This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.
Cocktail History
The Tonic Spritzer is a modern cocktail that was created by Jon and Lindsay Yeager in Nashville, Tennessee and was first published in their book The Ultimate Guide to Beer Cocktails: 50 Creative Recipes for Combining Beer & Booze. The recipe calls for a simple mixture of Mexican beer, tonic syrup, and apricot or blackcurrant liqueur to make a lager-based alternative to the refreshing Gin & Tonic.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Mexican Beer: This is a type of beer made with malted barley, corn or other adjunct grains, hops, water, and yeast, which are brewed and fermented to develop a light, crisp flavor.
Tonic Syrup: This is a concentrated mixer made with quinine, citrus, white sugar, and water, which are blended into a syrup that creates tonic water when mixed with carbonated soda.
Crème De Cassis: This is a liqueur made with blackcurrants, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a dark, tart berry flavor.
Brands I Used
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.
Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.
Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker made with a large metal tin and a second tin or mixing glass that’s used for shaking and chilling cocktail ingredients.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is a flat metal strainer with a handle and a coiled spring around the edge that’s used for straining shaken cocktails from a shaker while holding back ice and solids.
Bottle Opener: This is a handheld tool that’s used for removing caps, corks, or seals from bottles.
Lowball Glass: This is a short, wide glass with a thick base that’s used for serving cocktails with ice or spirits neat.
Tools I Used
- 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
- 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
- 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
- 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
- 🔗 OXO Stainless Steel Bottle & Can Opener
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Light brown color
• Aroma: Malty beer
• Taste: Tangy fruity flavor featuring a heavy dose of bright lager alongside wintry berry
• Finish: Quinine bitterness
Kendall’s Take: “In my experience, beer cocktails tend to be pretty straightforward in their flavor. I’ve rarely come across one that doesn’t just taste like beer with a hint of whatever other ingredients are used. This one, although simple, was much more complex and reminded me of a wintry version of light beer thanks to the dark and rich flavors of the tonic syrup and blackcurrant liqueur. I have a hops allergy, so I can’t indulge in beer too much, but what I tasted of the Tonic Spritzer, a light but brooding concoction, was delicious.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Ultimate Guide to Beer Cocktails: 50 Creative Recipes for Combining Beer & Booze by Jon and Lindsay Yeager.
Tonic Spritzer
Description
The Tonic Spritzer is a modern cocktail that was created by Jon and Lindsay Yeager in Nashville, Tennessee and was first published in their book The Ultimate Guide to Beer Cocktails: 50 Creative Recipes for Combining Beer & Booze. The recipe calls for a simple mixture of Mexican beer, tonic syrup, and apricot or blackcurrant liqueur to make a lager-based alternative to the refreshing Gin & Tonic.
Ingredients
Method
Add crème de cassis and tonic syrup to a shaker.
Fill shaker with cubed ice.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Add fresh cracked ice to a lowball glass.
Using a Hawthorne strainer, strain into lowball glass.
Top with beer.
