafted, unique products across various industries. In the beverage sector, this trend manifests as a growing interest in small-batch spirits, craft beer, and premium mixers. Consumers are willing to pay a premium for products that offer a distinctive flavor profile and a sense of authenticity.
Appreciation for Flavor Complexity
As consumers become more knowledgeable about cocktail culture, they are developing a greater appreciation for the complexity and nuance of flavor in mixed drinks. Artisanal tonic waters, with their unique botanical blends and subtle bitter notes, provide a canvas for exploring new flavor combinations and creating more sophisticated cocktails. This trend is evident in the proliferation of tonic syrup concentrates, which allow consumers to control the intensity of flavor and sweetness in their drinks.
Influence on Cocktail Culture
The availability of diverse artisanal tonic waters has had a significant impact on cocktail culture, inspiring bartenders to create new riffs on classic drinks and invent entirely new concoctions. In an interview with Imbibe Magazine, bartender and consultant Camille Cavan observes, “The variety of tonic waters now available has opened up a world of possibilities for creating dynamic, nuanced gin and tonics. It’s an exciting time to be experimenting with this classic cocktail.”
Response of Bars and Restaurants
Incorporating Specialty Tonics in Menus
To meet the growing demand for artisanal tonic waters, bars and restaurants are incorporating a wide selection of specialty tonics into their menus. Many establishments now offer tonic flights, allowing customers to sample different varieties and discover their preferred flavor profiles. Some bars even dedicate entire sections of their menu to gin and tonic variations, showcasing the versatility of this classic cocktail.
Tailored Drinking Experiences
The availability of artisanal tonic waters has enabled bars and restaurants to create tailored drinking experiences for their customers. By carefully curating their tonic selection and pairing them with specific gins, establishments can offer a range of flavor profiles to suit different palates. This personalized approach to the gin and tonic has helped to elevate the cocktail from a simple highball to a more sophisticated and nuanced drinking experience.
Meeting the Demand for Diverse Tonic Options
As the demand for artisanal tonic waters continues to grow, bars and restaurants are constantly seeking out new and innovative products to feature on their menus. This has led to collaborations between tonic producers and mixologists, resulting in the creation of custom tonics tailored to specific flavor profiles or cocktail recipes. By staying attuned to consumer trends and embracing the diversity of artisanal tonic waters, establishments can differentiate themselves in a competitive market and offer unique drinking experiences to their customers.
