One of the most common drinks ordered at any bar in the United States is the Vodka Tonic. It’s simple and refreshing with a slight botanical finish.
Although the ingredients are basic enough, some vodkas are much better suited for the unique flavor notes of tonic water. These are a few that complement this cocktail in the most optimal way.
Ocean Vodka
Ocean Vodka can be described in one word, effervescent. The finish is almost bubbly as it dances on your tongue. This vodka is distilled using Polynesian Kokea or “White sugar cane” grown in the Hawaiian sun, combined with deep ocean mineral water drawn from 3,000, ft. Water at this depth is found to be rich in calcium, magnesium and potassium. The result is an incredibly flavorful and grainy finish that is almost “salty”. This texture is perfect to cut into the boldness of the Quinine flavor of tonic as well as flawlessly fade into the carbonation.
Kettle One Vodka
With 330 years of distillation history, the Nolet Family has put their heart and soul into making Kettle one. Although 11 generations of Nolet family have worked for the distillery, the tenth generation was the one to create this vodka. Kettle One is triple distilled and made from winter wheat, which tends to produce the softest bite of all the wheat varieties. Using a combination of modern distilling techniques with traditional copper pot stills, they’ve produced a clean, crisp finish with a slight citrus flavor. The citrus is only enhanced by a lemon or lime garnish.
Broken Shed
Broken Shed vodka has one of the most unique distillation processes in the industry. The flavor profile of this vodka is just as good as their carbon footprint. Distilled from whey and pure water. Broken Shed has a similar finish to premium gins. Since Gin was Tonic’s original dance partner, this small-batch, single distilled vodka is perfect for this drink.
Absolut Citron
Absolut will always reign supreme when it comes to flavored vodka. Their flavors are never syrupy sweet and the viscosity tends to be thinner than heavy sugared vodkas. Their second flavor ever released, Absolut Citron, quickly gained popularity in the late 1980s and has never waned. It reached an Absolut Hollywood peak when it was used as a base for the Cosmopolitan in Sex and the City. Distilled from grain using continuous distillation, Absolut Citron is incredibly smooth with a lemon kick at the end. The finish fades into the drink as the zest stays prominent. This vodka doesn’t change the flavor of the tonic too dramatically, but naturally enhances the flavors that already exist.
Square One Organic Cucumber
Square One is made with 100 percent organic Montana- grown rye combined with pristine watershed from the nearby Teton Mountains. Infused with “essence” of organic cucumber this spirit is both fresh and aromatic. The flavor doesn’t overwhelm your pallet, it just lightly coats the top of your tongue. The cucumber flavor blends in beautifully with the botanical notes present in Tonic Water. This vodka is for the consumer who likes a unique flavor finish in their classic cocktail.
