A Flowery Song

Background: Whole Foods’ house brand.

Nose: Lemon-lime soda.

Taste: Lemon-lime soda with the barest hint of quinine.

Overall: Lemon-lime soda. Not what I’m looking for in a tonic water. Also not the worst-tasting one I’ve had, so I suppose that’s a plus. And it’s cheap.

Background: So you just spent fifty euros on a small-batch artisan gin and you're in the mood for a gin and tonic. You head to the cupboard and pull out…well, most likely an inexpensive, artificially flavoured, overly sweet tonic. That or making your own are no longer your only options, thanks to a growing trend of premium mixers such as Q and Fever Tree. Q Tonic is made with “triple purified water, organic agave, handpicked Peruvian quinine, lemon juice extract, and natural flavours”.

Nose: Lemon.

Taste: A little sweet, a little lemon, a little bitter. Mixed with gin, I think my only complaint is that the citrus is on the strong side and has a tendency to bury the more delicate botanical nuances.

Overall: This premium product comes with a premium price tag, so for an ordinary G&T it's probably going a bit overboard. Schweppes isn't that objectionable, and you're probably not using an overly expensive gin in the first place. But for special occasions or the independently wealthy, it's definitely worth the extra money.