My drink of choice in college was the Gin and Tonic all the way. While the other kiddies were drinking shark bowls, I was enjoying a perfect blend of lime, quinine and juniper berries. When I stocked my college bar, I favored quantity over quality so I never got to taste some of the craft tonics on the market.

Once I grew up, I read about a great small batch tonic available in one supermarket on the other side of Detroit. It was then I discovered Q-Tonic but more importantly the world of not Canada Dry.

Reader Brendan asked:

Better tonic for a gin and tonic; Q Tonic or Fentimans?

Honestly, I had never tasted them together. So off to the store I went and purchased Canada Dry, Q-Tonic and Fever Tree but couldn’t find Fentimans. So my first visitor question is off to a terrible start.

But, I tasted each of them and here we go.

• Fever Tree: The initial taste is light and crisp with a honey sweetness. There is a little of apple in the background but the flavor is really full. There is a lingering finish of lime. This would be my ideal mixer for a gin and tonic.
• Q Tonic: The first thing I noticed is it is less sweet then Fever Tree and has a distinct taste of lemon over lime. There is a much more profound bitter flavor with a sharp finish. I would mix this with a vodka and some lemon.
• Canada Dry: It’s super sweet but with a distinct tartness. There is a medicinal finish and a harsh bitterness. However, the end is really vapid. It disappears into nothingness. I’m not sure I would use this now that I discovered Q Tonic & Fever Tree.

It’s interesting how your tastes change as you grow-up. My theory is that you get sick of sugar as a kid and crave bitter since you don’t get that as a child. That is unproven so don’t take it to heart…yet.

Moral of the story: Pair the tonic with the drink. My gin choice would be Fever Tree and my Q-Tonic pair would be Vodka. Fentimans…tasting coming soon.