Bittermilk No. 5 Grapefruit Tonic

Bittermilk No. 5 Charred Grapefruit Tonic is a 17 oz bottle of tonic syrup — fresh lime and lemon juices, golden cane sugar, charred grapefruit peel, cinchona bark (the quinine source), and Bulls Bay Saltworks sea salt — made by Bittermilk Bottling Co. of Charleston, South Carolina, the husband-and-wife bartender team Joe and MariElena Raya (The Gin Joint), who brought the line to market in August 2013 on the concept "the labor is in the bottle — just add booze," available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• Size: 17 oz bottle (15–16 cocktails)
• Ingredients: fresh lime and lemon juices, golden cane sugar, charred grapefruit peel, cinchona bark, spices, sea salt
• Profile: bitter and refreshing — charred citrus oil, classic quinine bitterness, savory caramel, sea salt roundness
• Origin: Bittermilk Bottling Co., Charleston, SC, USA — est. 2013
• Build: equal parts No. 5 + light spirit (vodka, gin, white rum, blanco tequila) + soda water over ice; lime wedge
• Storage: refrigerate after opening; best used within about a month; shelf life 18 mo unopened
• Award: sofi Gold, Best Cold Beverage 2016/2017

Tonic Water's Craft Upgrade

This is not tonic from a bottle — it's tonic syrup, and the difference is the point. Charring the grapefruit peel caramelizes the citrus oils into something savory and deep; the cinchona bark supplies real quinine bitterness; a pinch of Bulls Bay sea salt rounds it into the kind of tonic that makes a gin drink taste deliberate. The brand build is equal parts No. 5, a light spirit (vodka, gin, white rum, or blanco tequila), and soda water over ice in a tall glass with a lime wedge — a proper tonic cocktail, not a mixer dump. A sofi Gold winner two years running. Pair it with a proper gin for the G&T it deserves, or compare with Small Hand Foods' tonic syrup — and see the whole Bittermilk range.

Tasting Notes

Bitter and refreshing — charred grapefruit brightness, genuine quinine bite from cinchona, savory caramel notes, a saline roundness from the sea salt. Crisp rather than sweet.

How to Enjoy

Equal parts No. 5 + light spirit + soda water over ice, lime wedge. Gin, vodka, white rum, and blanco tequila all work — it's a tonic syrup, so soda water is the third ingredient, not optional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this ready-to-drink tonic?
No — it's a tonic syrup concentrate. Mix it with a spirit and soda water.

What spirits pair with it?
Any light spirit: gin, vodka, white rum, or blanco tequila.

Does it contain quinine?
Yes — from real cinchona bark.

How many drinks per bottle?
15–16 cocktails from the 17 oz bottle.

Real quinine, real char — order Bittermilk No. 5 Grapefruit Tonic online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.