With the warm season approaching, many cocktail enthusiasts are encouraged to simplify their drink-making by simply topping spirits with tonic water. Bartenders have shared five standout drink combinations that highlight innovative uses of tonic beyond the classic gin and tonic. These include Amaro Meletti for a refreshing drink, Rhine Hall Mango Brandy for tropical flavors, Alma de Trabanco Quinquina en Rama for a sophisticated highball, and Lustau Amontillado Los Arcos for a nutty, spiced twist suitable for those who enjoy aged spirits. This article suggests a refreshing exploration of tonic's potential.
"Meletti & Tonic is a summer go-to for me," says Hayley Wilson, bartender at Portland, Maine's Room for Improvement, where Wilson serves her version alongside a slice of lemon. For Wilson, Amaro Meletti's sweet cola spices make it an ideal match for a touch of effervescence. "The addition of carbonation to Meletti heightens its floral notes, which makes it a super refreshing beverage for a hot day," she says.
William Elliott, bar director for New York's Maison Premiere and Tigre, calls on a mango eau de vie with a twist of orange for an easy tropical drink. While eau de vie can be a pricey ingredient for a highball, Elliott suggests Rhine Hall's Mango Brandy, a workhorse option made in Chicago, which fits well with his domestic choice for tonic water, Boylan's Heritage, a selection that lacks the "sticky-residue mouthfeel that you get with some tonics."
In a highball, this white vermouth that's fortified with cider reads like a cross between the Vermouth & Tonic and Calvados & Tonic, a favorite of Sarah Morrissey, bar manager at Le Veau d'Or in New York City. "It has baking spice notes to it, apple and wormwood," she says, which are all enhanced by bittersweet tonic.
"Amontillado sherry has a pleasant nutty quality that has spice and a dry finish," shares the author, highlighting its suitability for more seasoned drinkers looking to enjoy something different yet classic.
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