Gin? Vodka? What About the Tonic??

Gin, of course, but what about the tonic?

Gin and Tonic.  G & T.  A standby of the cruise line, or time by the pool.  Short sleeves, bathing suits, skin, honeyed by the sun.  Tall, tanned lovelies in string bikinis….but hold on a sec, I’m getting too far afield.

I want to talk about Tonic Water, or Quinine Water, if you prefer.  Some call it the perfect mixer, with gin or vodka, or just plain, on the rocks, with a twist. 

As you know, I’m a gin fan and Plymouth Gin, from the south coast of England, is my favorite.  http://stroudallover.blogspot.de/2015/02/plymouth-gin-from-plymouth-england-of.html

For the longest time, I just grabbed a bottle of a major brand of tonic (Schweppes or Canada Dry come to mind) and got on with the summer ritual.  Recently, I’ve discovered some other tonics and my world changed.

But, before we explore three little beauties, let’s contemplate tonic water itself.  Dates to circa 1858 and first used as a prophylactic against malaria.  Back then, quinine water may have done the trick, but the quinine content was much, much higher then.  The Brits in India, finding tonic water pretty hard to choke down while sober, began mixing it with gin and sugar to tame the extreme bitterness.  Even today, you sometimes see tonic water labeled as Indian tonic water.

So, the question rises up on its hind legs and whinnies:  Can quinine water still fight malaria?  Judge for yourself:  the daily dose to fight malaria is about 2100 mg per day for the average adult.  Modern quinine water is limited by the Food and Drug Administration to 83 mg per liter.  Just another reason to start early and drink for the rest of the day, especially if you’re getting your eyeful of bikinis in the tropics.  About 30 liters a day ought to do the trick.

What the hell is quinine and why are bikinis called bikinis?

First things first: Bikinis.  Thankfully, women have dressed scantily throughout history, but modern women, in the 19^th and early 20^th Centuries, covered up.  Fortunately, a French engineer, Louis Réard, introduced the modern bikini in 1946, naming it appropriately after the Pacific’s Bikini Atoll, where the French were testing atomic bombs.  Another French bombshell, Briget Bardot picked up on the idea and suddenly bikinis exploded.  The first bikinis may have been scandalous in the 1950’s, but by 21^st Century standards, the first bikinis were pretty modest two-piece bathing suits, not eye patches held up with dental floss.

Just one variety of the Cinchona tree, this one from Peru

And what about quinine?  Comes from the bark of the Cinchona bush or tree.  The ‘or’ is because there are some 25 species, growing everywhere from Central America and the Caribbean to Africa.  The medicinal properties, such as reducing fever and inflammation, have been known for centuries.

So, what new brands of tonic have I recently discovered and how well do I like them?  Ladies and gentlemen, you’re in for some treats.

Fever Tree, Goldberg, and Gents.

I picked these three at random and did a G &T taste test before reading about where they came from, or how they were made.

Let’s first consider my personal favorite:  Fever Tree (aptly named, yes?). Launched in the UK in 2005, one of the founders of the company, Charles Rolls, had run Plymouth Gin!  He and his partner did their homework and the ingredients show it.  Highest quality quinine from Rwanda Congo, blended with spring water and eight botanicals and sugar.  No artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or artificial colors.

The quinine is certainly there, but not overpowering, nor is the sugar.   A G & T, made with Plymouth Gin and Fever Tree is as close to smooth perfection as I’m going to find.  No wonder Fever Tree has been loaded down with accolades from the world’s best bars.

Goldberg & Sons Tonic Water. 

This tonic comes from Germany and is spiced with a light lemon flavor to accompany a heavier accent of quinine.  If you’re more into a goodly bite of bitterness, but without harshness, this is the one for you.  Like Fever Tree, you won’t find artificial anything here.

Gents, Swiss Roots Tonic Water.

Like your tonic a tad sweeter, with a downplay of the quinine and an upswing of florals and citrus?  This Swiss drink will unquestionably satisfy your summer longing.  The ever so slight tang comes from Sicilian citrus fruits, the florals, oddly enough, come not from flowers, but from the root of the gentian, otherwise known as bitter root.

No matter which of these tonics you mix with your gin, or vodka, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.  No need to depend on the traditional purveyors of tonic water, laced with artificial this and that, and drenched in the ubiquitous high fructose corn syrup.  Natural is better, but not just because some green goddess whispered in my ear.  My taste buds have the last word and the last word is GREAT!