How to make you own “House” Tonic Water

   I know when I’m beat!  I read a lot of other people’s cocktail blogs for the obvious reason of getting great new ideas and even being entertained.  I love the creativity and how most cocktail blogs are informative, unique, and motivating.  My tonic recipe was basically copied from Kevin Ludwig’s recipe in Imbibe (March/April ’07).  I played around with it and did a couple things different but realized that you have to give credit where credit is due.  This is a bartender’s rule that is all too often broken.
   This tonic water recipe is one I have been using for awhile now with no changes because everyone loves it.  I use one juniper berry in my recipe, with so many people on the vodka band wagon these days I figure I’d make something that even gives a vodka tonic flavor.  I also don’t use lemon grass like Kevin Ludwig’s recipe but I have customers who like this so much they drink this with or without alcohol.
       
       Tonic Water Syrup
       4 cups water
       4 cups sugar
       1/4 cup cinchona bark (try Tenzing Momo)
       1/4 cup citric acid
       Zest and juice of 1 lime
       Zest and juice of 1 lemon
       Zest and juice of 1 orange
       1 teaspoon coriander seeds (brings out citrus notes)
       1 teaspoon dried bitter orange peel (I use Brewers Garden)
       10 dashes bitters
       1 hand crushed juniper berry
       Combine all except sugar into a large pot and bring to a boil, turn heat to low and simmer for twenty minutes.  Remove from heat and let cool then strain.  The cinchona bark is very fine and needs to be fine strained through a french press coffee strainer.  Do this in batches and pour all back into a cleaned out large pot.  Now you have a strained, brownish tonic base you need to add the sugar to.  Bring liquid back to a simmer and add sugar, stir until all the sugar is dissolved.  Pour into a food safe container and refrigerate.  I have frozen batches when I make a lot and it keeps great.

       Gin and House Tonic
       11/2 oz Gin
       3/4 oz Tonic Syrup
       2 oz Soda Water
       Keep in mind that this is a brownish gin and tonic.  I have never had a customer who returned one and most people are very open minded to it, especially after they taste it.  Homemade tonic is a great conversation starter and don’t be scared to add fruit or whatever to this recipe… Gin and Mango Tonic Water anyone?

Article By: Mark Sexauer