Fentiman’s Botanically Brewed Beverages

Fentiman’s Botanically Brewed Beverages are made with all-natural ingredients without any artificial sweeteners, and specially brewed with botanicals for extra flavour.

What is botanical brewing exactly?

I’m glad you asked, it’s a rare talent! Botanical brewing is a combination of infusions, blending and fermentation of natural ingredients. Thomas Fentiman’s original botanical brewing method takes seven whole days – there’s no rushing in botanical brewing as this time-honoured technique requires concentration and focus in order to guarantee a superior beverage.

First of all the chosen botanicals are crushed and placed into copper steam jacket pans to extract the finest elements of flavour. The botanical extract is then filtered into a wooden vat where it is left overnight. This will help the live yeast to develop. The yeast is then removed the next morning and the live liquid is left to ferment in the wooden vat a while longer.

This is how Fentiman’s beverages has been brewed since 1905. It is this process that produces the depth of flavour, the sensation and rich texture which are the hallmark of Fentiman’s drinks today.

Tonic Waters

Fentiman’s Tonic Water is made with a blend of herbs and lemongrass extract. Lemongrass is the dominant flavour over quinine, yet it still has strong herbal notes to it. This zesty tonic is fizzier than most tonic waters, and it works great with G&Ts.

Fentiman’s Light Tonic Water is made using the same recipe as their tonic water, it just has 30% fewer calories. The flavour is still refreshing and citrusy.

The 19:05 herbal tonic contains a delicate combination of floral and herbal flavours. Earthy notes of Hyssop and Myrtle are counterbalanced by a natural sweetness and the sharpness of Quinine. If you feel adventurous, a slice of peach goes a treat with this tonic in your G&T!

 

Rose Lemonade

Fentiman’s Rose Lemonade is made with nothing other than the juice of real lemons and Bulgarian roses. Bulgaria is famous for its rose valleys so there is no better place than the world-famous rose valley in Kazanlak to get the rose oil from.

The lemonade base is a perfect balance of natural sweet and sour lemons. The rose is subtle, but comes through perfectly when mixed with gin or other spirits. Add some mint and top up with prosecco to really jazz it up a little. This beautiful botanical lemonade is of one my personal favourites and is really a must-try!

 

Ginger Ale 

A distinctive but light ginger taste with the addition of orange and herbal infusions of Galangal and Cinnamon gives this ginger ale a fullness of flavour. Fentiman’s gets its ginger root all the way from China to make its botanically brewed ginger base.

Use it as mixer for your G&T and bring to make it spicy and bold. Add 2 thin slices of apple as a garnish to balance the sweetness.

Ginger Beer

The hot and fragrant ginger root is knows to have powerful antiemetic health benefits. Its versatility means that it is widely used as a medicine and it is also a popular spice in food and drink. Fentiman’s use Chinese Ginger root in their beverages!

Used as a mixer in your G&T it works a treat with a slice of lime.

Tonic Water

The world’s first botanically brewed tonic water is made with a blend of herbal infusions and lemongrass extract which creates a refreshing and unique tonic water. The Guardian describes it as: “Very special… in a G&T it’s perfection!”.

Garnish the Gin and Fentiman’s G&T with a slice of grapefruit and a spring of basil.

19:05 Herbal Tonic

A complex mixer containing a delicate combination of floral and herbal flavours. Earthy notes of Hyssop and Myrtle are counterbalanced by a natural sweetness and the sharpness of Quinine.

Garnish your G&T with a slice of cucumber!

Other beverages

You might have come across Fentiman’s Curiosity Cola or Cherry Cola before, they have both non-alcohol and alcoholic (gluten-free) versions. Fentiman’s has experimented with several exciting botanicals to create a range of soft drinks: lime and jasmine flowers, dandelion, burdock, elderflower, Seville oranges and juniper berries. All well worth a try!

Fentiman’s also joined forces with Bloom London Dry Gin to create pre-mixed alcopops. You can choose from Rose Lemonade & Bloom Gin and Bloom Gin & Tonic, both 6.5% ABV.

 

Find out more about Fentiman’s on their website.

 

Inka, our guest writer for this post, is a freelance blogger on spirits. She’s obsessed about glassware and always on the lookout for new G&T combinations. You can find her on onthesauceagain.com