Hot for the new Fever-Tree mixer
By Francine Cohen

Our love affair with Fever-Tree’s Mediterranean tonic is, as with most love stories, a long and complicated one.

We were first introduced to this perfect for vodka pairing mixer in a clandestine way…Fever-Tree’s rep had just four bottles to share with Englishman Ben Scorah (also known as the head bartender for Chef John DeLucie’s exclusive restaurants The Lion and The Crown – www.thelionnyc.com, www.crown81.com) and lucky for us we were at the bar when the precious package was presented. Thankfully Scorah is the sharing type.

So, a few sips of deliciousness and we were hooked. The crisp bubbles! The fresh herbal notes that balanced well with quinine and made us want to order the entire left side of the menu! Vodka tonics, we finally had a reason to order you again. But alas, this elixir with its rosemary overtones wasn’t to be available in the States for over a year. Despite strong sales in the UK.

Leaving us lovelorn and suffering a stereotypical fate of begging the brand owners to make it available here. Finally, they listened. Charles Rolls, Fever-Tree’s co-founder says, “Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic is the next natural progression in our line of all natural premium mixers. Our goal has always been to optimally showcase premium spirits in cocktails and we recognize that certain different spirits require different flavor complements in cocktails. Our Mediterranean Tonic’s unique lush floral and citrus profile is the vodka lover’s answer to a vodka tonic whose parts work together, not against each other, to create a balanced and superior cocktail.”

This balanced and superior cocktail is the result of combining vodka (or pick your poison) with a mixer that is created (as the brand explains) “by blending the essential oils from flowers, fruits and herbs gathered in Provence and Sicily, Fever-Tree has created a delicate, floral tonic. The soft bitterness of real quinine balances out the full-bodied flavor of lemon thyme, rosemary and citrus. Featured Ingredients: rosemary, citrus, cane sugar, real quinine.” (www.fever-tree.com)

Thankfully (thanks to Charles, and his co-founder Tim Warrillow) this love story that began with temptation, immediate desire, lust and time apart, ended in reconciliation. At last. And we’re thrilled to be reunited, ’cause it tastes so good.

Available through national distribution and on Amazon (www.amazon.com/Fever-Tree-Mediterranean-Tonic-Water-6-8-Ounce/dp/B008DGFTU4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346288275&sr=8-1&keywords=fever+tree+mediterranean+tonic)