Tonic Water Taste Test Before

Here's what I sent for instructions.

Tonic Water Tasting Form - COVID-19 Challenge! October 2020

Tonic water is a carbonated soft drink with a distinctly bitter flavor that is usually used as a mixer. Natural quinine is sometimes added to give the bitter taste, while some brands add sugar for sweetness. The tonic water used is ready to use as a mixer or drink alone. There are many tonic water concentrates available which are not included in this tasting.

Brands of Tonic Water to Taste: (add source where bought available)

Fever-Tree, Schweppes, Navy-Hill Tonic, Fever-Tree Tonic Water – Naturally Light, Q Spectacular Tonic Water, Canada Dry. Six total.

Directions: Chill each tonic water. 

To begin test, use a sharpie to mark an A, B, C, D, E, F on each bottle/can. Mark the same number of paper cups, marking A, B, C… separately on each one. A volunteer could pour each sample in private (so testers do not match up the brand with the letter, that is fun). Line up cups in front of each bottle/can (A cup in front of A bottle; B cup in front of B bottle, etc.). Pour all samples at the same time, lined up on a tray and take to a different room where you cannot see the original bottles/can labels. I am so forgetful that this works for me! 

Taste each tonic water while cold as that is how you drink it with your alcohol of choice.

Fill out tasting form and compare results. Discuss why you chose your favorite/winner. Did you like the tonic water that was sweeter, more or less bitter? Too much citrus, bland, memorable? Did you discover any unpleasant flavors? Did it overwhelm your gin/vodka or rum cocktail?

Fun trivia (answers on back):

1. Where does quinine come from? It is the main flavor of tonic water.

2. Fever-Tree Brand name, where did it come from? 

3. What was tonic water originally used for?

Rating Form:

Descriptive Brand C	1	2	3	4	5
Fizziness (strength of bubbles)
Herbal/Floral Notes
Fruitiness
Citrus Flavor
Bitter Flavor (quinine or usually orange peel):
Sweetness
Crispness/Brightness