Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic Water - Perfect for Gin and Tonic 50 cl

The elder flowers for only a few weeks, and then it is over for the year. The blossoms for this tonic are picked in exactly that short window, when the heads stand white and carry the strongest scent. Some of that scent is still there when the glass reaches the table.

The expert's description

Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic Water - Perfect for Gin and Tonic 50 cl is a Tonic Water from Fever-Tree, made with carbonated spring water, sugar, elderflower extract and natural quinine, and bottled in 50 cl.

The elderflowers are hand-picked across the English countryside in late spring and distilled into an oil before they ever reach the tonic. That detour makes it possible to hit the same aroma every time, because blossom strength shifts from one week to the next. The result is a floral note that reads clearly without turning perfumed.

The quinine comes from cinchona bark, but it sits lower here than in a classic Indian Tonic Water. Sweetness is a shade higher, and together those two things make a softer, rounder tonic. It takes up more room in the drink and should be used with that in mind.

It flatters gins built on floral, cucumber or citrus notes, and gins that already carry elderflower or chamomile among their botanicals. A heavily juniper-led London Dry Gin pulls the other way and can end up wrestling with the blossom. Vodka works too, and there the elderflower has the stage to itself.

The 50 cl bottle covers several glasses from the same pour. The bead is fine and lively, but it fades from the moment the bottle is opened, so it is best finished over the course of one evening.

Tasting notes

Nose

Elderflower straight away, sweetish and lightly honeyed, with a puff of lemon peel behind it. The quinine registers only as a dry undercurrent.

Palate

The blossom takes up the most space and lies softly across the tongue. Sweetness is more evident than in a dry tonic, but it is held in check by a mild bitterness that only arrives at the end. The carbonation is light and prickles neatly.

Finish

Soft and floral with a short bitter note right at the close. A faint sweetness stays on the lips.

Specifications

Name: Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic Water - Perfect for Gin and Tonic 50 cl
Producer: Fever-Tree
Region/Country: United Kingdom
Type: Tonic Water
Size: 50 CL
Ingredients: Carbonated spring water, sugar, elderflower extract, citric acid and natural flavourings including quinine
EAN no.: 5060605060286
Serving suggestion: Ice cold in a large glass with plenty of ice, a gin with floral or cucumber notes and a slice of lime

Flavour profile

Floral · Elderflower · Lightly Sweetened · Mild Bitterness

Did you know?

The quinine in Fever-Tree comes from one of the last surviving plantations of original Cinchona Ledgeriana trees in eastern Congo. That species historically gave the highest yield of quinine, which is why it was planted on such a scale during the colonial era.

See our full range of Tonic Water

Frequently asked questions about Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic Water - Perfect for Gin and Tonic 50 cl

What does elderflower do to a Gin and Tonic?

It lays a soft, floral layer over the drink and takes the sharp edge off. The bitterness of the quinine turns rounder and the sweetness steps forward. The result is easier going than a dry classic, but it also asks for a gin that can hold its own in that company.

Which gins suit Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic Water?

Gins built on floral, cucumber or citrus notes. If chamomile, rose, elderflower or fresh citrus sit among the botanicals, they play straight into the tonic. A heavily juniper-led London Dry Gin pulls the opposite way and easily becomes a contest of wills. See our full range of Gin.

Is it sweeter than a classic Indian Tonic Water?

Yes, slightly. The sugar sits a little higher and the quinine a little lower, so the whole thing reads softer. It is still nothing like a soft drink, but it offers the gin less resistance.

Which garnish suits a Gin and Tonic made with elderflower?

Lime, cucumber or a couple of fresh mint leaves. Lime tightens the sweetness, cucumber extends the green note, and mint pulls everything in a cooler direction. Stay away from heavy spices such as star anise and cinnamon, which shut the blossom down.

What other drinks can be made with it?

It works in a Collins, in a light spritz with dry white wine and in alcohol-free drinks. Elderflower and lime over ice on their own make a simple summer long drink, and a few dashes of herbal bitters add edge without killing the blossom.

What food goes with a Gin and Tonic made with elderflower?

Light dishes with acidity and freshness. Shellfish, goat's cheese, asparagus and salads with berries or melon stand up well to the floral sweetness. Against rich or smoked food the drink turns soft very quickly.