Craft cocktail mixers are having a moment right now. A combination of well-stocked home bars — I want to anecdotally chalk that up to the pandemic but can’t back it up — and a swell of premium spirits has led to a higher class of the stuff we mix with our booze. While there’s still value to a quickly stirred Crown Royal and Royal Crown, there’s been a market shift toward single-use, high-quality tonics and sodas to replace the beverage guns at your local bar or two-liter bottles at home.
East Imperial Light tonic water (with Empress 1908 gin)
The tonic is, as expected, an expedient courier for a smooth, sippable gin. There’s a light lingering sweetness that stays on your lips after your first sip. Diving back in brings more sugary carbonation that helps bring out the botanical side of the Empress, working in concert with what’s admittedly a very nice spirit.
The result is a proper cocktail that tastes more complex than its ingredient list. East Imperial’s light tonic brings exactly what you’d expect; a smooth base that allows the stars of its drink to shine. If it were an actor, it’d be William H. Macy or Beth Grant.
East Imperial plc (LON:EISB), founded in 2012, produces and markets a line of branded premium mixers that sell throughout APAC, US and EMEA. The company was founded on the philosophy of creating products defined by heritage, tradition and authenticity.
