Tokyo Weekender August 2016

SUPER TONICS
There’s no sense in pairing fine gin
with less than superior mixers.
These are three tonics that you
should try in G&Ts to come
FEVER-TREE
KOVAL DRY GIN
THE STORY Born in Austria, Robert
Birnecker got his start helping his grandparents
at their distillery and winery. He met his wife
Sonat in Washington DC. Inspired by a love of
fine spirits, the two left the world of academia
for the city of Chicago and realm of whiskey,
rye, bourbon, and since 2014, dry gin.
WHY WE LOVE THEM Another stylish
bottle that you’ll be tempted to keep around
the kitchen after you’ve poured out the last
drop. A heady mix of botanical flavors that
blends well, but still manages to make its
presence felt in any concoction you choose
to stir up. The name Koval, which means
“blacksmith” in Yiddish, but also “black
sheep” – that is, someone who isn’t afraid
to do things a bit differently.
WHAT TO TRY It wouldn’t be a summer
drinking session without a few gin and
tonics, but the spicy, floral nuances of
this spirit makes for an excellent martini,
gimlet, or negroni. Available at Shinjuku’s
Takashimaya, finer bars around Tokyo,
or on Amazon. www.koval.com
FROM TOP
The design of the KOVAL Dry Gin
bottle labels was inspired in part by
traditional Japanese patterns, and
looks appealing against any backdrop
This tonic takes its name from the
chinchona tree, whose bark contains the
quinine that gives the beverage some of its
bite. Pleasantly fizzy, and not too sweet.
FENTIMANS
A little more citrus flavor than you might be
expecting in an everyday tonic, so you might
even be able to leave out the squeeze of lime.
But you wouldn’t do that, would you?
WHEN THE
GOING
GETS HOT,
THE HOT
GO
DRINKING
JACK RUDY SMALL BATCH TONIC
For the true connoisseur: add soda water to
this concentrate to taste. While you can get
the two tonics above on Amazon, you’ll need
some help getting these and other syrups
from overseas. jackrudycocktailco.com
TOKYO WEEKENDER | AUGUST 2016 | 15