Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water - Perfect for Gin and Tonic 20 cl

Half past seven, the gin bottle out on the counter and one small bottle waiting in the fridge door. 20 cl is the measure for a single evening: enough to fill the glass properly, and not so much that the rest sits there going flat until tomorrow.

The expert's description

Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water - Perfect for Gin and Tonic 20 cl is a Tonic Water made from carbonated spring water, cane sugar and natural quinine from cinchona bark, bottled as a single 20 cl serve.

Quinine is the ingredient everything turns on. Fever-Tree takes it from the bark of cinchona trees growing on the border between the Congo and Rwanda, and that quinine is what gives the tonic its clean, crisp bitterness. Without it, tonic is simply sweetened sparkling water.

Layered over the quinine sit eight aromatic botanical oils. Among them is oil from hand-pressed bitter oranges grown in Tanzania, which lays a sharp citrus tone underneath the bitterness. The sweetness comes from cane sugar rather than syrup or sweeteners, and the acidity from citric acid. The ingredient list is short, and you can taste that: nothing sticky settles on top of the gin's botanicals.

The 20 cl format is built for the glass in front of you right now. A Gin and Tonic is usually poured with 4 to 5 cl of gin and topped with tonic, so one bottle covers a single generous drink or two lighter ones. Open, pour, done, while the carbonation is still sharp.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh citrus peel and a trace of floral sweetness. Behind it lies a dry, almost herbal note from the bark, and the bubbles carry the whole thing up out of the glass.

Palate

Soft sweetness first, brief and measured, then the bitterness takes over. The quinine is pronounced but never metallic, and the bitter oranges cut a fine tart edge through the middle. The carbonation is hard and fine-beaded, holding the flavour up.

Finish

Dry and clean. The bitterness lets go slowly and leaves the mouth fresh, with no sugar coating. Exactly the kind of close that pulls you back for the next sip.

Specifications

Name: Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water - Perfect for Gin and Tonic 20 cl
Producer: Fever-Tree
Region/Country: United Kingdom
Type: Tonic Water
Size: 20 CL
Ingredients: Carbonated spring water, cane sugar, acid: citric acid, natural flavourings, natural quinine
Serving suggestion: Ice cold in a large glass packed with ice, 4 cl of dry gin and a slice of lemon

Flavour profile

Bitter · Citrus · Dry · Crisp carbonation

Did you know?

The name Fever-Tree did not come out of an advertising agency. British colonial doctors called the cinchona tree the fever tree, because its bark was the only thing that worked against malarial fever. The brand is named after its own main ingredient.

See our full range of Tonic Water

Frequently asked questions about Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water - Perfect for Gin and Tonic 20 cl

How many drinks does one 20 cl bottle make?

One proper Gin and Tonic. With 4 to 5 cl of gin and the whole bottle of tonic you land at a ratio of roughly 1 to 4, the standard build for a classic G and T. For something lighter, split the bottle across two glasses with more ice.

Why does tonic taste bitter?

The bitterness comes from quinine, a compound found in cinchona bark. In Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water the quinine is natural and sourced on the border between the Congo and Rwanda. It is the same compound that made tonic a medicine long before anyone thought to add gin.

Which gin suits Indian Tonic Water best?

A classic dry gin with clear juniper. The clean bitterness and citrus tone here step aside for the gin's botanicals rather than drowning them, which is why it works for London Dry Gin and for modern citrus-forward styles alike. Browse the full selection of Gin.

How much ice should go in the glass?

Far more than most people use. Fill the glass right to the top, ideally with large cubes. A lot of ice melts more slowly than a little, so the drink stays cold without turning watery and the bubbles hang around longer.

How do I stop the drink going flat?

Pour the tonic slowly down the inside of the glass or over the back of a spoon. Chill the bottle thoroughly before opening, because carbonation stays put in cold liquid. Stir once with a long spoon and leave the ice unbruised.

Can Indian Tonic Water be used with anything other than gin?

Yes. That bitterness also flatters a blanco tequila, a light white rum and a vodka with lemon. A Highland whisky with tonic and a slice of orange is far better than its reputation suggests, precisely because the quinine cuts through the malt's sweetness.

What garnish works with it?

A slice of lemon or grapefruit for a classic gin, and orange if the gin is soft and spiced. Resist loading the glass with berries and herbs, since the bitter orange oils in the tonic already supply the aromatics. Squeeze the peel gently over the glass before dropping it in.