Gin and tonic is a great combination of drink, suitable for a lot of occasions. However, you need to be sure to choose the perfect tonic to get the right taste. There are a lot of quality tonic water out there, and knowing what to look for will save you time and stress.
We collected some tips for picking the best tonic water for your gin.

Check The Bottle

The first thing to do when choosing a tonic water is to check the ingredient list and everything you need to know about it. The kind of container, as well as the things it contains goes a long way in determining the quality of the tonic. Some of the clues in the bottle are discussed right below.

- Carbonation: The level of carbonation determines the quality of tonic, which is why it is best to ditch the two-liter supermarket brands and go for tonic in glass. The carbonation holds better in glass and your tonic certainly tastes better. You can choose the champagne-sized bottles, for parties and elaborate events.

- Sweetener: The quality of a sweetener determines to a large extent how a tonic tastes. You therefore should avoid sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup, rather go for sweeteners like agave syrup and cane sugar. On the other hand, if you are a lover of vodka tonic, floral-flavoured tonics is an excellent choice for you.

Light Versions?

The process of producing tonic water is basically the act of balancing bitter and sweet. This is why you must look for the perfect blend, just so your gin and tonic does not have a bad taste. Tonic water requires an adequate amount of sweetener to match the bitter quinine. In reality, this sweetener might be too much for people who are sugar-averse, therefore prompting them to go for diet/light version tonics.

Often times than not, these light versions are made with unpleasant tasting sweeteners. It is therefore usually best to avoid them altogether and go for normal tonic. You can then add carbonated water to your tonic to reduce the sugar level. That way, the taste stays enjoyable while watering down the sugar.

Careful With Syrups

Typically a DIY approach, tonic syrup allows you to add your soda when making tonic. There are some things to keep in mind when going about this process.

- Cinchona Bark: Rather than isolated quinine, tonic syrup are usually made with ground up cinchona bark. This is a more natural solution, but it leaves syrups (and some tonic waters which use the bark) looking brownish, rather than clear, as well as a little bit bark tasting. Overdosing on cinchona alkaloids may be harmful for your health, which is why it is important to filter the bark solids thoroughly.

- Carbonation: Adding tonic syrup to your gin or even carbonated water, will leave your drink with very little carbonation. A very good solution is to pump your Soda Stream, this way carbonation is increased.

Overall, it is best to shop smart; paying attention to detail, and purchase professionally made tonic if you have trouble making yours.