Anyone for gin and chocolate mint tonic?

Never mind posh gin – now it’s mixers that have seen an exotic explosion of flavours

DeSpITe the arrival of so many wonderful craft gins in recent years, most of us still drink the stuff in one of two ways: with tonic or slimline tonic.

After all, it’s easy — and it’s hard to beat the refreshing fizz of a good G&T.

But with gin sales doubling in the past two years to a record 73million bottles, soft drinks makers have decided they should try to get in on the action. Most of what you’re drinking in a G&T is the T, after all.

They have come up with tonics in a variety of unusual flavours, from cannabis extract to salty lemons, coffee and black olives.

So can a carefully crafted ‘artisan’ tonic water really turn basic supermarket gin into a classy cocktail? or is adding violet or basil to your favourite tipple a recipe for something revolting?

Gaz Jones, of Schweppes, says: ‘Just taste the tonic before you add it to gin. If you like it on its own, you’re probably on to a winner.’

Clementine Beech, gin expert at Craft Gin Club, says: ‘Some gin and flavoured tonic combinations may clash horribly, but if you try to pair like with like — a herb-infused gin with a herbal tonic, for example — or aim for classic flavour pairings like a citrus gin with a spiced tonic, you should find something you enjoy.’

For best results, she says, pour one third gin and two thirds tonic into a large red wine or ‘copa’ balloon glass (a wide-mouthed glass allows you to inhale and better savour the aromas of your drink). Fill with plenty of ice, as the more cubes you add, the more slowly they will melt and dilute your drink. Give it a couple of quick stirs and you should have a perfectly balanced G&T.

But can any of the odd new tonics match the simple original? We put them to the test . . .

IT’S LIKE SUCKING AN AFTER EIGHT

Peter Spanton Beverage No 4 Chocolate Superior Tonic, £1.05 for 200ml, ocado.com A Blend of mint and dark chocolate essences with bitter quinine and sharp citrus. The manufacturers say you’ll ‘love it or loathe it’ and they’re right. Imagine sucking an After eight or perhaps a Mint Aero while sipping bitter tonic water. It may be weird, but it works better than you might imagine with gin, and comes into its own with dark spirits such as rum and brandy. definitely an acquired taste. 3/5

A PINCH OF SALT ON SHERBET LEMONS

Schweppes 1783 Salty Lemon Tonic Water, £7.50 for 12 x 200ml, ocado.com THIS lemon and quinine tonic is sweeter than you would expect, with a powerful sherbet lemon flavour. The lemon is enhanced by a dash of sea salt — about an eighth of a teaspoon in a 200ml bottle — and the flavours meld well. Schweppes recommend mixing this with floral or aniseed-flavoured gins, but it works with my supermarket ownbrand, too. Very nice. 5/5

NO HIGH — BUT A HINT OF CANNABIS

BumbleZest CBD Tonic Water, £2 for 200ml, bumblezest.co.uk THIS amber-coloured tonic is flavoured with bitter quinine like normal tonic, plus lemon, ginger and cinnamon, with a dash of maple syrup and 5mg of EU-law compliant CBD (cannabidiol), a compound found in cannabis.

With no psychoactive properties, so it’s legal and won’t get you high, CBD is believed to have relaxing, anti-inflammatory effects. This is less sweet than some, with the equivalent of a teaspoon of sugar in a bottle, and has ginger and cinnamon notes (you can’t taste the CBD). delicious on its own or with citrussy gins. 4/5

MAKE MINE A GIN AND ESPRESSO

Thomas Henry Coffee Tonic, £1.20 for 200ml, 31dover.com ESPRESSO coffee poured over ice and tonic water has been a popular summer drink on the Continent for years, so this combination is not quite as ‘out there’ as it might sound. Made with smooth cold-brew coffee, the bronzecoloured mixer has a powerful roasted coffee flavour and tangy acidity, though for me the flavour is a bit peculiar. Best mixed with gin or liqueurs with bitter or herbal notes, or dark spirits such as rum. 3/5

A BLACK OLIVE BOOSTER

Franklin & Sons Rosemary Tonic Water with Black Olive, £1.29 for 200ml, drinksupermarket.com THE gentle rosemary aroma and the bitterness of the subtle black olive notes and bitter quinine here are designed to work well with citrussy Mediterranean flavoured gins and sweet vermouth. This is sweet, sophisticated and delicately herbal, the perfect gin and tonic pairing for an alfresco Italian meal, but with no massive flavour punch. 3/5

A PARMA VIOLET PEOPLE-PLEASER

The Artisan Drinks Co Violet Blossom Tonic, £26.95 for 24 x 200ml, mastersofmalt.com IF YOU like parma Violets sweets, then you’ll almost certainly love this. Violet, elderflower and apple blossom add powerful floral notes to this pretty, lilac-coloured tonic that looks great in the glass and can be drunk on its own.

Ideally, though, mix it with a dry, citrussy or floral gin so it’s not too sweet-tasting, and perhaps top with an edible flower for a unique summer tipple. 4/5

A WHIFF OF BASIL IN EVERY BUBBLE

Double Dutch Pomegranate and Basil Premium Mixer, £1.19 for 200ml, drinksuper market.com A Very unusual, drytasting summer mixer. There is no bitter quinine in this. Instead, its natural flavours are fruity, but not too sweet. you can taste the jammy pomegranate, but the overriding note is woody, peppery basil. refreshing on its own with lots of ice or with gins with herbal notes. 3/5

TRUE TASTE OF THE WILD WEST

Sea Buck Tonic, £1.30 for 200ml, drinkfinder.co.uk THE juice from sea buckthorn berries that grow wild on salt-lashed sand dunes along the Cornish coast has been added to this gold-coloured tonic, along with carbonated Cornish mineral water and quinine. The tonic has an unusual citrus taste without being excessively bitter. It’s a lovely colour too. Classy — and goes well with any gin. 4/5

LAVENDER IN YOUR LIVENER

Harvey Nichols Orange and Lavender Tonic Water, £1.50 for 200ml, harveynichols.com THIS is really nice. The traditional quinine-laced tonic water taste is softened by gentle orange and lavender flavours. With a delicious honey aroma, it will enhance any basic gin as well as those with citrus or floral notes. The perfect mixer for a warm evening. 5/5

THE WONDER OF WILDFLOWERS

Fentimans Botanical Tonic Water, £1.90 for 500ml, Sainsbury’s.co.uk A GENTLY sparkling tonic infused with flavours including hyssop, lime flower, myrtle leaf and white jasmine flowers, all rounded off with a hint of quinine. It’s a sweet, subtle floral tonic with lime notes that works best with citrus and herb gins. 4/5