FEVER-TREE – Tonic Water – Premium Natural Mixer

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Fever Tree | Premium tonic water As you know, I regularly and happily dedicate myself to testing impressive food and drink products. Recently, I had the opportunity to try out the Fever-Tree range again. Fever-Tree is a premium mixer brand founded in the UK in 2005, and is now available in Germany in seven different varieties. In its founding year, the first Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water – the classic – was launched. Since then, the Fever-Tree brand has increasingly made a name for itself as a mixer specialist. I took a closer look.

„"There are so many types of tonic water. A great many, in fact. But why bother with the details, since tonic water is usually 'just' used as a filler in a mixed drink," or so I thought until recently. I gained a new perspective during a recent tasting of five different premium tonic waters from Fever-Tree, including the new "Naturally Light" variety. Now, after the extensive tasting, I know: Tonic water is much more than "just a filler." It actually makes perfect sense: Tonic water contributes a crucial part – three-quarters, to be precise – to how the finished mixed drink, such as a gin and tonic, tastes. So, it was very interesting for me to be able to try different mixed drinks with various tonic waters. I increasingly noticed that the type of tonic water makes a clear difference in taste and quality.

Broadly speaking, the Fever-Tree brand was born out of this very problem. The two founders, Charles and Tim, were stuck on the question: How, or rather, with which mixer, do you actually make the perfect gin and tonic? It wasn't the gin that was the problem, because, as you know, there are plenty of good, high-quality gins out there. No, that wasn't the issue; it was the tonic water. To meet their own high standards, the two experimented and experimented for a long time, traveled to numerous countries and continents, and then – ta-da! – launched the first premium tonic water: Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water. Today, Fever-Tree is considered an innovative pioneer in a beverage category that was relatively – at least until 2005 – quite neglected. Fever-Tree mixers are now sold in more than 50 countries, are featured in many of the world's 50 top bars (including in Munich, for example at the Zephyr Bar), and are certainly not without reason on the menus of seven of the ten officially recognized best restaurants in the world (e.g., in San Sebastián, New York, and Vienna). Furthermore, in 2014, the brand won the "Cool Brand" status for the fourth consecutive year and garnered other awards and prizes.

To find out if Fever-Tree Tonic Water lives up to its promises, I met with a friendly employee from "storykitchen." It was through storykitchen that I first became aware of Fever-Tree Premium Tonic Water. Storykitchen regularly publishes the "storybook," which offers the best tips and tricks, as well as exciting new products from the culinary world. The storybook features outstanding manufacturers and unique products. I found what I was looking for in the Winter 2015 edition, and the introduction of Fever-Tree piqued my interest. So, we met at the Little London Bar in Munich's Tal district for a tasting.

What can I say? Tonic water is definitely not just tonic water. From classic Indian Tonic Water or Lemon Tonic, to Elderflower or Mediterranean Tonic Water, all the way to Ginger Ale or Ginger Beer – I've tried them all, and of course, the new Naturally Light Tonic Water. With each variety, the focus is clearly on naturalness and the highest quality. Quite simply: the best taste comes only from the best ingredients. And the founders found these ingredients among small farmers all over the world. For example, the lemons come from Sicily, the quinine from the Congo, the ginger from the Ivory Coast, India, and Nigeria, and the elderflower from England. And I think you can taste this diversity and "the long quest for perfection" in every single variety.

The focus of the tasting was clearly the "newcomer" to the tonic water range: Naturally Light Tonic Water. In its British homeland, Naturally Light Tonic Water has already become the second most popular variety in the Fever-Tree range since its market launch. It is the world's first completely natural tonic water with 501,300 calories less! The combination of hand-pressed citrus fruits, the highest quality quinine from the Congo, and a small amount of fructose creates a deliciously pure taste experience with a light bitter note. Personally, I'm not a fan of overly bitter drinks or mixers. But Naturally Light pleasantly surprised me. The tonic water pairs perfectly with gin or vodka, and it transforms any long drink, for example with lime, lemon, or grapefruit, into a refreshingly light mixed drink.

At our tasting, we tried a mix of G'Vine Gin, ice, and Naturally Light. Excellent and definitely one of my favorites of the evening. You absolutely have to try it. The "London Stay Light," created by the Little London Bar itself and now officially available to order there, also elicited a real "Wow!" It's a mix of Citadella Gin, homemade lemongrass-grapefruit lemonade, homemade pomegranate syrup, lemon juice, grapefruit bitters, ice cubes, and of course, Naturally Light Tonic Water from Fever-Tree. Very fruity, very refreshing, and not at all bitter. Another one of my new favorites when I want a drink at the Little London Bar.

My second favorite is clearly the Mediterranean Tonic Water – both as a mix with, for example, Gin Mare and a sprig of rosemary. At the tasting in the Little London Bar, the skilled and friendly bartender charred the rosemary sprig with a blowtorch before adding it to the drink. This allows the rosemary's aroma to unfold beautifully when you put it to your lips, and the flavors harmonize perfectly. So definitely try it. I especially enjoyed the Mediterranean Tonic Water neat, not as a mixer, because Fever-Tree Tonic Waters are also designed for that. The Elderflower Tonic variety is also delicious on its own, perhaps with just a slice of cucumber or fresh berries. Be sure to try that too and pick up a few bottles to experiment with. 200ml bottles of Fever-Tree are available from €1.59.

Incidentally, classic Fever Tree Indian Tonic Water was awarded "Filler" of the Year. Not bad, right? If you're now generally more interested in tonic water and want to take a closer look next time at what actually makes up three-quarters of your mixed drink glass, here's some background information to wrap things up: Tonic water used to be standard issue for many colonial armies in Europe. Hence the name "tonic," which means "invigorating and strengthening." Back then, the quinine content of tonic water was considerably higher, and so the water was a welcome protection against malaria when consumed regularly. However, since it was so bitter that it was almost impossible to drink, necessity became the mother of invention, and gin was added. The Gin and Tonic was born, and the long drink was invented. And in case you haven't guessed it yet: Premium Tonic Water owes its name to the "Fever Tree" or cinchona tree, from whose bark the crucial bittering agent quinine is extracted. This arguably most important ingredient has thus become both the hallmark and the name of this excellent tonic water.

My personal conclusion: I hope I've inspired you to try the tonic water and experiment with it. Feel free to try the recipes above at home or sample them in a Munich bar. This tasting clearly demonstrated to me that there are significant differences in the quality and taste of tonic water. Fever-Tree has definitely earned a place in my "product test" category. I'm curious to hear what you think…

I will buy this product again: Yes. Fever-Tree will definitely be appearing in my drinks more often in the future.

Tested product: Fever Tree – Tonic Water
Address: Lindwurmstraße 88, 80337 Munich
Websites: Fever Tree – Tonic Water, Storykitchen

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