Mixers

Tonic Water

Mixer
0% ABV
17 drinks

Is this for me?

Choose this if…

✓You want to lengthen a drink with carbonation and refreshing character.

Skip if…

✗You prefer concentrated or spirit-forward drinks.

At a Glance

19 kcalCalories

0%ABV

4.4gSugar

4.4gCarbs

MixerType

17Recipes

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

What is Tonic Water?

Tonic water is a carbonated mixer flavoured with quinine bitterness and usually sweetened in regular versions. It is used in Gin & Tonic-style drinks, vodka tonics and bitter-sparkling highballs where its bitter-sweet profile changes the flavour of the cocktail.

What does Tonic Water taste like?

Sparkling, bitter-sweet and quinine-led. Regular tonic water usually adds sweetness as well as bitterness, while diet or zero-sugar tonic changes the sugar and calorie profile. It pairs especially well with gin, vodka, tequila, citrus and herbal flavours.

Tonic Water profile

Mixability: HighIntensity: LightSweetBeginner-friendly: High

Best used for: sours, refreshing drinks, aromatic cocktails, tropical drinks

Appears in 17 recipes
Works in both cocktails and mocktails
Non-alcoholic

Ways to use tonic water

Cocktails (11)Mocktails (6)

Flavour profile

Bitter · mediumCitrus Peel · mediumNeutral · primarySweet · medium

Recipes using this

Observed quantities

Observed in single-serve recipes: middle half 88.72–100.00 ml; median 88.72 ml.

In the measured recipes in this dataset — from 15 observed uses.

Scoped nutrition

Calories (per 100 ml): 125
Sugar (per 100 ml): 29 g
Carbs (per 100 ml): 29 g

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

Diet compatibility

Autoimmune Protocol DietNot compatible
Colonoscopy DietNot compatible
Gluten-FreeCompatible
IIFYM DietCompatible
KetoNot compatible
Low FODMAP DietLimited
Low-SugarLimited
Pescatarian DietCompatible
Sirtfood DietLimited
VeganCompatible
VegetarianCompatible

Based on the listed ingredient only — a public recipe facet, not medical, allergy or coeliac advice. Specific brands and preparation can change compatibility.

Trust & methodology

Canonical ingredient/component authority assembled from reviewed identity, recipe, flavour, nutrition, diet and substitution evidence. Observed quantities and co-use patterns are descriptive, not prescriptions or universal recommendations.

Evidence last updated: 2026-07-22T00:39:18.049255+00:00

Drink counts and recipe data are based on published WhatDrink recipes. Figures may vary as new recipes are added.

Tonic Water — common questions

How many cocktails are made with Tonic Water?: There are 17 cocktail recipes featuring Tonic Water in the WhatDrink database.
What are the most popular cocktails made with Tonic Water?: Top-ranked cocktails made with Tonic Water include Beetroot Tonic, Carrot Ginger Tonic, Celery Tonic. Rankings are based on recipe quality and data completeness.
What is the ABV of Tonic Water?: Tonic Water has an ABV of approximately 0%. The exact strength varies by brand and expression.
What do the sensory profile dimensions mean?: Sensory profile dimensions describe key flavour characteristics: Intensity (light to bold), Sweetness (dry to sweet), Mixability (how versatile it is in cocktails) and Beginner-Friendly (acquired taste to easy intro). Each scale helps you compare Tonic Water with similar ingredients at a glance.
How do I use the Tonic Water sensory profile to find drinks I like?: If you enjoy the intensity and flavour profile of Tonic Water, look for other ingredients or cocktails with a similar profile. Compare Intensity, Sweetness and Mixability to find substitutes or discover new cocktails in the same flavour family.