Any cocktail lover will tell you that tonic water is an indispensable mixer. Gin and tonics rise and fall based on the type of tonic water you use to craft the drink. If it’s too sweet or has too few bubbles, your mixed tonic drink will fall flat.

But what is tonic water? At its simplest, tonic water is composed of three ingredients: soda water, sugar, and quinine, an extract from the bark of the cinchona tree grown in South America. Quinine tonic water was used to prevent malaria, which is how it got its name — tonic meaning medicinal. Legend has it that tonic water first started being mixed with gin to encourage British soldiers to take their medicine during the Raj.

Creative modern tonic producers are refining the traditional recipe with their own unique spin. Sugar-free variations are now quite common on the market. Craft brands have shifted to using sparkling water instead of soda and have replaced high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners with agave or cane sugar. 

You can also buy tonic syrup concentrate to blend with club soda or seltzer, allowing you to customize the strength of your tonic water. Some brands incorporate additional flavors like grapefruit, bitter orange, elderflower, lemongrass, and wood essences. The result is tonic water that heightens the flavor profile of any cocktail or is a refreshingly brisk beverage all on its own.

Are you a cocktail lover looking for a new take on an old classic? Or seeking a soft drink alternative? We’ve got a list of the best tonic waters for you to try the next time you have a few friends over for a drink. Bottoms up.

1. Betty Buzz Tonic Water

Let your cocktails take flight with Betty Buzz and its light and refreshing American-style tonic water. This tonic doesn’t have an overly sweet or bitter taste. It strikes a balance between its component flavors. Lots of small bubbles make it the perfect pair for gin or vodka and delicious all on its own.

2. Fentimans Tonic Water

Add a sense of depth to your cocktails with Fentimans. Their tonic water perfectly balances the sharp flavor of gin’s juniper berries with the bittersweetness of the tonic making this specialty soda a whole new kind of delicious.

3. Llanllyr Tonic Water

Llanllyr tonic water is crafted from a blend of natural Sicilian lemons and Indian and Indonesian quinine. It’s designed to complement the natural botanicals in the finest spirits. Try it in your favorite Gin & Tonic or solo for a refreshing effervescent drink.

4. Jack Rudy Small Batch Elderflower Tonic

Create a refreshing highball with Jack Rudy’s small-batch tonic water. Mix it with your best gin or vodka, then add soda to brighten and lighten your beverage. Organic, dried elderflower adds depth to a bold finish making it one of the best tonic waters for gin and other spirits like tequila, bourbon, and rum.

5. Fever Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water 

Fever Tree blends rich botanical flavors with the finest quinine from the Democratic of Congo and fresh spring water to craft their premium, award-winning, classic tonic water. It’s the natural choice for G&Ts and adds a burst of freshness to the best vodka, vermouth, sherry, or white port.

6. Boylan’s Heritage Tonic

Boylan Heritage Tonic Water was created to bring an end to bland tonic water. Striking a balance between sweet, bitter, and sour flavors, it’s delightful on its own with nothing more than a twist of lime. Blend it with your favorite liquor, and it becomes the indispensable ingredient for a variety of delicious cocktails.

7. Sanpellegrino Tonica Oakwood

Sanpellegrino Tonica Oakwood is a dry and intense tonic water with oak wood flavors. Oak essence gives this mixer a unique taste and pleasant bitterness. You’ll get first-hand notes that elevate cocktails beyond the ordinary. Its delicate bubbles feel crisp and light on the tongue to enhance the overall aromas of a classic gin and tonic.

8. Regatta Dry Citrus Sparkling Tonic

Regatta blends a complex mix of citrusy notes and sweet flavors with quinine to create a well-balanced tonic with a dry finish. Play professional bartender and take your cocktails to the next level with a premium mixer that doesn’t compromise on quality. Your G&Ts and vodka tonics will never be the same.

9. Q Drinks Light Tonic Water

Everything you love about Q Tonic Water but with fewer than half the calories. This tonic is clean, crisp, and highly carbonated. Q Drinks has crafted a light tonic water that lets your favorite spirit shine, whether you’re using gin, vodka, rum, or tequila. You don’t need to sacrifice great taste to create a light cocktail.

10. Schweppes 1783 Bitter Lemon Tonic

Schweppes Tonic Water gets the premium treatment, carefully balancing its lemon flavor with the unique taste of quinine. The bitter flavor has a refreshing bite accompanied by a pleasant fizz of bubbles. The result is a sophisticated sparkling beverage that’ll enhance any cocktail.

11. Canada Dry Diet Tonic Water

Canada Dry produces spectacular tonic water with no calories or caffeine to come between you and your favorite spirit. Clean and sparkling with a distinct hint of quinine, Canada Dry Tonic Water is the simple, no-nonsense mixer for all your favorite cocktails.

FAQs

Which is the best tonic water?

Your best tonic water depends on what you would like to do with it. 

BEST VERSATILITY. Fentimans Tonic Water is a balanced tonic that goes well with just about any spirit.

BEST EFFERVESCENCE. Want a highly carbonated addition for a more effervescent beverage? Betty Buzz Tonic Water boasts a lot of bubbles. 

BEST NATURALLY SWEETENED. Looking for a tonic option that uses natural sweeteners? Boylan's Heritage Tonic is sweetened with pure cane sugar.

BEST FLAVOR ADDITIONS. Add depth to your cocktails with tonic water with added flavorings, such as citrus flavors in Regatta Dry Citrus Sparkling Tonic or wood essence in Sanpellegrino Tonica Oakwood.

Tonic water is a versatile mixer. Try substituting it for club soda or seltzer in other mixed drink recipes. You could discover your next, best, favorite cocktail combination with a little experimentation.

Is it OK to drink tonic water every day?

If you’re unfamiliar with the effects of quinine, you might be wondering if tonic water is good for you. 

Tonic water was once prescribed daily to prevent malaria. If you don’t have a sensitivity to quinine, you should be fine. In terms of sugar, it has slightly less than the amount found in a regular soda. If your diet allows for that amount of sugar on a daily basis, you can drink a can of tonic water a day. If not, you can drink a diet version or one that contains a reduced amount of sugar.

Does all tonic water have quinine?

Modern tonic water has considerably less quinine in its recipe than the original medicinal version. Producers make up for the reduced bitterness by adding botanicals to round out the flavor. Some commercial tonic waters are made without quinine, but they’re few and far between. If you’re concerned, you can cut the tonic water in your cocktail by half and add soda or seltzer to make up the volume.