Hosts serving a range of mixed drinks
A classic tonic gives guests a familiar starting point. If you add another flavour, choose one that is clearly different and suits a drink on the menu.
Who is choosing the mixers?
Hosts offering a lighter tonic
Put a labelled lighter or slimline option alongside the standard tonic. Compare nutrition and ingredients on the exact packs rather than assuming that every product described as light is sugar-free.
Hosts setting up a self-serve buffet
Match pack size to how often each mixer is likely to be poured. Individual portions let guests choose between varieties without opening a large bottle of each one.
What should you check?
Choose the drinks first, then decide which mixer needs a larger bottle and which can stay in individual portions until a guest wants it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Classic tonic | Look for Indian tonic water if you want a familiar tonic option. Check the pack size against the number of pours you expect. | I want a straightforward tonic available before guests choose between more distinctive flavours. |
| Lighter tonic | Compare energy, sugars and ingredients on the exact packs, using values per 100 ml. Joybuy lists Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water 500ml at 30 kcal and 7.4 g sugars per 100 ml, and Fever-Tree Naturally Light Tonic Water 8 × 150ml at 15 kcal and 3.8 g sugars per 100 ml. | Some guests may prefer a lighter tonic, while others want the standard one. I need labels that make the choice clear without treating light as meaning sugar-free. |
| Flavoured tonic | Check whether a floral, citrus or botanical flavour suits a planned drink. Keep it distinct from the classic tonic rather than opening several similar varieties. | There is a particular mixed drink or alcohol-free serve for which I want another tonic flavour. |
| Ginger option | Choose ginger beer or ginger ale as a separate option, not a substitute for tonic. Check the exact product’s flavour description and ingredients. | Not everyone wants tonic; I would like a ginger-led sparkling choice as well. |
| Portions and storage | Match 150 ml portions or larger bottles to expected pours. Read each pack’s instructions for storage after opening. | Several mixers will be on the table, but I do not expect every flavour to be poured equally often. |
What can go wrong?
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Putting out only a strongly flavoured tonic
Floral, citrus and botanical tonics bring their own flavour to a drink, which may not suit every combination guests have in mind.
Provide a classic Indian tonic as the starting choice, and add a flavoured one when it fits a planned serve.
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Assuming light tonic contains no sugar
Joybuy lists 3.8 g sugars per 100 ml for Fever-Tree Naturally Light Tonic Water 8 × 150ml. Light and sugar-free are not interchangeable descriptions.
Read the nutrition panel and ingredient list on each exact pack, particularly if a guest avoids an ingredient or sweetener.
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Opening a large bottle of every variety
If only a few guests choose a secondary flavour, part of its bottle may remain open after the buffet.
Consider individual portions for less frequently chosen mixers and a larger bottle for a tonic you expect to pour repeatedly.
Which brands offer relevant options?
These brand ranges illustrate different mixer choices; check the particular product and pack before deciding what to serve.
Fever-Tree
Fever-Tree lists classic Indian tonic alongside Mediterranean, elderflower and other flavoured tonics, giving hosts a way to choose a standard tonic and a distinct additional style.
- Its listed tonic range includes both classic and flavoured options.
- Check nutrition by product: Joybuy lists 3.8 g sugars per 100 ml for Fever-Tree Naturally Light Tonic Water 8 × 150ml.
Schweppes
Tesco Groceries lists standard and slimline Schweppes tonic in 1L bottles, while Joybuy lists 12 × 150ml multipacks of both styles.
- The listed styles and sizes allow a choice between standard and slimline tonic, and between larger bottles and individual portions.
- Check the label of the exact style selected rather than treating standard and slimline formulations as equivalent.
Fentimans
Fentimans describes its Ginger Beer as a bold, spicy drink. It offers a ginger-led choice for a buffet that already has tonic.
- The ginger flavour gives guests a distinct alternative to tonic.
- It is not a neutral replacement for classic tonic; Fentimans lists 4.4 g sugars per 100 ml for its Ginger Beer.
Britvic
Britvic announced 330ml cans of classic and zero-sugar Indian tonic in September 2023, describing each can as two serves.
- The announced formats illustrate a smaller-can option for hosts planning portions.
- Check which variants and packs are offered when you shop; the announcement describes the range at its 2023 launch.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists own-label Indian and low-calorie Indian tonic in 1L bottles, providing larger-bottle options for repeated pours.
- The listed own-label options include standard and low-calorie tonic.
- A 1L bottle is most practical when you expect enough guests to use that particular mixer after it is opened.
Joybuy mixers for the buffet
These options cover classic and slimline tonic in individual portions, a Mediterranean tonic for a planned flavoured drink, and ginger ale as a non-tonic choice. Choose the combination that matches your drinks menu rather than opening every style at once.
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Schweppes Slimline Tonic Water 12 × 150ml
A slimline tonic to put alongside a standard option at a self-serve buffet. The pack contains twelve 150ml portions; check the exact pack’s ingredients if guests have sweetener preferences.
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Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water 8 × 150ml
A classic Indian tonic for guests choosing from different mixed drinks. Eight 150ml portions let guests open a serving when needed; compare the exact pack’s nutrition panel if you are also serving a lighter tonic.
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Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Mediterranean Tonic Water 8 × 150ml
A Mediterranean tonic to offer when its flavour suits a drink on the buffet menu, rather than as the only tonic. The pack contains eight 150ml portions. Check its own nutrition and ingredients if you need to compare lighter options.
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Canada Dry Ginger Ale Mini 12 × 150ml
A ginger ale for guests who want a sparkling mixer other than tonic. The pack contains twelve 150ml portions. Read the exact pack’s nutrition and ingredient label if energy or sweetener information affects your choice.
Questions about buffet mixers
How many mixer styles should I put out?
Start with a classic tonic, then consider one lighter tonic and one non-tonic ginger option. Add a flavoured tonic if it suits a drink you plan to serve; you do not need several similar flavours to give guests a choice.
When should I choose 150ml portions instead of a 1L bottle?
Individual portions suit a self-serve table where guests may choose different mixers. A 1L bottle is more practical for a mixer you expect to pour repeatedly. Decide separately for each flavour rather than buying every style in the same format.
Does lighter tonic mean sugar-free?
No. Joybuy lists 3.8 g sugars per 100 ml and fructose among the ingredients for Fever-Tree Naturally Light Tonic Water 8 × 150ml. Read the exact product’s nutrition panel and ingredients when comparing it with a standard or sugar-free alternative.
How should I store mixers after opening them?
Follow the instructions on each pack and close bottles between pours. Joybuy’s instructions for Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water 500ml say to refrigerate it immediately after opening and consume it within three days; check the instructions for any other product you serve.