PR Quinine Vodka Essence 20 ml

PR Quinine Vodka Essence 20 ml

Everyone who likes tonic knows that it is not really the sweetness you are after – it is the bitterness. That dry, slightly astringent core that makes the mouth pucker and immediately want more. It comes from quinine, a bitter substance extracted from bark, and in Quinine Vodka we have let exactly that flavour move straight into the spirit.

The result is something as unusual as a vodka with built-in tonic bitterness, made with real quinine. It is one of our own specialities and is aimed at those who find most mixed drinks too sweet. Here you decide for yourself: no sweetness at all, or precisely as much as you choose to add.

Colour & Appearance

Once mixed, Quinine Vodka is clear, possibly with a very faint, pale tinge in certain light. It looks innocent – the bitterness only reveals itself on the nose and the palate.

Nose

The nose is dry and fresh. Lemon peel and grapefruit zest sit on top, with a taut, bark-like note beneath that recalls tonic without the fizz. A faint herbal quality, a little like wormwood at a distance, adds depth.

Palate

The palate is distinctly bitter, dry and surprisingly elegant. The opening is clean and vodka-soft for half a second, then the quinine bitterness steps in – clear, taut and drawn out, without the slightest sugar to round it off. Citrus peel and a touch of white grapefruit bring freshness and stop the bitterness from becoming heavy. The body is light and the mouthfeel almost bone dry, which makes the drink wonderfully appetising.

Finish

The finish is long and bitter in the good way. Bark and citrus peel linger for a long time, the mouth waters and the palate feels cleansed – exactly what you want from an aperitif.

How to Use

The essence is mixed with vodka or neutral spirit. 20 ml makes 750 ml of finished drink that can be served straight away. Instructions are on the label.

Serving Suggestions

• With soda, ice and a wedge of lemon – a vodka tonic with no sugar at all.
• With regular tonic for double bitterness, for those who truly love bitter.
• With freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and a pinch of salt on the rim.
• Chilled and neat in a small glass as an aperitif before dinner.
• A dash in a gin and tonic or a spritz for extra bitter edge.

About the Essence

Quinine Vodka belongs to the PR (Prestige) series and is an odd bird on the vodka shelf – neither neutral nor flavoured in the usual sense, but bitter. It finds its audience among people who drink their espresso without sugar, prefer dark chocolate and always pick the driest drink on the menu.

For the home bartender it is a tool as well: a couple of centilitres give bitterness and structure to sweet drinks in the same way as cocktail bitters, but with a gentler hand. An exciting addition to cocktail night and a guaranteed conversation starter.