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
Filed under: Sodas, Tonics, and Ales
