Bitter Lemon Tonic Water
selecting one of the beverage styles below. DOWNLOAD RECIPES
Spanish G&T
The Spanish G&T is all about the garnish. The possibilities are endless, but the idea is to choose garnishes that complement both the gin and the tonic.
London Dry and other juniper-forward gin's pair well with Classic Tonic, fresh herbs, citrus, and juniper berries. American and other floral-forward gins take well to Indian Tonic and fresh seasonal fruits and edible flowers.
Spanish G&T Recipe:
2 oz gin
4 oz tonic*
2 dashes bitters
Squeeze lemon
Cucumber slice (3)
Juniper Berry (3) and or Red Peppercorn (3)
Lemon peel
Add Gin, Bitters, Cucumber, Juniper, Lemon Juice, and Peppercorns to a balloon glass. Add ice and stir. Slowly pour in tonic on side of glass. Carefully lift and stir. Spritz with the lemon peel and drop peel in glass.
Serve with or without a straw.
White Port & Tonic
This simple classic Portuguese apéritif is perfect for happy hour. No fancy bar tools necessary!
White Port & Tonic Recipe:
4 oz white port wine
.5 oz lemon juice
4 oz Top Note Indian Tonic or Bitter Lemon Tonic
Optional 2 dashes bitters of your choice
Garnish: fresh citrus and herbs
Stir ingredients together with ice and garnish.
Katie Stryjewski’s Travel Insurance
This simple 3-ingredient cocktail is deceptively complex and definitely elegant, featuring top notes of lemon and bergamot and a fruity earthiness courtesy of rhum agricole.
Be sure to check out our Q&A with Katie and keep up with her on Instagram.
Katie Stryjewski’s Travel Insurance Recipe:
1.5 oz rhum agricole
.5 oz Italicus
3.5 oz Top Note Bitter Lemon Tonic Water
Garnish: dehydrated lime slice
Build in a Collins or highball glass over ice, top with Tonic Water, and garnish.
Caffè Spritz
Give your coffee routine a European twist! This Espresso & Tonic variation combines two classic Italian libations - espresso and the Spritz cocktail. Perfect for summer sipping and fancy brunching.
Caffè Spritz Recipe:
2 oz freshly brewed espresso or cold brew concentrate
5 oz Top Note Bitter Lemon Tonic Water
Garnish: orange wedge
Add Tonic Water to an ice-filled glass (we like a wine glass for an authentic Italian Spritz experience, but any glass will do), then slowly pour in the coffee. Garnish.
Emily Vikre’s Negroni Highball
“All this thinking about Negroni’s led me to want to make a Negroni highball!” - Emily Vikre
Read our Q&A with Emily to learn more about her journey into the world of cocktails, distilling, and - you guessed it - Negroni’s!
Image credit: Emily Vikre
Emily Vikre’s Negroni Highball Recipe:
1 oz Vikre Distillery Gin
3/4 oz Vikre Distillery Amaro (or Campari)
3/4 oz sweet vermouth
Top Note Bitter Lemon Tonic Water, to top
Garnish: orange twist, optional
Combine the spirits in a highball glass with ice, top with Bitter Lemon, and stir gently. Garnish if desired.
Spiced Orange Spritz
Make this mimosa riff at your next brunch gathering for a zero-proof companion to clear minds and clean plates.
Spiced Orange Spritz Recipe:
1.5 oz Royal Rose Cardamom Clove Syrup
1 oz lemon juice
2 oz orange juice
3 oz Top Note Bitter Lemon Tonic Water, chilled
Garnish: star anise, freshly-grated cinnamon
Stir all ingredients together in a chilled flute glass and garnish.
Grown-Up Shirley Temple
The zero-proof Shirley Temple has many variations, but ultimately it’s reputation as a cloyingly sweet pink drink made exclusively for kids prevails across each one.
In this recipe, we’ve updated the classic for kids AND kids at heart. We’ve eliminated the sugary soda, upped the acidity, and added a bitter element all while keeping the original flavor profile front and center.
Whatever you do, don’t skimp on the cherries!
Grown-Up Shirley Temple Recipe:
.75 oz grenadine
.5 oz lime juice
4.25 oz Top Note Club Soda No. 1
2.5 oz Top Note Bitter Lemon Tonic Water
1 tsp maraschino cherry juice
Garnish: maraschino cherries
Stir all ingredients together in a glass filled with ice and garnish.
I'm Not Bitter, You're Bitter
A G&T with a bittersweet Spanish twist.
I'm Not Bitter, You're Bitter Recipe:
1.5 oz Spanish gin
.25 oz Spanish vermouth
4 oz Top Note Bitter Lemon Tonic Water
Garnish: seasonal fruits and/or herbs
Stir ingredients together in a Copa de Balon or other wine glass and garnish as desired.
Bitter Arnie
A refreshing spin on the classic Arnold Palmer.
Bitter Arnie Recipe:
4 oz black tea, chilled
.5 oz honey syrup
.25 oz lemon juice
4 oz Top Note Bitter Lemon Tonic Water
Garnish: lemon wedge
Stir all ingredients together in an ice-filled glass and garnish.
Fallin' For You
This fall-forward recipe is spiced deeply enough for even the most diehard of PSL fans, yet refreshing and bright enough for those who tend to be turned off by all things pumpkin-flavored.
Fallin' For You Recipe:
1.5 oz Great Lakes Distillery Seasonal Pumpkin Spirit
.5 oz allspice dram
3 oz Top Note Bitter Lemon Tonic Water
Garnish: expressed lemon peel
Stir ingredients together in an ice-filled glass and garnish.
Rum & Tonic
Rum & Tonic may not be as well-known as some other classic highballs, but this underdog is surprisingly delicious and can be enjoyed in a multitude of combinations. See below for our suggestions, but you do you!
Rum & Tonic Recipe:
2 oz rum*
4 oz tonic*
Garnish: fresh citrus
Stir ingredients together in an ice-filled glass and garnish.
*Rum and Tonic Pairings:
- Dark Rum + Classic Tonic Water
- White Rum + Bitter Lemon Tonic Water
- Rhum Agricole + Indian Tonic Water
Rosé Spritz
Use up an open bottle of sparkling rosé with this simple spritz recipe.
Rosé Spritz Recipe:
.5 oz sweet vermouth
3 oz sparkling rosé wine
3 oz Top Note Bitter Lemon Tonic Water
Garnish: fresh citrus peel
Stir ingredients together in a wine glass and garnish.