Love my Rum Tonics

[tdo-ca]

At home I tend toward the ubiquitous Mt. Gay/Tonic/Lime...but when traveling, the local aged rum with tonic is my bevvie of choice...I know, some say sacrilege, drink it neat...but I like the taste of a 3/5/7 y.o. quality rum with my agua quinada...and when I can buy Flor de Cana or Barcelo Imperial for a song, makes for some fine hammock time.

[Hank Koestner]

I will have to try this. I love a refreshing rum and ginger in the afternoon. I float bitters on top and sip through them. Sometimes a wedge of lime, also.
I mostly use Appleton V/X, but have tried others. El Dorado 5 is interesting, a completely different flavor than V/X.
So, a rum and tonic sounds interesting. I imagine white rums may not mix well with the tonic. Sounds like amber and dark rums are the way to go. Have you tried bitters? Might be too much with the tartness of the tonic.

[Scottes]

But what kinda of bitters? Angostura might be too much, Peychaud's maybe, but how about Regan's Orange #6? With the right kinda of rum - gold & fruity - that could be quite decent.

But I'm still leaning towards a thin wedge of lime.

[lofat]

I tend to drink the most rum with good mineral/soda water. If I opt for a squeeze of lime I'll add some bitters to tie it all together. Usually in my simple (yet refreshing) rum cocktails I'll lean towards something from my fee bros collection since their flavors are pretty subtle as far as bitters go.

[aglasser]

If you can find a bottle of the Bitter Truth's Aromatic (old fashioned) Bitters - they make a nice addition to longdrinks made with rum. I've seen them with more frequency on the East Coast, but the last I heard, they don't have US distributors yet.

You might also want to use a drop or two of Orange Flower Water - you'll get all of those nice aromatics and it plays very well with lime and mass produced tonic water. Sometimes, tonic and bitters can compete for dominance when used together.

[stockdoct]

I'm a newbie to the Rum pages, but have fallen in love with Goslings Black Seal/tonic/lime. I bought the bottle originally to perform "fundamental analysis" of the stock that distributes Goslings, but absolutely loved the rum and tonic! In fact, I've tried Sea Wynde, Cruzan, Captain Morgans private reserve and can't find a rum I enjoy more.......but I'll keep trying :-)

Mike

[Bahamian]

in berlin, a bartender and friend of mine introduced me to a longdrink with dark rum, ginger ale and two slices of cucumber. my first reaktion was something like "urgh, c'mon gimme lime, or lemon!" (in german ofcause ;-) but he insisted, i tried and now it's my longdrink of choice. i only changed to another rum here at the bahamas. i think he mixed myer's and here i had it with "vat 19" and ol "yer ho / ole nassau".

[angelsword]

Tonight's experiment:

I started with tonic and Vizcaya VXOP. Good but a bit simple. Then instead of lime, I tried adding a section of fresh mandarine crushed. A bit too floral. So 2 dashes of Angostura bitters went in. Very Nice!!!

2 Vizcaya VXOP
2 tonic
1 fresh mandarine section crushed
2 dashes of Angostura bitters.

On the rocks, old fashion glass, twist of mandarine peel on the rim.

[angelsword]

It's later in the evening now. Let's try a stronger concoction.

3 Pussers
1 tonic
1/2 Cointreau
twist of orange zest

[Milicent]

I picked up a four-pack of Maine Root Ginger Brew, Whole Foods' 365 (store band) ginger ale, and 365 tonic water. All three are made with cane juice.

My first drink was with the tonic water, modeled after Angelsword's recipe above. It is excellent. We'll see what the rest of the evening's experiments produce.

2 parts El Dorado 5 year old
1/2 part Citronge
2 parts tonic water
1/4 key lime

[Scottes]

I'm not sure how I missed this, but I love the sounds of the last two recipes.

[Milicent]

A slightly modified version of my previously posted recipe uses El Dorado 12 year in place of the 5 year. The first recipe was good but this one is excellent.

2 parts El Dorado 12 year old
1/2 part Citronge
2 parts tonic water
1/4 key lime

[tym2relax]

A slightly modified version of my previously posted recipe uses El Dorado 12 year in place of the 5 year. The first recipe was good but this one is excellent.

2 parts El Dorado 12 year old
1/2 part Citronge
2 parts tonic water
1/4 key lime

Wow, would never have thought of that recipe using Citronge. I just picked up a bottle for my wifes Margaritas. I'll have to conduct an experiment tonight.

[Milicent]

I am glad you commented on this recipe. I had forgotten about it and have not made one in a while. I know what my evening cocktail will be. Let us know what you think about it once you have tried it.

[tym2relax]

Milicent, you are the MAN!

Finally got around to trying that drink and it was awesome. I toyed with the proportions a bit and whoa what a tasty drink. Now, I have to talk my wife into using Triple Sec for her Margaritas so I can hoard the Citronge :D:D

If you have any other unique concoctions, send them my way!!

[Tiare]

A slightly modified version of my previously posted recipe uses El Dorado 12 year in place of the 5 year. The first recipe was good but this one is excellent.

2 parts El Dorado 12 year old
1/2 part Citronge
2 parts tonic water
1/4 key lime

This recipe looks very tasty, would like to try it, but i only have El D15..and then i need the Patron Citronge as well. How do you think it would do with EL D15?

[Carbon]

I hate to make it sound like I'm advertising for these guys, but check this stuff out if you're into tonic water.

http://www.qtonic.com/

[forrest]

I hate to make it sound like I'm advertising for these guys, but check this stuff out if you're into tonic water.

OK you've convinced me Carbon!! We sell this stuff at my work so i'll pick up a 4 pack next time i'm in.

[rumdog007]

Me too, me too! I want some....

[Carbon]

OK you've convinced me Carbon!! We sell this stuff at my work so i'll pick up a 4 pack next time i'm in.

I don't know if it's worth the price or not (I've heard that it can be $10 for a pack of four), but even if it's only a little better than the crap you get at the supermarket, it's worth it to me. I haven't tasted just the tonic water by itself back to back with the store brand stuff to compare directly, but it made a damn good gin and tonic.

It's sweetened with a bit of organic agave instead of high fructose corn syrup, so it may not be as sweet as what you're used to, but it's a far superior product.

[Dood]

I've had the Q Tonic...it's pretty good, but I don't really think it's worth the price to be honest.

The best tonic I've ever had was in New Orleans when Jeff Morgenthaler made me a gin and tonic with his own home-made tonic water.

I've since decided that it's the only way to go. His recipe can be found here (http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-your-own-tonic-water/).

[Michael]

Thanks Dood for the home-made tonic recipe. It should be good with rum and tonic as well. glass.gif

[forrest]

Dog-gone-it.. i was just at Hi Time and i forgot the Q-Tonic...
... i remembered the rum!!

Dood sweet recipe, have you made it yet??
Where did you get the cinchona bark-- Mother's??

[Carbon]

I've had the Q Tonic...it's pretty good, but I don't really think it's worth the price to be honest.

Haha exactly why I'm glad I don't drink tonic cocktails too often, because even if it isn't worth the small fortune, I'm still a snob and would get it anyway.

[Hank Koestner]

I will have to look out for the Q tonic, sounds great. I use 365 tonic from whole foods, sweetened with cane sugar, and not to much, I may add.
What is evryone's favorite rums with tonic? I like Goslings Gold, Pyrat Pistol, ED5.

[rumdog007]

ED5!!!!!! or Cruzan Single Barrel... I found have found any strong agricole too overwhelming, though.

[Rum Runner]

Barcelo' Gran Anejo and Ron del Barrilito 2 star do the trick for me.

[forrest]

i hate to be the odd man out... but
i like white rum and tonic.
Stubbs, Appleton, Cruzan, Gold is good too, but i like the clear.

[primate77]

but i like the clear

You and Barry Bonds should get together some time... I understand he likes the cream (and the clear)!:D

[Rum Runner]

i hate to be the odd man out

You're no odd man out Forrest..In fact I think that those of us who enjoy a dark rum with tonic are probably the odd one's.

[forrest]

You and Barry Bonds should get together some time... I understand he likes the cream (and the clear)!:D

primate77, my dog, i am sure there is an awesome joke here, but i don't know squat about sports so. . .
It is lost me on me!!

[forrest]

You're no odd man out Forrest..In fact I think that those of us who enjoy a dark rum with tonic are probably the odd one's.

i can see that, i would just rather have a dark rum with soda water-- if anything, but really it is all good!! i am certainly no-one to judge.

[Jerry]

Dark rum & tonic for me! (white is interesting, but the tonic really brings out a lot from the dark)!

Current favorites....Doorlys and El Dorado.....staples.....Mt. Gay and Appleton.

drooling2.gif

[Hank Koestner]

I will have to try the light rums in tonic. Sounds delicious and refreshing!

[Dood]

Forrest: I haven't made Morgenthaler's tonic water yet, but I plan to if I survive this month's whirlwind of activities. I can tell you that it's friggin' delicious. Jeff made me a gin and tonic with it in New Orleans and it was the single greatest tonic drink I have ever had.

As for which rums for rum and tonics, lately I've been using this recipe a lot:

2 oz. Appleton Estate V/X
1/4 oz. lemon juice
2 dashes orange bitters
Top with tonic over ice and stir

[rumdog007]

Thought that I would give this thread another kick. I tried the Q Tonic and it was great. I have not tried to make a home brew batch, so this one leads the pack for me. The quinine taste had the right bitterness for it to hold its own with St. Vincent Extra Gold and Cruzan Single Barrel rums. I tried the Stirrings and the Whole Foods brand and believe that they are one in the same. Better bubbles, but light on the bitter. The Fever Tree was good, but not enough in the bitter department. It did have an authentic quinine taste which is completely lacking in Canada Dry and Schweppes. All three of these upper tier tonics have that great cane sugar sweetness.

[LCchemist]

I cooked up a batch of Mr. Morgenthaler's tonic syrup over the weekend, and I have to agree that it makes a fine gin and tonic. I also tried it with Mount Gay Sugar Cane, and Eclipse, Black Seal, and El Dorado 5 yr. With all of the citrus in the recipe, and the allspice, it is a natural pairing with rum. Of the rums I tried, the Black Seal was my favorite, followed closely by the El Dorado.cheers.gif

[Michael]

Barcelo' Gran Anejo and Ron del Barrilito 2 star do the trick for me.

We haven't had the pleasure of trying Barcelo Gran Añejo, but made rum and tonic last night with:

2 oz. Ron de Barrilito 2 Star
Half bottle Fever Tree Tonic
squeeze of lime
dash of orange bitters (Regan's #6 in this case)

Certain combinations seem perfect from first acquaintance. Thanks Rum Runner for this particular bit of perfection. Ron de Barrilito and tonic joins El Dorado 5 and ginger beer or ale as perfect mixtures recently suggested by MOR members. cheers.gif