Small Hand Foods’ Yeoman Tonic Syrup uses red cinchona bark (the usual bark in tonic) along with lemon juice, gentian extract, sweet and bitter orange peels, lemon peels and cinnamon. Yeoman Tonic Syrup is described as being inspired by James Burrough and Desmond Payne of Beefeater Gin fame.
This syrup is sweetened with both cane sugar and lemon juice.
Tasting Notes
Yeoman Tonic Syrup is chestnut in hue with a moderate viscosity. The nose is heavy on the citrus. Tangerine, lemon and dusty cinnamon wood notes— slightly reminiscent of a cinnamon stick broom or the like— very woody for cinnamon.
On the palate, Yeoman Tonic Syrup begins with citrus notes. The mid-palate is vivid with orange peel. It then adds a touch of bitterness and dry cinnamon wood.
When adding seltzer, you can see that there’s a lot of sediment in here; however, the lovely chestnut hue remains. It’s lightened with water, seemingly bringing out more lemon at the front of the palate and less cinnamon wood at the back of the palate. Only a touch bitter.
Mixed with gin, Yeoman Tonic Syrup is bright with amplified citrus notes at the fore. Lemon and sweet orange, while the mid-palate seems to let the gin shine through nicely. I’d say the gin is definitely the star here; however, the bitterness just isn’t there. It’s subtle and moderately long, but it’s a whisper above bitter orange. You might mistake it for another note altogether.
Overall
This tonic syrup has a nice citrus accent; however, it doesn’t have as much bitterness as I’d like from my gin and tonic. If you’re looking for a citrus-forward tonic syrup with only mild bitterness, then perhaps Small Hand Foods Yeoman Tonic Syrup is the one for you.