Jeffreys Tonic Syrup

By Editor1SYS | October 22, 2019 0 Comments

A fabulous non-alcoholic alternative for the festive season

With more and more people these days eschewing alcohol for something more “healthy” – it’s great to see a range of interesting and beneficial ingredients in a drink such as Jeffreys.

Made with natural herbs and spices and amazingly tantalising flavours, Jeffrey’s uses cinchona bark, instead of the standard quinine extract and a host of exotic ingredients.  As well as evocative tastes the beauty of these tonic syrups is in their versatility, allowing you to make tonic to your own spec and have great fun mixing to achieve the perfect serve. 

Jeffrey’s came about from a passion that started when Chester-based founders Mike and Mo Robinson spent time in the Far East. Inspiration was driven by a very good Gin book which fortunately had some good tonic syrup recipes too! At that time tonic syrups were little known in the UK and not much development work had been done.  So, Mike, with a background in manufacturing and Mo, a skilled home economist, decided to try their hand at making their own tonic syrup. Years later after much research and experimentation with countless flavours the range was born and it’s made at NoW Food Centre at The University of Chester.

There are four incredibly good flavours to choose from:

The Original Recipe combines warm spices of Cassia bark, nutmeg, clove and allspice with cinchona bark and Sicilian Lemon.  It has a wonderful festive feel to it and ideal mixed with a wealth of spirits, especially spicy gins   Try just a drop to neat whisky & ginger to truly transform the taste.

‘Not so Plain’ Tonic is a truly unique marriage of flavours bringing together cinchona bark and organic Sicilian lemon juice.  This comes into its own as a mixer with herbaceous gins.

Another favourite is Lime, Galangal & Orange. It’s a complex and unusual blend with delicious hints of the Far East and perfect with citrus based gins and rum.

And last but definitely not least is the Yarrow, Rosehip & Elderflower syrup with cinchona bark, yarrow flowers, rosehips and elderflower juice which has lovely delicate, warm and sweet notes and terrific by itself or with floral or fruity gins, vodka or even prosecco.

This latter one is the one we tried and just loved it! Although it’s a syrup so has some sugaryness to it – the lovely botanicals are soothing to the tastebuds – in a sea of sickly and powerful tastes on the market. Not to mention the healing properties of Rosehip’s vitamin C content, Yarrow’s natural analgesic (painkilling) and anti-inflammatory powers and elderflower’s soothing benefits.

Talk about lifting your spirits!