A Tonic Sampler

[Rex_Tremende]

Just wondering what the time frame for sampling the gin and due to slight intoxication by that time. tonics, and if you had a whole drink for each, say 1 and a half ounces of gin, ice and tonic in a sour glass. If so, the last one might be at a definite disadvantage. Trying a different one each afternoon might give you a better test.

I sampled only one tonic in a day, using my customary (but unmeasured) pour. In some cases, it might have taken two full drinks to reach my conclusion, but my comments are largely based on initial reactions. The order reported in the first post was not necessarily the order sampled, though Canada Dry was indeed last, owing to the fact that I was already familiar with it. (I believe it was Stirrings first, Fentimans, Q, then CD.)

Regards,
Rex.

[sydnie7]

Oh, and here I pictured you swirling the mix in your mouth, then spitting it into some lovely bowl like the wine tasters do!

[BroosterB1]

BTW has anyone looked at tonic under a black light. It glows. Quinine has what's called luminescent quantum yield making it react to (UV) light.

Fun science experiment for the interested.

In the movie the Widowmaker the blue glow was achieved by thousands of gallons of quinine in the "reactor" room.

My last G&T was made with Trader Joes Tonic Water, it is head and shoulders above either Schwepps or Canada Dry. These days the tonic water would have to go into a tart lemonaid.

[xb12x]

I like my whiskey neat

[Jerry]

I sampled only one tonic in a day, using my customary (but unmeasured) pour. In some cases, it might have taken two full drinks to reach my conclusion, but my comments are largely based on initial reactions. The order reported in the first post was not necessarily the order sampled, though Canada Dry was indeed last, owing to the fact that I was already familiar with it. (I believe it was Stirrings first, Fentimans, Q, then CD.)

Regards,
Rex.

Good deal, Rex, I figured you were quite a bit smarter than that, but although my post was somewhat tongue in cheek, I had to ask.

[Une]

Schweppes is my choise, the doctor told me it is very good for cramp because it has Quinine in it.

[JRB]

Excellent review. Like you, I've never put much thought into the tonic part of a gin and tonic. Usually I just get Schweppes as it's available in my local super market. By big pet peave about tonic is the extreme loss of carbonation after the first day of the bottle being opened. It's practically flat in less than 12 hours. I've solved this problem totally by buying my tonic in 10oz bottles. that size provides the perfect amount of tonic for my admitedly large G&Ts and I get to open a new fully carbonated bottle every time. I'm definitely going to try to find some Q tonic, though as I never turn down an idea for improving my libations.

[CDNSushi]

I found it interesting that one of the tonics used actual cinchona. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinchona

Don't know if I'd be worried drinking that or not. Authenic? Yes. Safe? I hope so... ;-)