Tag Archives: tonic

Cocktail of the week: White port and tonic

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In the muggy days approaching the official first day of Summer, our thoughts turn to warm weather cocktails. Annabelle Kressman, this week’s official co-taster, and I sipped Fonseca Siroco Extra Dry White Porto with Fever-Tree Indian Premium Tonic this week, thankfully in air-conditioned comfort.

IMG_0417White port, even the extra dry variety, is on the sweet side, slightly oaky, reminiscent of stone fruit and typically served chilled as an aperitif. It takes on a pleasantly citrus vibe when mixed with tonic, especially a tonic with a super clean edge like Fever-Tree.

It isn’t complicated to make. Fill a rocks glass with ice, mix the porto and tonic to taste, add a spritz of fresh lime and enjoy.

White port and tonic is a sophisticated blend and your guests might not be able to identify the potent potable unless you give them a hint. Or just tell them outright.

Annabelle’s pronouncement: “Refreshing, different, very summery. A thumb’s up.”

IMG_0409Fonseca Siroco has been around since the 1950s, a great era for cocktails, which makes it an authentic and unexpected choice for a retro-style get-together. The port has a budget-friendly price point of $19, which means you can splurge on the Fever-Tree, which will set you back about $5 and change for a four-pack of 6.8-ounce bottles.

 

Tonic and gin, please. Fever-Tree

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It isn’t just about the gin. It isn’t all about the vodka. A first-class mixed drink is about the mixer, too. That’s why they call it a mixed drink.

At a very civilized bar in the UK, a server asked me which tonic I wanted with my sublime Plymouth Gin. Hmm. You mean there’s a choice?

Indeed. And on both sides of the pond, my choice is Fever-Tree, a premium line of all natural mixers. Ginger from Nigeria, the Ivory Coast and India. Expect the purest quality quinine from the Congo, which will keep your head cool and your palate pleased. Flavors are crisp, happy and straightforward, dear chap. No artificial aftertaste. No phony colors.

Fever-Tree is so impressive you just might start ordering a tonic and gin instead of a gin a tonic.

The brand was developed by Charles Rolls, former managing director of Plymouth Gin, and Tim Warrillow, who was steeped in premium teas and coffees before entering the beverage market.

In addition to Fever-Tree’s flagship Indian Tonic Water, there are six other labels: Naturally Light Tonic Water (only 40 calories!), Bitter Lemon, Club Soda, Ginger Ale, Ginger Beer and, the latest, Mediterranean Tonic Water, a floral mixer designed to play nice with vodka.

And now you need not head to your favorite upscale waterhole to indulge. You can buy Fever-Tree through Amazon and other outlets for your enjoyment at home. Suggested retail price: $5.99 for a four-pack of 200ml bottles; 500 ml bottles for $2.99.