CATEGORY
Tonic Water
2007 CHEFSBEST® AWARD FOR BEST TASTE WINNER
Schweppes
What Makes a Great Tonic Water?
Commonly mixed into cocktails featuring gin, vodka and vermouth, tonic water can also be served with just lemon or lime wedge for a sharp and bitter alternative to sparkling water or sodas. Keep some on hand to cool off on a hot afternoon, or as a mixer if unexpected company drops by.
Our chefs define high-quality regular tonic water as having a significant amount of visible bubbles, but not as many as a cola. The aroma should have some complexity, including discernible notes of citrus, sweetness and bitterness.
A tonic water is in taste balance when noticeable bitterness is the predominant basic taste. Sweetness should follow at about half the level of the bitterness, and there may be some sourness from added citrus components. However, any citrus should not overpower the tonic water flavor. Tonic water should deliver a bright and fresh citrus character that is similar to citrus zest or peel, not chemicals or citric acid.
In the mouth, tonic water should have a long, bubbly, champagne-like effervescence, and the texture of the bubbles should be somewhere between sharp (like a cola) and smooth. A low level of astringency is expected to make the mouth pucker slightly, and there should be a short aftertaste.
Product Category Definition
The product judged was defined as regular tonic water for the consumer market, not including diet or flavored tonic water, other sodas or colas.
Other Leading Brands:
Canada Dry
ONE-STEP IDEAS
A refreshing virgin gin and tonic can be made by mixing 1 ounce lime juice with 6 ounces tonic water.
A 5 ounce portion of tonic water can help relieve leg cramps.
To make a gin and tonic, stir 2 ounces of gin into 5 ounces of tonic water and garnish with a lime wedge.
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TASTING
TERMINOLOGY
PRODUCT
FUN FACTS
- Soldiers of the British East India Company invented the Gin and Tonic in 1857.
- Due to the presence of quinine, tonic water becomes fluorescent under ultraviolet light.
- The drink was originally named “tonic” because the added quinine was meant to prevent malaria.
The ChefsBest Award for Best Taste is awarded to the brand rated highest overall among leading brands by independent professional chefs.
