Who are the drinks for?

The guest list helps determine whether adjustable dilution or a bottle that is ready to pour will be more useful.

Hosts serving adults and children

Cordial and sparkling water let guests choose a lighter or stronger mix. A ready-to-drink sparkling bottle takes less preparation, but its strength is already set.

Adults wanting an alcohol-free sparkling drink

Floral, citrus and botanical flavours offer alternatives to familiar fruit squash. Decide whether guests would rather mix a cordial or have a chilled drink ready to pour.

Families comparing sugar information

Read the sugars figure per 100 ml and the intended serving size. Front-of-pack wording, including “no added sugar”, does not tell you how much sugar is in a glass.

What should you check before buying?

Settle the serving format first, then compare the labels and flavours of the bottles you are considering.

Priority What to check Your needs
Serving format Check whether the bottle is concentrated cordial or already carbonated. For cordial, check its dilution directions and plan for separate sparkling water. I want drinks ready to pour, or I have time and water available to mix different strengths.
Sugars and serving size Compare sugars per 100 ml on the same basis, then check the amount in the glass you intend to serve. Belvoir Farm lists 4.2 g sugars per 100 ml for its Sparkling No Added Sugar Elderflower. “No added sugar” would not answer my question about the sugars in a serving, so I need the nutrition table.
Flavour choices Check the named flavour rather than assuming every cordial tastes like fruit squash. Robinsons lists elderflower, lime and mint, raspberry and rhubarb, and ginger and orange Fruit Cordials. For mixed preferences, I would offer a recognisable flavour alongside a more distinctive floral, ginger or citrus option.
Opened-bottle storage Read the instructions for each product and consider how much will be used. Belvoir Farm says to refrigerate its Elderflower Cordial after opening and use it within three weeks; its Sparkling No Added Sugar Elderflower says three days. If only a few guests want sparkling drinks, I need a bottle size and format that suit what we will serve.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current physical label, including its ingredients and allergen information, before serving anyone with a relevant dietary requirement. I cannot choose a drink for a guest with an allergy from its flavour name alone.

Common buying mistakes

  • Buying cordial when you need ready-to-pour fizz

    Concentrated cordial is not carbonated simply because it can be served sparkling. Bottlegreen instructs buyers to dilute its cordials with still or sparkling water.

    Choose a ready-to-drink sparkling bottle for pouring without mixing. If choosing cordial, arrange the sparkling water and try the dilution before guests arrive.

    Mixing also takes serving time and space for the separate water.

  • Reading “no added sugar” as “no sugar”

    Belvoir Farm lists 4.2 g sugars per 100 ml for its Sparkling No Added Sugar Elderflower. The wording on the front does not replace the nutrition figures.

    Compare sugars per 100 ml and check how much you plan to pour into each glass.

  • Overlooking instructions for opened bottles

    Storage periods differ by product: Belvoir Farm specifies three weeks after opening for its refrigerated Elderflower Cordial, but three days for its refrigerated Sparkling No Added Sugar Elderflower. Tesco gives a three-day instruction for its Finest Sicilian Lemon & Mint Pressé.

    Match the bottles to the number of guests and follow each pack's own refrigeration and consumption instructions.

  • Putting the drinks station near fireworks

    Serving drinks close to the bonfire or fireworks area can draw guests into the space used for the display. RoSPA says only adults should handle fireworks, while Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service advises against drinking alcohol when handling them.

    Set up drinks away from the bonfire and fireworks. Both organisations recommend an organised display rather than setting off fireworks at home.

Brands and drink formats

These examples show why it is worth checking the product format, not just the flavour or brand name.

Bottlegreen

Bottlegreen describes its cordials as concentrates that can be diluted to taste with still or sparkling water.

  • Dilution lets you adjust the strength of a sparkling serve.
  • A fizzy serve requires separate sparkling water and mixing.

Belvoir Farm

Belvoir Farm offers Elderflower Cordial and a separate ready-to-drink Sparkling No Added Sugar Elderflower.

  • The two elderflower products offer a choice between mixing and direct pouring.
  • The sparkling product lists 4.2 g sugars per 100 ml despite its “no added sugar” name.

Robinsons

Robinsons lists Fruit Cordials in flavours including elderflower, lime and mint, raspberry and rhubarb, and ginger and orange.

  • The listed flavours provide several choices for guests with different tastes.
  • These are cordials, so check the bottle and provide sparkling water if you want a fizzy serve.

Tesco Finest

Tesco Finest Sicilian Lemon & Mint Pressé is a 750 ml lightly sparkling, ready-to-drink option.

  • It can be poured without diluting cordial.
  • Tesco lists 10.8 g sugars per 250 ml serving and says to refrigerate and consume it within three days of opening.

A Joybuy sparkling drink option

This ready-to-drink elderflower option suits the no-mixing side of the Bonfire Night decision. It is a fizzy soft drink, not a cordial concentrate or a pressé.

Dalston's Fizzy Elderflower 330 ml

Dalston's Fizzy Elderflower 330 ml

For guests who want a sparkling elderflower drink without mixing cordial, this 330 ml fizzy option fits the ready-to-drink route. It is not a concentrate for adjusting dilution; check the current pack's ingredients and allergen information before serving.

View on Joybuy

Bonfire Night drink questions

Should I buy cordial or ready-to-drink sparkling pressé?

Choose cordial with sparkling water when guests may want different dilution strengths and you can mix drinks during the gathering. Choose ready-to-drink pressé when quick pouring matters more; it is already carbonated, unlike a cordial concentrate.

Does “no added sugar” mean a sparkling drink contains no sugar?

No. Belvoir Farm lists 4.2 g sugars per 100 ml for its Sparkling No Added Sugar Elderflower. Read the nutrition table and compare the amount you intend to serve.

How long can I keep a bottle after opening it?

Follow that bottle's instructions rather than applying one period to every drink. Belvoir Farm says to refrigerate its Elderflower Cordial and use it within three weeks of opening; its Sparkling No Added Sugar Elderflower and Tesco Finest Sicilian Lemon & Mint Pressé specify refrigeration and consumption within three days.

What should I check for a guest with an allergy?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current physical bottle before serving. A flavour name or an earlier online product description is not a substitute for checking the pack in hand.

Where should drinks be served during a fireworks gathering?

Keep the drinks station away from fireworks and the bonfire. RoSPA advises attending a professionally organised display where possible and says only adults should handle fireworks; Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service also advises against drinking alcohol when handling them.