Who still remembers the dark days of gin and tonic? A bad brandy with a medicinal taste stretched from a Schweppes in a plastic bottle. Water has flowed under the bridges and the flagship cocktail of the 1980s and 1990s is now enjoying a comeback. Main reason: the emergence of very good gins, of course, which we owe in particular to the creativity of microdistilleries. But also excellent tonics, this bitter sparkling water infused with cinchona bark, which constitutes two-thirds of Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite cocktail.
In the wake of the British giant Fever-Tree, multiple high-end brands have recently appeared. And not just in the UK. These include Gents (Switzerland), Aqua Monaco (Germany), Double Dutch (Netherlands) or Three Cents (Greece). Common points between these “mixers” (non-alcoholic drinks intended for cocktails): they are not very sweet, finely carbonated, mainly encapsulated in 20 cl bottles and often available in different flavored versions (cucumber, elderflower, basil, etc.). ).
France is not to be outdone, with a few artisan brands that appeared around the same time, all certified organic. Among them, the Bordeaux architect Archibald has distinguished herself with elegance. “The idea was not at all to upset the category, says co-founder Estelle Sauvage, we were just looking for an organic and French tonic to extend the Folle envy aperitif that we had just launched. As there was none at the time, we decided to make our own. With our values. ” That is to say by using ingredients that only grow in France. Exit the bark of cinchona, replaced by maceration of gentian roots and juniper berries from wild pickings in Auvergne.
Bergamot, spring water and organic cane sugar
“Distillery tonic”, can we read on the label. This is Archibald’s other element of distinction. The two macerates obtained are partly distilled separately in a copper still, as for a gin. “We wanted to make our tonic like a spirit, explains Estelle Sauvage, distillation being the best technique to concentrate the desired aromatic notes. “ An assembly game then takes place between the highly concentrated distillates, the remaining macerates, the spring water near the distillery, located in Chevanceaux (Charente-Maritime), and organic and fair trade cane sugar. All carbonated to obtain fine bubbles.
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