REVIEW : Bar Tonic's NEW Cocktail Menu

When they reserve the gold booth for you does that mean you’re VIP? Not really, because at Tonic they treat everyone like VIP’s; but it does mean that you get the best seat in the house!

I rate Bar Tonic as one of the best cocktail bars in Edinburgh. It’s a proper bar and they only sell drinks here (no food). I always recommend Tonic to everyone when asked where to go for great cocktails, super service and somewhere in the city centre.

You’ll find Bar Tonic on North Castle Street, just off George Street; usually a wee hidden gem but over the festive season their Apre T'onic Ski Chalet pops up.

A couple of weeks ago Tonic launched their new cocktail book. It’s a treasure trove of cocktails all created by their bar staff or ‘flavour architects’ (great title!).

There are pages of cocktails and they’ve made it super easy to read and get your head around by listing the cocktails per core spirit. A gin cocktail page, a whisky cocktail page, a vodka cocktail page ..you get the idea.

The artwork is quirky and funny with many cocktails chosen no doubt on the strength of the page chat, hashtags or life advice.

Loved the sound of the Tequila drinks and the Agave Breakfast came highly recommended. This comes with toast syrup, marmalade, grapefruit bitters and a whole egg. Would you be brave enough to try it?

I love an Old Fashioned and the whisky pages list theirs as ‘Call Me Old Fashioned’ - Coconut Washed Slane, Pineapple tincture and spiced pineapple. Sounds delicious right?

We took direction from our Flavour Architect, Alexis, who was amazing at listening to what flavours and textures we liked and either suggesting something off the menu or offering to make something. TartanSpoonie Clare was unfortunately driving so was on the mocktails and we can both vouch that the mocktails are just as tasty as the cocktails; proving that drinkers and non-drinkers are welcome and catered for at Bar Tonic.

Cocktail - Avocado Smash. (vegan) - Coconut and Avocado infused Ketel One vodka, lemon, Orgeat (almond syrup), Mango and Ginger Ale.

Doesn’t look like avo and doesn’t taste like avo but the consistency is a little thicker. The ginger ale adds the fizz and this is one drink that’s finished before you know it.

Mocktail - Shining Star

Clare, wanted something sour and citrus with some zing and this hit the mark. Alexis called it the Shining Star and made it with all things apple.

Cocktail - Rose-Star - Lanique Rose, cherry, lemon, vanilla and egg white with a shot of prosecco on the side.

This contains all the things I love. Since trying Lanique Rose (a rose petal liqueur) earlier this year, I’ve loved it, plus anything cherry and I’m there. Very floral, obviously, but tart too. The question is do you pour your Prosecco into the cocktail or drink it as a shot?

Mocktail - Sling-a-ling - Ginger, lemon sorbet, cranberry juice and ginger ale.

Alexis, continued to wow Clare with delicious sour concoctions. You could really taste the lemon sorbet and the warmth of the ginger came through on the back note and lingered on your tongue. Superb drink for a cold winters night.

Bar Tonic also have a wee Christmas Cocktail menu out too. Order one of these whilst sitting outside in the Apre T’onic, and you’ll be transported to the French Alps in an instant.

Glitter Berry Martinis, The Apple Pie and the Colada Martini all sounded right up my street. Clare, liked the sound of these too in particular The Apple Pie

Cocktail - Pumpkin Spice White Russian - made with Kahlua and pumpkin syrup.

Yes please, this is my kind of cocktail. Creamy, smooth and as you sip it, it gets more alcoholic as the Kahlua lies at the bottom of the glass. My fav!

As I mentioned, Clare liked the sound of The Apple Pie cocktails, so once again left in Alexis’s expert hands, she brought us the Sour Apple Pie Mocktail.

This was possibly one of the nicest mocktails I’ve tasted in many years. It tasted like Christmas with apples and cinnamon as the main flavours. We thought this was be amazing as a hot drink too.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I love Tonic.

Their staff are top notch, their creativity endless and their cocktails and mocktails simply superb. Edinburgh is lucky to have such a great cocktail bar in the heart of the city.

Monday to Wednesday are fairly civilised and relaxed at Bar Tonic with tunes that you’ll sing along too and plenty of 80’s throwbacks; Thursdays are the new Fridays and the weekend starts with DJ Stephen Peterson on the decks from 9pm; and the Friday and Saturday it’s all go with resident DJ, Mark Benaicha. There’s a little bit of something for everyone.

Bar Tonic, North Castle Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3BN. Tel : 0131 2256431 www.bar-tonic.co.uk

My Spoon Award : Tartan Spoon 10/10

I was invited by Bar Tonic to review their menu. The drinks were complimentary but the views are very much my own.