The other half: India’s homegrown tonic water varieties

Ruhi Gilder

Nothing compares to a chilled goblet of gin, topped with a splash of effervescent tonic, garnished with a wedge of lime and sprig of rosemary. G&Ts are truly a match made in heaven. In India, the land where the cocktail originated has loads of options for both gin and tonic.  

Svami 

Svami was founded by Mumbai-based trio, Aneesh Bhasin, Sahil Jatana and Rahul Mehra, and was one of the first Indian brands to enter the tonic water space. In addition to the original and low-calorie versions of tonic, their range extends to grapefruit and cucumber flavours. For those who love experimenting, try Svami’s non-alcoholic Pink Gin & Tonic mixer to add a splash of colour to a glass of gin.  

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Bengal Bay 

Quinine from Peru, cane sugar from Uttar Pradesh, orange from Maharashtra, cardamom from Kerala, sand-filtered water from Rajasthan, bottled in Delhi, this tonic water is truly Indian in spirit. Founded by Rishabh Gupta, the organic tonic is available in two tonic variants, Organic Indian Tonic and Spiced Orange & Basil Tonic. Bengal Bay also has a Sparkling Soda Water option for those who prefer a zero-calorie soda.  

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Sepoy & Co. 

If you have the Sepoy & Co.’s tonic waters, consider your G&T nights sorted. Find a classic Indian Tonic Water, Mint, Spiced Grapefruit, Hibiscus, Elderflower tonic waters and Ginger Ale in their range. Founded by Angad Soni in 2017, the low–sugar botanical mixers are made with a blend of spices, essential oils and quinine. Plus the bottle is so elegant that you’re guaranteed to find a way to re-use it!   

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Jade Forest 

Founders and friends, Shuchir Suri and Punweet Singh make a botanical-forward beverage that only amplifies the flavours of a delicate gin. Their all-new avatar includes a revamp of the bottle design, which now features quirky artwork customised by a team in Norway. Other than the simple Indian tonic and Club Soda, Jade Forest also has Sparkling Grapefruit, Wild Elderflower, and of course, Ginger Ale.  

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