Classic Tonic Water
selecting one of the beverage styles below. DOWNLOAD RECIPES
Spanish G&T
The Spanish G&T is all about the garnish. The possibilities are endless, but the idea is to choose garnishes that complement both the gin and the tonic.
London Dry and other juniper-forward gin's pair well with Classic Tonic, fresh herbs, citrus, and juniper berries. American and other floral-forward gins take well to Indian Tonic and fresh seasonal fruits and edible flowers.
Spanish G&T Recipe:
2 oz gin
4 oz tonic*
2 dashes bitters
Squeeze lemon
Cucumber slice (3)
Juniper Berry (3) and or Red Peppercorn (3)
Lemon peel
Add Gin, Bitters, Cucumber, Juniper, Lemon Juice, and Peppercorns to a balloon glass. Add ice and stir. Slowly pour in tonic on side of glass. Carefully lift and stir. Spritz with the lemon peel and drop peel in glass.
Serve with or without a straw.
Gin Sonic
Enter: the Gin Sonic. Nope, not a typo. It’s what you get when you mix Japanese Roku Gin with equal parts tonic water and club soda. We love the simple elegance and balance of this cocktail and we’re betting you will, too.
Gin Sonic Recipe:
1.5 oz Suntory Roku Gin
2.25 oz Top Note Club Soda No. 1
2.25 oz Top Note Classic Tonic
Garnish: expressed lemon twist
Stir all ingredients together in an ice-filled highball glass and garnish.
Nick Kokonas’s Something & Tonic
The drink that launched dozens of Something & Tonic’s that would make their way into Nick Kokonas’s first book. Be sure to check out our Q&A with Nick, keep up with him on Instagram, and order a copy of Something & Tonic!
Nick Kokonas’s Something & Tonic Recipe:
1.5 oz Letherbee Gin
1 oz Ancho Reyes (or 3 dashes mole bitters + 1/2 oz simple syrup)
.5 oz lime juice
.5 oz rosemary simple syrup*
Top Note Classic Tonic Water, to top
Garnish: rosemary sprig
Add all ingredients except Tonic Water to a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a Collins glass with ice. Top with Tonic Water, lift ice with a bar spoon to incorporate, and garnish.
*Rosemary Simple Syrup
1 cup (250 grams) white sugar
1 cup (250 grams) water
3-4 (5 grams) fresh rosemary sprigs
Combine all of the ingredients into a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, remove it from the heat and let the rosemary steep for 15 minutes. Remove the rosemary and allow the syrup to come to room temperature before storing it in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Syrup can be stored for 2-3 weeks.
Spirit-Free Recipe:
2 slices jalapeno or favorite fresh chili
1 oz lime juice
1 oz rosemary simple syrup*
Top Note Classic Tonic Water, to top
Garnish: rosemary sprig, lime wheel
Add lime, rosemary syrup, and two slices of chili to a shaker with ice. Shake hard and strain into a Collins glass with ice. Top with tonic water, lift ice with a bar spoon to incorporate, and garnish.
Alyssa Hughes’s Pineapple Gin & Tonic
Add some flair to the classic gin & tonic with a splash of tropical citrus! Enjoy this lower-ABV refresher on the rocks or straight-up like Alyssa. She uses a small mason jar, but a coupe or champagne glass would work just as well.
Be sure to check out our Q&A with Alyssa and follow her on Instagram for the latest updates on her distilling adventures.
Image credit: Alyssa Hughes
Alyssa Hughes's Pineapple Gin & Tonic Recipe:
1.5 oz gin
1.5 oz pineapple juice
1 dash Orange Bitters
Top Note Classic Tonic, to top
Garnish: Manderin orange peel
Stir all ingredients together in a glass with ice (or skip the ice as per Alyssa’s preference!) and garnish.
Rachel Miller's Gin & Tonic
"The classic Champagne Cocktail (bitters, sugar, sparkling wine) is one of my favorite drinks. It's delicious, celebratory, and so easy. Often it's finished with an expression of lemon over the top, and I like mine with just a drop of absinthe on top as well. This highball uses the tonic water to achieve the sparkle and the light bitter-sweet flavor of a Champagne Cocktail, along with tonic's best friend gin, a lemon cordial to amplify the lemon accent, and a touch of absinthe (optional), my preferred finish to the drink." - Rachel Miller
Rachel Miller's Gin & Tonic Recipe:
1 oz gin
.5 oz lemon cordial*
4 oz Top Note Classic Tonic Water
2-3 drops absinthe
Garnish: expressed lemon peel
Stir gin, cordial and tonic together in an ice-filled highball glass, finish with absinthe, and garnish.
*Lemon Cordial: Zest two lemons and set the zest aside. Juice the lemons and heat the juice in a pan with an equal amount, by volume, of white sugar. Bring the lemon juice and sugar to a boil, then immediately remove from heat and pour over the zest. Allow to cool and steep at least ten minutes, then strain well. Yields ~4oz cordial (multiply the recipe as needed for more cordial). Stored in the fridge, it will last for weeks.
Spiced Vodka Tonic
Spiced Vodka Tonic Recipe:
2 oz spiced vodka*
4 oz Top Note Classic Tonic Water
Optional: simple syrup, to taste
Garnish: fresh orange peel
Stir ingredients together in a glass with ice and garnish.
*Spiced Vodka: add 2 crushed cardamom pods and 2 tsp whole cloves to a jar and top with 8 oz vodka. Let steep for 2 days, then strain out the spices and enjoy.
Tequila & Tonic
A simple way to enjoy tequila without the calories of margarita.
Tequila & Tonic Recipe:
2 oz tequila
4 oz Top Note Classic Tonic Water
Garnish: fresh grapefruit or lime wedge
Stir ingredients together in an ice-filled rocks or Collins glass and garnish.
The Cool, Collected One
Ahh, the perfect accompaniment to a lazy Sunday afternoon. Use whatever cold-pressed juice you have on hand or blend up your own.
The Cool, Collected One Recipe:
2 oz cold-pressed juice (store bought or homemade)
2 dashes bitters, optional
4 oz Top Note Classic Tonic Water
Garnish: fresh vegetables, fruits and/or herbs
Stir ingredients together in an ice-filled wine glass and garnish as desired.
Pear-Infused Vodka Tonic
Try this fall twist on the classic Vodka Tonic.
Pear-Infused Vodka & Tonic Recipe:
2 oz pear-infused vodka*
4 oz Top Note Classic Tonic Water
Garnish: chopped pears
*Pear-Infused Vodka: Chop 2 pears and place in a clean glass jar. Top with 16oz vodka, place in the refrigerator and let steep for 1 week. Strain well and keep refrigerated to prolong freshness.
Vodka Tonic
Simple and delicious!
Vodka Tonic Recipe:
2 oz vodka
4 oz Top Note Classic Tonic Water
Garnish: wedge of fresh lime or lemon
Stir ingredients together in an ice-filled glass and garnish.
Rum & Tonic
Rum & Tonic may not be as well-known as some other classic highballs, but this underdog is surprisingly delicious and can be enjoyed in a multitude of combinations. See below for our suggestions, but you do you!
Rum & Tonic Recipe:
2 oz rum*
4 oz tonic*
Garnish: fresh citrus
Stir ingredients together in an ice-filled glass and garnish.
*Rum and Tonic Pairings:
- Dark Rum + Classic Tonic Water
- White Rum + Bitter Lemon Tonic Water
- Rhum Agricole + Indian Tonic Water
Gin & Tonic
The tried and true classic.
Gin & Tonic Recipe:
2 oz London Dry Gin
4 oz Top Note Classic Tonic Water
Garnish: lime wedge
Stir ingredients together in an ice-filled glass and garnish.