What Is Tonic Water?
And how is it different from club soda and seltzer?
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You likely know tonic water as a common mixer for cocktails, particularly gin or vodka tonics. But what exactly is it, and how is tonic water different from other bubbly beverages such as club soda and seltzer? For more info, we consulted Mary Pellettieri, co-founder of Top Note, an award-winning mixers and soft drink company.
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What Is Tonic Water?
Tonic water is a bitter carbonated water that is made with quinine and flavored with sugar and bitters.
“Quinine is an alkaloid from the bark of cinchona trees that was the primary medicine to treat malaria for hundreds of years up until the late 20th century,” Pellettieri says. “Nowadays most of the quinine in tonic water is reduced to a level that doesn’t have any medical benefits.”
What Does Tonic Water Taste Like?
Tonic water tastes bitter and slightly sweet, with a hint of sourness from citric acid. “The bitterness in tonic water primarily comes from quinine, a compound derived from the bark of the cinchona tree,” Pellettieri says. “To balance out this bitterness and enhance the overall flavor, tonic water typically contains a small amount of sugar or sweeteners.”
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Tonic Water vs Seltzer Water vs Club Soda
Tonic water, seltzer water and club soda are all clear, carbonated beverages, but they each have distinct flavor profiles and ingredient lists. Here, Pellettieri breaks down the differences and when to use each in mixed drinks.
Tonic Water
Tonic water has a slightly bittersweet flavor, and contains carbonated water, quinine and sweeteners. Tonic water is primarily used to complement fine vodkas and London Dry gins.
Club Soda
Club soda is a carbonated beverage containing water infused with carbon dioxide and tends to have less flavor than tonic water and a slightly salty profile. “Club soda tends to have a slight saltiness in taste due to the added minerals or compounds like sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and potassium sulfate,” Pellettieri explains. Club soda mixes well with vodka as well as barrel-aged spirits such as whiskey, bourbon and Scotch.
Seltzer Water
Seltzer water is carbonated water containing dissolved carbon dioxide gas with no flavoring or additives. Seltzer has limited use in mixed drinks but can be used to make spritzes.
What Is Quinine?
Quinine is a bitter compound that occurs naturally in the bark of the cinchona tree. “Quinine was first used in the 17th century to treat malaria and alleviate symptoms. However, quinine on its own is very bitter, making it challenging for people to consume on its own,” Pellettieri says. “British colonists in India decided to mix quinine with soda water, sugar and citrus to make it more palatable. Over time, it became consumed as a refreshing beverage that would later be mixed with alcoholic or nonalcoholic cocktails.”
Is Tonic Water Healthy for You?
Tonic water can be a healthier option than soda when it comes to mixers for cocktails. But Pellettieri cautions consumers to look closely at the label’s sugar content. “Craft or premium tonic water will generally be made with all natural ingredients and less sugar, and many use real cane sugar,” she says. “Larger brands may have high fructose corn sugar, and more sugar per serving.” Tonic water doesn’t offer any specific health benefits, but Pellettieri says that some people drink tonic for its quinine content to aid digestion or alleviate restless legs.
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How to Use Tonic Water
"Tonic water is primarily used to complement fine vodkas and London Dry gins, as well as on its own, or mixed into nonalcoholic drink beverages,” Pellettieri says. Try using tonic water in cocktails like this Rosewater Gin and Tonic or a Hibiscus-Lime Vodka Tonic. Because tonic water contains added sweeteners, be sure to check the ingredient list before mixing it into cocktails.
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