# Recommend me some good tonic water for G&Ts **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-tonic-water-for-g-ts/561501 "2010-11-22T01:29:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-tonic-water-for-g-ts/561501/1 "2010-11-22T01:29:27Z")
I like a good gin and tonic, but I can’t help but wonder if the tonic I use is holding me back. I usually use Schwepp’s, which is fine, but it does have a bit of a bitter aftertaste that I don’t care for. Poland Spring is awful. I’ve had G&Ts at bars where the tonic is crisp and refreshing. So, are there any widely available good tonic brands out there? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-tonic-water-for-g-ts/561501/2 "2010-11-22T01:49:54Z")
If it’s true tonic water, it’s going to have a bitter aftertaste. It’s the quinine. Just use Schweppes and add more gin. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-tonic-water-for-g-ts/561501/3 "2010-11-22T01:53:10Z")
Well, yeah. But it’s not bitter in the best way, it’s more like a “my mouth is really dry and now I feel even thirstier, and this is not refreshing me.” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-tonic-water-for-g-ts/561501/4 "2010-11-22T01:53:48Z")
Add more lime. Or you might try Canada Dry Tonic Water. It’s available everywhere, it seems. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-tonic-water-for-g-ts/561501/5 "2010-11-22T02:00:58Z")
Yeah, I’ve gotten to the point where my gin and tonics are 70% or more gin and that seems to create that really refreshing crispness. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-tonic-water-for-g-ts/561501/6 "2010-11-22T03:24:55Z")
Both Fever Tree and Q Tonic are good. They’re pricey, though. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-tonic-water-for-g-ts/561501/7 "2010-11-22T03:45:10Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Yeah, I’ve gotten to the point where my gin and tonics are 70% or more gin and that seems to create that really refreshing crispness. For _really_ refreshing crispness, just pour chilled gin into the glass, give the bottle of tonic water a meaningful look, and drink. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-tonic-water-for-g-ts/561501/8 "2010-11-22T06:29:01Z")
I had honestly never given the tonic water much consideration. Which is odd, considering how much I love it. I enjoy a glass of tonic water, with or without gin in it! Sometimes I have schwepps, sometimes I have grocery store brand. I can’t taste the difference between the two, personally. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-tonic-water-for-g-ts/561501/9 "2010-11-22T19:12:40Z")
You’re not drinking diet tonic, are you? I find the artificial sweeteners do bad things to my mouth. So my advice: you may as well stick with Schweppes, it’s as good as any, but make sure it’s full-fat. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-tonic-water-for-g-ts/561501/10 "2010-11-23T03:44:22Z")
Here’s my choices in order: 1. Fever Tree 2. Q 3. Schweppes Indian Tonic (I think it’s imported from the UK) 4. US Schweppes 5. Canada Dry 6. Everything else Fever Tree tonic water, Boodles Gin, ice and half a lime is a sublime beverage. (on a tangential note, Fever Tree Ginger ale is awesome with gold rum and lime as well) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-tonic-water-for-g-ts/561501/11 "2010-11-23T03:48:58Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > If it’s true tonic water, it’s going to have a bitter aftertaste. It’s the quinine. Just use Schweppes and add more gin. 😃 I’ll second this, but without the smiley. Weak Vodka/Gin and Tonic drinks taste awful. Only one time did I order a drink and tell the bartender to make it weak since I had places to be. Never again. I’d prefer to get it made properly (which, for me, is closer to 75-90% vodka or gin) and not drink all of it. Having said that. I prefer Schweppes.