The 8 Best Tonic Waters in 2023

The 8 Best Tonic Waters in 2022 — Liquor / Chloe Jeong

Tonic water is a key mixer to have in any home bar. After all, it’s one-half of a classic Gin and Tonic. The core ingredients are simple: soda water, sugar, and quinine—a bitter compound taken from the bark of the cinchona tree, commonly found in South America. It's the quinine that provides that familiar bitter flavor that defines this mixer.

For years our options for tonic water were limited, but in recent years, more quality products have flooded the market. From craft brands to syrups and sugar-free versions, we have more choices than ever. You can find a range of small producers and top brands making variations on tonics. For a versatile and trusted option, we recommend Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water.

Here are the best tonic waters to try today.

The Rundown

Best Overall:

Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water at Amazon

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Best Tonic Syrup:

Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. Classic Tonic Syrup at Amazon

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Best for Gin and Tonic:

Fentimans Tonic Water at Amazon

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Best Craft:

Top Note Classic Tonic Water at Amazon

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Best for Drinking on its Own:

Canada Dry Tonic Water at Amazon

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Best Budget:

Schweppes Tonic Water at Amazon

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Best Light:

Q Mixers Light Tonic Water at Amazon

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Best for Vodka:

Boylan Heritage Tonic at Amazon

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Fever-Tree has a wide range of flavors available, but the classic Indian Tonic Water is one of the best. It’s made using quinine from the “fever trees” found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These trees, which are known as cinchona trees, contain quinine in their bark, which is the source of the bitterness in tonic water. This tonic is not too sweet and can be mixed with any spirit for a tasty highball or cocktail.

Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. Classic Tonic Syrup

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Compared to tonic waters, tonic syrups can be kept in the fridge for a long time, and you can increase or decrease the concentration to suit your taste. A great choice is Jack Rudy’s Classic Tonic Syrup, a concentrate made from quinine, botanicals and real cane sugar for sweetness. One bottle will yield about 23 servings, give or take. Just add some soda water and your favorite spirit for a satisfying drink.

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Fentimans has been “botanical brewing” since the early 20th century and is well known for its spicy ginger beer. Its tonic water is also excellent—botanicals like juniper, makrut lime, and lemongrass are infused into the water to complement the floral notes of gin. This makes it perfect for a classic gin and tonic, with the tonic providing an extra burst of herbal flavor to amplify the character of any gin.

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Milwaukee-based Top Note got its start in 2014 and has racked up awards for its eclectic lineup since then. In addition to the grapefruit and lime-flavored Indian Tonic Water (which the brand recommends drinking with coffee) and the more traditional Classic Tonic, the company makes grapefruit soda, ginger beer, bitter lemon, and club soda. There may be other brands with a bigger selection of flavors, but Top Note keeps things simple while making products with high-quality ingredients with what they call a "craft brewer's mentality."

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Tonic water is also a lovely drink on its own, perhaps with a dash of bitters or a squeeze of citrus poured over some ice. Canada Dry's Tonic Water is a simple, accessible option for this purpose. While it might be a bit sweeter than other craft offerings, the quinine bitterness keeps its flavor profile relatively balanced.

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Schweppes is a ubiquitous and affordable brand, and its tonic water works well in any drink or on its own. It’s sweet, with just a little bitterness from the quinine, and has been used in countless gin and tonics all over the world. All in all, this is a straightforward, readily available option.

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Q Mixers makes a light version of their tonic water, providing the same flavors with only half the calories. The quinine in this tonic comes from cinchona trees in the Peruvian Andes, and this version uses erythritol as a sweetener instead of the agave syrup in the original. Use this tonic water as a mixer if you're concerned about extra calories or sugar in your drinks.

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Vodka is by definition flavorless and odorless (though some brands have more character than others). So, tonic waters with a stronger flavor profile are ideal for making a vodka tonic or any other vodka drink. Boylan Heritage Tonic works well with all types of vodka, thanks to a pronounced citrus flavor from the lemon, key lime and bitter orange extracts. Add a wheel of lemon or lime as a garnish, sit back and enjoy a superior vodka cocktail.

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Final Verdict

Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water (view at Amazon) claims the top spot: it's not super sweet, making it versatile. If you're a gin and tonic lover, Fentiman's Tonic Water (view at Amazon) is infused with botanicals like juniper and lemongrass to complement your cocktail.

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Jonah Flicker is an experienced writer who has been covering spirits and traveling the world visiting distilleries for the past six years. His work has appeared in many different national outlets covering trends, new releases, and the stories and innovators behind the spirits. His first love remains whiskey, but he is partial to tequila, rum, gin, cognac, and all things distilled.