10 Tonic Water Cocktails to Try

Tonic water is a crucial ingredient that provides ample flavor as a stand-alone pairing for any spirit. Rum and Tonic may be less ubiquitous than vodka or gin tonic cocktails, but it’s worthy of classic status. This recipe recommends pairing aged dark rum with tonic water and a squeeze of lime for a luxuriously rich cocktail.

This zesty and spicy tequila and tonic drink is a sophisticated and easy alternative to the typical tequila favorites like margaritas and Palomas. It uses the younger silver tequila with its harsher, spirit-forward flavor, which pairs well with the bittersweet taste of tonic water. Tonic water has a bittersweetness that mirrors grapefruit in my opinion, which is a key ingredient in Palomas. It follows that tequila and tonic work well together. 

One of the most classic pairings for tonic water is vodka. This simple, two-ingredient vodka tonic cocktail adds tonic to vodka in a three-to-one ratio over ice. Vodka is a near-tasteless spirit, so this cocktail highlights the tonic water’s flavor. No vodka and tonic cocktail is complete without a squeeze of lime to add a tart balance to the bittersweet soda.

The only tonic water cocktail more iconic than vodka tonic is gin and tonic. While this classic cocktail is a simple combination of gin and tonic water, the ratio of spirit to tonic is controversial and subjective. Consequently, this recipe doesn’t specify a ratio but instead asks the mixologist to experiment. 

This beautifully pink summer tonic cocktail is a rum drink, combining lemon juice and Amaro bitters with Fever-Tree tonic water. Rum’s rich flavor gets a botanical boost with Fever Tree aromatic tonic. Aptly named for its Malaria-remedy origins, Fever-Tree aromatic tonic water mixes quinine with several other aromatics like cardamom, pimento berry, and ginger. 

Not to be confused with the salad dressing, Green Goddess is a tequila-spiked green juice infused with vanilla. Tequila Blanco goes into an intriguing mix of sweet, tart, and savory juices. Topping this sweet and savory tequila cocktail off with tonic water adds a bitter fizzy finish. 

Tonic water and grapefruit juice are perfect complementary ingredients, doubling the bittersweet flavor with a bright, tart citrus finish. This vodka tonic recipe is heavier on grapefruit juice, using tonic to intensify the bittersweet quinine while providing a fizzy finish. Serving this clear drink with a giant wedge of fresh grapefruit will differentiate it from its classic counterpart. 

Another light and refreshing summer cocktail, the Aperol Tonic Cocktail blends this favorite Italian bitter with prosecco and tonic water. Additionally, you can choose between three ingredient lists that span the flavor gamut from extra dry to slightly sweet. I recommend taking the middle ground and using a low-sugar light tonic with Prosecco for equal proportions of dry and sweet. 

If you’re looking for a non-alcoholic tonic water cocktail, St Clements is a refreshing and sophisticated drink to enjoy with a summer meal. It combines fresh orange juice with bitter lemon tonic water. The bitter lemon tonic water combines lemon extract with quinine and sugar, creating a bitter fizzy lemonade beverage that’s delicious on its own. 

This cocktail combines two famous Cuban rum cocktails into a delightfully herbal and tart drink. Like the mojito, the Tonic Cubano has you muddle lime juice and mint. Like a Cuba Libre, the Tonic Cubano calls for aged dark rum. The tonic water is a happy medium between neutral soda and sweet cola.