Botanical tonic

Lemon Spritz (Bitter Lemon Tonic Water)

Top Note Tonic · Bitter lemon tonic / European-style spritz

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Some links are affiliate links.

A grown-up bitter lemon that earns its name: tart lemon-oil brightness up front, then a genuinely earthy, lingering bitterness from real gentian root rather than the usual quinine-only kick. Restrained cane-sugar sweetness lets a whisper of cinnamon and ginger spice ride through a firm, persistent fizz. The finish runs long and pleasantly bitter, making it more of a sipping tonic than a soft drink — polarizing for anyone expecting candied lemon-lime, rewarding for those who like an apertivo edge.

Taste profile
Flavor fingerprint for Lemon Spritz (Bitter Lemon Tonic Water)Sweetness 2 of 5, Carbonation 4 of 5, Body 2 of 5, Creaminess 0 of 5, Bitterness 4 of 5, Spice-heat 1 of 5, Aroma intensity 3 of 5, Finish 4 of 5SweetnessCarbonationBodyCreaminessBitternessSpice-heatAromaFinish

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

Flavor wheel
Flavor wheel for Lemon Spritz (Bitter Lemon Tonic Water)Highlighted: Spice (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg), Woody & bark, Herbal & medicinal, Fruity (cherry, citrus).AniseSpiceGingerWoodyHerbalFruityOff-notes

Our editorial notes.

Scores

Our score
42/50
What drinkers think
7/9
early estimate
Critics vs. the crowd
+9
A critics’ pick

Rate it

Add your own read to the crowd’s — a quick score, or a full tasting.

What drinkers think
Log in to add your rating →

The maker

Top Note Tonic is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin craft mixer company founded in 2015 by Mary Pellettieri and Noah Swanson. Pellettieri brought more than two decades of brewing and product-development experience, including work at Goose Island and MillerCoors, to building tonics and spritzes from real botanicals. Lemon Spritz is the brand's European-style bitter lemon tonic, made with California lemon juice, gentian root, and natural quinine.

Ingredients & nutrition

Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, GMO-Free Lemon Juice, Natural Gentian Root Extract, Citric Acid, Natural Tonic Flavor and Other Natural Flavors, Contains Quinine.

10 fl oz · 99 cal · 22 g sugar(per serving, as labeled)