At Top Note Tonic, we recognize that the truest source of flavor comes from nature. That's why we use only all-natural, gluten- and GMO-free ingredients to create the remarkable flavor profiles in our sparkling mixers. We believe that a balance of sweet, sour, and bitter - enhanced with key top note aromas - is crucial to making both our mixers and your cocktails sing.
Designed by a former craft brewer, Top Note Sparkling Mixers are complexly flavored without being overly fussed. Well crafted yet simple to use, our mixers are a favorite of craft spirits lovers everywhere.
Bitter Sources
Gentian
Found primarily in the French Alps, gentian root from the Gentiana lutea plant has bitter agents similar to those found in hops. Gentian has an earthy bitterness that provides a backbone of flavor in some of our tonic waters. Gentian's naturally occurring poly-phenol compound lends these tonics a slightly yellow color. Used in our Indian Tonic Water, Bitter Lemon Tonic Water and Gentiana Tonic Water, these tonics are unique, palate cleansing and very pleasing as an aperitivo soft drink or in a cocktail.
Cinchona/Quinine
Cinchona bark, also known as Peruvian bark, provides a natural source of quinine. Quinine is best known for providing the flavor associated with “tonic water”. Quinine provides a sharp lime-like bitterness to our Classic Tonic Water (100% bittered with natural quinine), Bitter Lemon Tonic Water, and Indian Tonic Water.
Citrus
Top Note Sparkling Mixers are created to provide complex botanical profiles. Citrus peels are one of the botanical ingredients we love, with grapefruit peel taking the front and center top note in our Sparkling Grapefruit Soda (which also contains 15% grapefruit juice) and Indian Tonic Water.
California lemon juice (not from concentrate) and peel provide a clean taste profile, fresh aroma, and slight sharpness to our Bitter Lemon Tonic Water, making this mixer a refreshing alternative to lemonade.
Spices
The aromas provided by spices are second only to those provided by citrus. The spices and non-GMO botanical extracts we use provide a warm and inviting aroma to our mixers.
Allspice
Allspice is a dried unripe fruit grown in warm climates. Called allspice because its profile is similar to a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, this flavorful component is used in many international foods and liqueurs. We use allspice to increase the depth of flavor in our sparkling mixers.
Ginger
Ginger is a spice used in food and drinks around the world. It produces an intensely hot aroma that pairs well with citrus botanicals. We use ginger to carefully add layers of complexity to our sparkling mixers.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass has a floral and grassy aroma that provides lightness and complexity to our sparkling mixers.
Juniper
Juniper is a key ingredient used to flavor gin and provides a sharp, clear flavor and dry earthiness to our tonic waters.
Wintergreen
Wintergreen has a sweet, earthy aroma. When used sparingly. it provides a minty depth of flavor to our sparkling mixers.
Sweeteners
Top Note Sparkling Mixers utilize several types of cane sugar for our mixers. Some variants of cane sugars are selected to provide unique flavor profiles while others are selected for their color qualities. American-grown and GMO-free pure cane sugar is our primary sweetener and we use no artificial or highly concentrated sweeteners in any of our products.
Cane Sugar
Natural cane sugar is produced from the freshly squeezed juice of the sugar can plant. Its pure sweetness is unrivaled.
Date Sugar
We use date sugar to enhance the complex flavor profile of our Ginger Beer. Its slightly sour profile provides balance for Mule-style cocktails, cane sugar-based spirits like rum and cachaça, as well as darker barrel-aged spirits like whisk(e)y.
Acids
Acids are the quintessential ingredient to provide the desired level of sour to sweet beverages. Acid must be carefully added to provide the right balance without creating an undesirable puckering or drying of the palate. We use citric acid and cream of tartar to create a softer and more desirable acidity to our mixers.