Hosts making a classic Aperol Spritz
If the spritz is the main drink, start with soda rather than a flavoured tonic. Aperol’s UK recipe specifies a small soda addition alongside Prosecco and Aperol.
Who is choosing a mixer?
Hosts offering a second gin or vodka drink
A citrus tonic gives guests a different long-drink option. Fentimans describes its pink grapefruit tonic as a mixer for gin or vodka, while it positions yuzu tonic for strong London Dry or botanical gin.
Small gatherings comparing formats and labels
If you want several drink options, consider how many serves each pack provides and compare the ingredients of regular and zero-sugar tonics. Britvic described its 330ml tonic can as two serves in a 2023 launch announcement; check the format and label of the product you buy.
What should you check?
Decide whether the mixer is for the classic spritz or a separate long drink, then compare flavour, formulation and pack format.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Classic spritz | For an Aperol Spritz, Aperol’s UK recipe specifies 75ml Prosecco, 50ml Aperol and 25ml soda. It allows sparkling water as a fallback; mineral water may have its own taste. | I want the mixer to play the soda role in a classic Aperol Spritz, not add a tonic flavour. |
| Citrus flavour | Compare grapefruit tonic for a gin or vodka long drink with yuzu tonic for the strong London Dry or botanical gin pairing described by Fentimans. Check the ingredients of the exact product. | Alongside spritzes, I would like a citrus-led drink with a flavour chosen deliberately for the spirit. |
| Ingredients | Read sugars per 100ml and the ingredient list for sweeteners and quinine. Fentimans lists 4.4g sugars per 100ml for Pink Grapefruit Tonic and 4.9g for Oriental Yuzu Tonic; Coca-Cola Great Britain lists 0g for Schweppes Soda Water. | I want to compare what is in each mixer rather than assume that ‘light’, ‘botanical’ or ‘premium’ describes the same formulation. |
| Pack format | Check container size, the number of drinks planned and storage instructions after opening. Britvic described a 330ml tonic can as two serves in its 2023 launch announcement. | Several flavours could be useful for a small gathering, but I would rather choose pack sizes around the drinks we plan to make. |
Common buying mistakes
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Putting flavoured tonic in place of spritz soda
Aperol’s UK Spritz recipe specifies soda. Grapefruit or yuzu tonic adds its own flavour, so it makes a variation rather than the same recipe.
Get soda for the classic Aperol Spritz. Choose a flavoured tonic separately if you also plan a gin or vodka long drink.
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Assuming mixers with similar names have similar ingredients
Soda and tonic can differ in sugars and ingredients. For example, Coca-Cola Great Britain lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Schweppes Soda Water, while Fentimans lists sugars and quinine for its Pink Grapefruit Tonic Water.
Compare the current nutrition panel per 100ml and read the ingredient list, particularly when choosing between regular, light and flavoured products.
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Using an old format announcement as a shopping list
Britvic’s description of 330ml classic and zero-sugar tonic cans comes from a 2023 launch announcement. It does not establish which variants or pack sizes are available for your gathering.
Confirm the exact pack and read its label before choosing how much mixer to buy. Tesco also advises checking labels because food formulations can change.
Brand references
These ranges illustrate different mixer styles; a brand name alone does not tell you whether a particular bottle is soda, tonic or a flavoured soft drink.
Fentimans
Its mixer range includes soda water and flavoured tonics, including pink grapefruit and yuzu.
- Fentimans describes Pink Grapefruit Tonic as a grapefruit-and-quinine option for gin or vodka, and Oriental Yuzu Tonic as an option for strong London Dry or botanical gin.
- Those flavoured tonics are not neutral substitutes for the soda in Aperol’s classic Spritz recipe. Check the label if sugars or quinine matter to your choice.
Fever-Tree
The products considered here include tonic options and a Sicilian lemonade, offering different directions for drinks beyond the classic spritz.
- The Joybuy listing for Refreshingly Light Sicilian Lemonade identifies 6% lemon fruit from concentrate and 4.4g sugars per 100ml.
- A lemonade or tonic should not be assumed to perform the neutral soda role in Aperol’s Spritz recipe.
Schweppes
Its soda water and Indian tonic are distinct choices for different drinks.
- Coca-Cola Great Britain lists Schweppes Soda Water as carbonated water and sodium bicarbonate, with 0g sugars per 100ml.
- Do not use the soda water’s ingredient or nutrition information to describe Schweppes tonic; check the exact tonic label separately.
Britvic
Britvic described classic and zero-sugar Indian Tonic Water in 330ml cans in a 2023 announcement.
- The brand described each 330ml can as two serves, a useful format detail when planning a smaller gathering.
- The dated announcement does not confirm current variants or availability; check the product offered now.
Tesco Finest
Tesco lists own-label Indian and botanical tonic options for shoppers comparing tonic styles.
- Tesco describes its Finest Botanical Tonic Water as a botanical-flavoured light tonic with sweetener.
- Tesco warns that ingredients and nutrition information can change, so read the label on the product selected.
Joybuy mixer options
These options include tonics for a separate long drink and sparkling mineral waters to consider if using Aperol’s sparkling-water fallback for a spritz. Mineral water is not labelled as soda or club soda.
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Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Mediterranean Tonic Water 8x150ml
Consider this tonic for a separate long drink rather than the soda component of a classic Aperol Spritz. The pack contains eight 150ml cans; check the label for its flavour and ingredients.
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Double Dutch Skinny Tonic 200ml x24
This tonic is an option when planning drinks alongside, rather than in place of, the classic spritz. The pack contains 24 × 200ml; check the current label to see what ‘Skinny’ means for this product’s ingredients and nutrition.
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Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Premium Indian Tonic Water 15 x 150ml
Choose an Indian tonic format if the gathering includes a tonic-based second drink; it is not the soda specified in Aperol’s Spritz recipe. This pack contains 15 × 150ml. Check its current ingredient and nutrition label when comparing tonics.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6 x 0.5L
Aperol allows sparkling water as a fallback for its Spritz, making this mineral water worth considering if you are not using soda. It comes in six 0.5L bottles. Mineral water is not labelled as soda or club soda, so consider whether its taste suits the drink you intend to make.
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SAN PELLEGRINO Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6x1L
For a planned supply of sparkling water, this pack contains six 1L bottles. Aperol permits sparkling water as a Spritz fallback, but this product is mineral water rather than soda or club soda; consider its taste if a neutral mixer matters to you.
Frequently asked questions
What mixer goes into a classic Aperol Spritz?
Use soda. Aperol’s UK recipe specifies 75ml Prosecco, 50ml Aperol and 25ml soda; it recommends club soda and allows sparkling water as a fallback.
Can tonic replace soda in an Aperol Spritz?
Tonic makes a different variation, not the drink specified by Aperol’s UK recipe. It can add quinine, sweetness or other flavours, so use it when that change is intentional rather than assuming it will taste like soda.
Which mixer could work for a citrus-led gin or vodka drink?
Pink grapefruit tonic is one option for a separate gin or vodka long drink. Fentimans describes that pairing for its Pink Grapefruit Tonic Water; the brand lists quinine and 4.4g sugars per 100ml, so check the formulation as well as the flavour.
How do I compare light, zero-sugar and regular mixers?
Compare the exact products’ sugars per 100ml and ingredient lists, including sweeteners and quinine. Names such as ‘light’ do not replace that check, and Tesco advises reading product labels because formulations can change.
What pack size suits a small gathering?
Match the pack to the drinks and flavours you plan to serve, then check storage instructions for anything left open. Britvic described its 330ml tonic can as two serves in a 2023 announcement; the Joybuy listing for Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Sicilian Lemonade says to refrigerate its 500ml bottle after opening and consume it within three days.