Botanical tonic

Connoisseurs Tonic Water

Fentimans · Quinine tonic water (botanically brewed)

Hexham, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom

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Fentimans' drier, more grown-up tonic, brewed with fermented botanical extracts of juniper, kaffir lime leaf and lemongrass over a backbone of real quinine. It drinks crisp and effervescent, leading with a bright citrus-and-lemongrass lift before the quinine arrives to dry the finish with a clean, earthy bitterness held just in check by a light cane-and-stevia sweetness. Restrained and built as a mixer rather than a sipper, it rewards anyone who wants the bitter, botanical end of the tonic spectrum without the syrupy sweetness of mass-market versions.

Taste profile
Flavor fingerprint for Connoisseurs Tonic WaterSweetness 2 of 5, Carbonation 4 of 5, Body 1 of 5, Creaminess 0 of 5, Bitterness 4 of 5, Spice-heat 0 of 5, Aroma intensity 3 of 5, Finish 3 of 5SweetnessCarbonationBodyCreaminessBitternessSpice-heatAromaFinish

Objective sensory intensities (how it tastes) — not a liking score.

Flavor wheel
Flavor wheel for Connoisseurs Tonic WaterHighlighted: Woody & bark, Herbal & medicinal, Fruity (cherry, citrus).AniseSpiceGingerWoodyHerbalFruityOff-notes

Our editorial notes.

Scores

Our score
41/50
What drinkers think
7/9
early estimate
Critics vs. the crowd
+7
A critics’ pick

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The maker

Connoisseurs Tonic Water is made by Fentimans, a botanical brewer founded in 1905 and based in Hexham, Northumberland in northern England. The company traces its drinks to a botanical ginger beer recipe acquired by Thomas Fentiman, and it was revived in 1988 by his descendants to continue making beverages by slow botanical brewing rather than simple mixing. Connoisseurs is positioned as the brand's premium, cleaner-tasting tonic line, built around natural botanicals and quinine.

Ingredients & nutrition

Carbonated water, sugar, acid: citric acid, natural flavoring, quinine, fermented botanical extracts: (juniper berry, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass), sweetener: steviol glycosides from stevia.

3.4 fl oz · 20 cal · 4.4 g sugar(per serving, as labeled)