Best tonic water, according to chefs
Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Ashley Rose Conway, Hannah Chamberlain, Willa Van Nostrand, Kelsey Youngman and 2 more. Recommendations come from simplyrecipes.com, bonappetit.com and imbibemagazine.com.
Drinks · The ranking
- 1Top pick
Fever-Tree Premium Indian (or Mediterranean) Tonic Water
Chosen by- Ashley Rose ConwayCraft and Cocktails
- Hannah ChamberlainSpirited LA
- Willa Van NostrandLittle Bitte
Also chosen by- Kelsey Youngman · Bon Appétit source ↗
All three bartenders Simply Recipes asked named Fever-Tree. Conway: “a perfect balance of sweet and bitter where some other tonics can lean cloying,” with bubbles that “last for a while in the drink”; she and Van Nostrand also use it for espresso tonics. Bon Appétit’s blind panel called it “dialed-in in almost every respect.”
- 2
Q Mixers Tonic Water
Chosen by- Joseph HernandezBon Appétit
Also chosen by- Penelope Bass · Imbibe source ↗
The bitterest bottle in Bon Appétit’s blind test of seven tonics, sweetened with agave at about half the sugar of most brands. Hernandez, the magazine’s drinks director, found it “more lemon peel than lemonade,” and editors “adored” its bold quinine and crisp bubble. Imbibe calls it “bracingly bitter.”
- 3
Fentimans Traditional Tonic Water
Chosen by- Penelope BassImbibe
One of the brands that “helped define the premium tonic category.” Imbibe’s taste test found it “pleasingly dry,” with juniper, lime leaf and lemongrass behind a “complex yet balanced bitterness.”
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Questions, answered
- What is the best tonic water, according to chefs?
- MyTastr’s top pick is Fever-Tree Premium Indian (or Mediterranean) Tonic Water, chosen by Ashley Rose Conway (Craft and Cocktails); Hannah Chamberlain (Spirited LA); Willa Van Nostrand (Little Bitte). All three bartenders Simply Recipes asked named Fever-Tree. Conway: “a perfect balance of sweet and bitter where some other tonics can lean cloying,” with bubbles that “last for a while in the drink”; she and Van Nostrand also use it for espresso tonics. Bon Appétit’s blind panel called it “dialed-in in almost every respect.” Source: simplyrecipes.com ↗
- What are the other top picks for tonic water?
- No. 2 is Q Mixers Tonic Water, chosen by Joseph Hernandez (Bon Appétit). No. 3 is Fentimans Traditional Tonic Water, chosen by Penelope Bass (Imbibe). Each card above links to the original source.
- How does MyTastr choose these picks?
- Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.