These artisan local tonic waters are ideal to serve with ice and lemon, or serve them with your favourite sustainable tipple. Although one brand is used almost exclusively, did you know that there are many other locally owned tonic water brands across England? Avoid quinine in tonic water for pregnancy/nursing. Avoid grapefruit for certain medications, avoid rhubarb for inflammatory stomach/kidney conditions.
Fentimans (Northumberland) are sold in glass bottles. The Premium Indian Classic Tonic Water is accompanied by other flavours including pink grapefruit, Valencian orange and rhubarb (they also offer a naturally light tonic water and a soda water).
Square Root (East London) makes an Artemisia Tonic with a delicate bitterness thanks to wormwood and quinine, balanced with bright fresh lime. It has light anise on the nose, and a woody fruity taste. The company also makes a ready-made non-alcoholic gin and tonic.
Lamb & Watt makes organic tonic waters, sweetened with blue agave, made with filtered water from the Lake District. Flavours include cucumber, elderflower, basil and hibiscus (not for pregnancy).
Twelve Below (Chiltern Hills) offers a naturally low in calories version of tonic water, sweetened with agave (from a plant related to cactus).In classic, rhubarb ginger, pear cardamom and apple garden mint.
Jeffrey’s Handcrafted Cordials (Cheshire) offers syrups that you mix with carbonated water, to make your own tonic waters. In classic Indian, oriental lime, Sicilian lemon and yarrow rosehip elderflower.