The review: Q Tonic
I did it.
I, Sam Sessa, tried Q Tonic.
And, if I may say so myself, it was good. Great, even.
A couple weeks ago, I was a doubter. I thought artisanal tonic water was a silly notion, bought into by silly people. Q Tonic founder Jordan Silbert read my post and sent me a couple 6.8-ounce glass bottles of the stuff.
That's right -- glass bottles. Plastic is for pedestrian tonics.
After trying Q tonic -- both chilled in a glass by itself and in a gin and tonic with a lime wedge, I have to say, this is some top notch tonic water.
An incredibly smooth sipper, Q Tonic had none of the artificial aftertaste you get with typical tonics ...
That's probably because Q Tonic is made with all natural ingredients, including hand-picked quinine from the Peruvian Andes. It sounds so far-fetched. But when you think about it, there are plenty of super high-end liquors.
Dan Aykroyd markets a vodka that is filtered through diamonds. Why can't there be a high-end tonic too?
Though Q Tonic may go down easy, it's far from bland. At first sip, it's crisp with a slight bite. It also has a subtle sweetness that gradually sets in. Oh, and for the health-conscious, Q Tonic has less than half the calories of, say Schweppes, according to its Web site.
Can I see myself spending a few bucks more to pick up Q Tonic the next time I'm at the liquor store? Depends. If I'm sipping high-end gin with a couple close friends, yes. But not for parties, because that can get expensive quick.
One thing's for sure: The next time I'm out and about and see a cocktail made with Q Tonic, I'm ordering it. I'm looking at you, Mr. Rain's Fun House.
When it comes to sheer taste, Q Tonic easily bests any other tonic water I've ever tried. Q Tonic made my gin and tonic noticeably better, and I was tempted to drink Q Tonic in a glass by itself. It's that good.
(Photo of me trying Q Tonic by Midnight Sun aide Teresa)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Sam "Monkey Fingers" Sessa
Posted by: Anonymous | January 4, 2010 2:32 PM
That's all I need to get a good review from you? Just send you some free stuff?
I don't know what I have for you to review, but I'm making a mental note just in case.
Posted by: Jay Trucker | January 4, 2010 2:52 PM
Hahahahamonkeyfingershahahahaa!
Jay, it also helps to enclose several crisp $100 bills. *
*Dear Sun ethics department, this is a joke.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | January 4, 2010 2:54 PM
What are the listed ingredients?
Posted by: Amanda C | January 4, 2010 3:23 PM
C'mon, Aykroyd's vodka is filtered through fake diamonds. Not that it would make any difference at all!
Posted by: Ed | January 17, 2011 2:18 PM