Merchant’s Heart New Tonic Range Review & Cocktail Recipes

When we talk about spirit enhancers, we are often talking about products that can be used to effortlessly upgrade classic cocktails.

For example, we could be talking about a gin and tonic that contains a tonic water that perfectly complements the natural botanicals that are present in the gin that you have used.

Some of the most famous spirit enhancers in the world are currently being brought to us by Merchant’s Heart, whose specialist range has been designed to complement premium spirits. Merchant’s Heart has been brought to us by Suntory, an innovative Japanese beverage specialist known for bringing quality products to their customer basis.

But, how can you use their products to really hone in on upgrading a whimsical era of cocktail making? Today, we are going to be taking a look at how you can enhance some of our classic favourites.

1. Merchant’s Heart Light Tonic Water

Offering an initial wafting aroma of fresh citrus, Merchant’s Heart Light Tonic Water goes perfectly in most lighter cocktails. We would highly recommend pairing it with lighter gins and vodkas, but it also works well with gins that have been crafted using berry-based botanicals.

Ingredients:

– 50ml Haku Vodka
– 150ml Merchant’s Heart Light Tonic Water
– Ginger

Method:

1. Place your Haku Vodka and some thinly sliced strips of ginger in a small glass.
2. Allow your ginger to steep for a few minutes.
3. Fill your favourite cocktail glass with as much ice as you desire.
4. Pour your vodka and thinly sliced strips of ginger over the ice.
5. Top your drink off with 150ml of Merchant’s Heart Light Tonic Water.

2. Merchant’s Heart Hibiscus Tonic Water

Citrus flavours can be as subtle or as bitter as you want them to be, but the citrus flavours that are present in Merchant’s Heart Hibiscus Tonic Water are delicately balanced with hibiscus flowers and a dash of pear. This concoction results in a full-bodied tonic water that can be paired with almost any spirit. In our opinion, it works best with citrus-based gins and some classic white rums.

Ingredients:

– 50ml Roku Gin
– 150ml Merchant’s Heart Hibiscus
– Cucumber
– Raspberries

Method:

1. Fill your favourite cocktail glass with as much ice as you desire.
2. Pour 50ml of Roku Gin over the ice and top it off with 150ml Merchant’s Heart Hibiscus Tonic Water.
3. Take a peeler and add a twist of cucumber to your cocktail.
4. If you wish to, you can also garnish your cocktail with some fresh raspberries for a colourful twist.

3. Merchant’s Heart Pink Peppercorn Tonic Water

If you have ever had the pleasure of indulging in cocktails that feature pink peppercorn, then you will already be aware of just how much of a fruity spice its presence can add to cocktails. It adds layers that blend perfectly with fruity spirits and caramel flavours. Our Merchant’s Heart Pink Peppercorn Tonic Water hones in on those delightful notes.

Ingredients:

– 50ml Courvoisier
– 150ml Merchant’s Heart Pink Peppercorn
– Lemon
– Peach

Method:

1. Place your Courvoisier and some thinly slices of peach in a small glass.
2. Allow your peach slices to steep for a few minutes.
3. Fill your favourite cocktail glass with as much ice as you desire.
4. Pour your Courvoisier and peach slices over the ice.
5. Top your drink off with your Merchant’s Heart Pink Peppercorn Tonic Water.
6. If you would like to, perhaps garnish your cocktail with a lemon rind twist.

4. Merchant’s Heart Floral Aromatics Tonic Water

Blending bitterness with delicate fruit flavours can be quite difficult, but the Merchant’s Heart Floral Aromatics Tonic Water accomplishes the task quite well. This tonic water goes perfectly with citrus-based gins, honing in on tastes that evoke memories of flower-filled meadows.

Ingredients:

– 50ml Old Bakery Gin
– 150ml Merchant’s Heart Floral Aromatics
– Pink Grapefruit

Method:

1. Fill your favourite cocktail glass with as much ice as you desire.
2. Pour 50ml of Old Bakery Gin over the ice.
3. Top your cocktail off with 150ml of Merchant’s Heart Floral Aromatics Tonic Water.
4. Use a peeler to add some pink grapefruit zest to your cocktail, allowing the oils to seep into the concoction.

Upgrading the Classics

There are plenty of methods that you can use to upgrade classic cocktails, but these are amongst our favourites. If you’re not sure which tonic water you will like, then we would highly recommend tasting a few of them so that you can work out which one works best for you.

You could also potentially use these tonic waters as substitutes in some of our other gin and tonic cocktails.