Who needs to consider the bottle?

Car campers at a fixed pitch

A glass bottle may be practical if the site permits it and you can protect it in transit. Plan for drinking water to dilute the cordial and check how the opened bottle must be stored.

Festival campers

Check the named event’s container rules before packing drinks. Camp Bestival Dorset prohibits glass of any kind, while Camp Wildfire prohibits glass bottles of any kind.

Campers comparing labels and storage

If ingredients, sugars or refrigeration matter to your choice, compare the exact flavours and packs. Dilution and opened-bottle instructions differ between the Bottlegreen and Belvoir products described below.

What should you check before packing?

Start with the venue’s container rules, then check whether the cordial’s dilution and storage instructions fit the water and cooling available on your trip.

Priority What to check Your needs
Container rules Read the named site or event’s current prohibited-items rules. Camp Bestival Dorset prohibits glass of any kind; Camp Wildfire prohibits glass bottles of any kind. Check any alternative container too. I need a drink container I can bring onto the site, even if the cordial itself is non-alcoholic.
Dilution and water Read the exact product’s dilution ratio and serving size. Waitrose lists Bottlegreen Elderflower at 1 part cordial to 15 parts water, making 32 glasses of 250 ml from its 500 ml bottle. I want to make drinks at camp without relying on several ready-to-drink bottles, and I can bring or obtain the water needed.
Opened-bottle storage Check refrigeration and use-within instructions before opening. Waitrose says to refrigerate Bottlegreen Elderflower and use it within one month; Belvoir Farm specifies refrigeration and three weeks for its Raspberry and Lemon and Rhubarb and Apple cordials. For a multi-day stay, I need to know whether I can store an opened bottle as its label directs.
Ingredients and nutrition Compare nutrition on the same stated dilution basis and read the physical pack’s ingredients and allergen information. Waitrose warns that recipes can change, so its online listing should not replace the label. Flavour, ingredients and the labelled sugar information matter to my choice; I want to check the bottle I will actually pack.

Common packing mistakes

  • Assuming non-alcoholic cordial is exempt from a glass ban

    Camp Bestival Dorset’s prohibition covers glass of any kind, and Camp Wildfire prohibits glass bottles of any kind. Neither rule makes an exception here based on the drink.

    Check your event’s current prohibited-items rules before buying or packing a glass bottle, and confirm that any alternative container is permitted.

  • Estimating drinks from bottle size alone

    Serving estimates depend on dilution. Waitrose states that 500 ml of Bottlegreen Elderflower makes 32 glasses of 250 ml at 1:15 dilution; Belvoir Farm presents Raspberry and Lemon nutrition at a different, 1:10 dilution.

    Use the instructions on your chosen bottle to plan servings and the drinking water you will need.

  • Opening a bottle without checking storage instructions

    Waitrose instructs shoppers to refrigerate Bottlegreen Elderflower after opening, while Belvoir Farm gives the same refrigeration instruction for its Raspberry and Lemon and Rhubarb and Apple cordials.

    If you will not have suitable cooling, check the exact bottle’s instructions before deciding when to open it.

  • Using an online listing as the final ingredient label

    Waitrose warns that product recipes can change, affecting nutrition and allergen information.

    Read the physical bottle’s ingredients, allergen statement, nutrition panel and storage wording before departure.

Cordial brands and alternatives

These brand examples give you labels and formats to compare; check the exact product’s container and instructions before taking it camping.

Bottlegreen

Its Elderflower Cordial is a 500 ml option for comparing dilution yield with the storage available at camp.

  • Waitrose lists the Elderflower cordial at 1:15 dilution and 32 glasses of 250 ml per bottle.
  • Waitrose instructs shoppers to refrigerate this product after opening and consume it within one month. Check the exact flavour and physical pack rather than applying these details across the range.

Belvoir Farm

Its fruit cordial pages offer product-specific dilution and opened-bottle instructions to compare.

  • Belvoir Farm lists Raspberry and Lemon Cordial in a 500 ml size and presents its nutrition when diluted 1:10.
  • Belvoir Farm says to refrigerate its Raspberry and Lemon and Rhubarb and Apple cordials after opening and use them within three weeks; check other flavours separately.

Robinsons

A squash alternative to consider if you want to compare concentrate sizes before choosing what to pack.

  • Tesco lists Robinsons Mini Apple & Blackcurrant On-The-Go Squash in a 66 ml format alongside larger squash variants.
  • Check the exact pack’s material, dilution and storage instructions, as well as the venue’s container rules.

M&S Food

An own-label cordial range for shoppers comparing flavours at M&S Food.

  • Marks & Spencer describes its cordials as made with natural flavourings and intended for dilution with still or sparkling water.
  • Use the individual product label to check bottle material, dilution, ingredients and opened-bottle storage.

A Joybuy squash option

This concentrated blackcurrant squash is an option for making drinks with water at camp. Check its container against your venue’s rules and its label against your storage plans.

Ribena Concentrated Blackcurrant No Added Sugar 1.5L

Ribena Concentrated Blackcurrant No Added Sugar 1.5L

For drinks made with water at camp, this is a 1.5L concentrated blackcurrant squash. Check the physical label for dilution, ingredients and storage instructions, and confirm that your venue accepts the container.

View on Joybuy

Camping cordial questions

Are glass cordial bottles allowed at campsites?

Check your named campsite or event before packing one. Camp Bestival Dorset prohibits glass of any kind, and Camp Wildfire prohibits glass bottles of any kind; those event rules should not be assumed to apply to every campsite.

Does a festival glass ban still apply to non-alcoholic cordial?

Yes, where the rule bans the container regardless of its contents. Camp Bestival Dorset prohibits glass of any kind, and Camp Wildfire prohibits glass bottles of any kind, so check the current rules for your event and any alternative pack.

How many drinks will a 500 ml cordial bottle make?

Follow the exact product’s dilution instructions. Waitrose says its 500 ml Bottlegreen Elderflower Cordial makes 32 glasses of 250 ml when diluted at 1 part cordial to 15 parts water; that yield does not apply automatically to another cordial.

Will I need a cool box after opening cordial?

You will need suitable refrigeration for products whose instructions require it. Waitrose says to refrigerate Bottlegreen Elderflower after opening and consume it within one month; Belvoir Farm says to refrigerate its Raspberry and Lemon and Rhubarb and Apple cordials and use them within three weeks. Read your bottle’s instructions before the trip.

Can I use a supermarket webpage to check allergens?

Check the physical bottle instead of relying solely on a webpage. Waitrose warns that recipes can change and advises shoppers with allergies or intolerances to read the product label.