Hosts serving gin, vodka or vermouth
A classic Indian tonic provides one starting flavour for these drinks. If some guests prefer a more pronounced herbal or citrus tonic, offer it as a separate choice rather than making it the only mixer.
Who is the drinks table for?
Hosts offering alcohol-free drinks too
Crafted lemonade or soda provides an alternative for guests who do not want tonic bitterness or an alcoholic mixed drink.
Hosts accommodating light-tonic preferences
Compare the named light variant with its regular counterpart using the nutrition information on the actual packs. A light label does not, by itself, tell you the sugar content.
What should you check before choosing?
Decide which drinks you will offer before choosing flavours and pack sizes: a tonic for mixed drinks, a distinct second flavour if wanted, and a non-tonic option serve different purposes.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Tonic flavour | Check the spirits you plan to serve and the tonic maker's suggested pairings. Fentimans describes citrus and herbal notes in its Premium Indian Tonic Water and suggests it with London Dry gin. | I want a classic tonic for several mixed drinks, with a botanical alternative for guests who prefer a more distinctive G&T. |
| Light variants | Compare calories and sugars per 100ml on the exact variants, then check the serving size. A stated calorie reduction applies to the maker's named comparison, not every regular tonic. | Some guests would choose a light tonic, but I do not want to mistake that label for a sugar-free claim. |
| Non-tonic drinks | Check whether lemonade or soda can be served on its own as well as used for mixing. Britvic has described 150ml London Essence Crafted Lemonade and 250ml crafted-soda multipacks. | I would like an option for people who do not want tonic or alcohol, without expecting lemonade to stand in for a classic G&T. |
| Pack format | Count the serves in each pack and the number of flavours you expect to open. Individual 150ml or 200ml containers and larger bottles call for different chilling and storage plans. | With several mixers on the table, I would rather open each flavour as needed. Larger bottles may suit a drink that many guests choose. |
| Ingredients | Check the current ingredient, nutrition and allergen information on each actual pack. Keep that information accessible if you decant drinks. | Guests should be able to identify what is in the mixer they are offered, including when its original container is no longer on the table. |
What can complicate the choice?
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Using a strongly flavoured tonic for every drink
A tonic chosen for its pronounced herbal or citrus character may not be what every guest wants with their spirit.
Make a classic Indian tonic the starting option, then add a botanical alternative if it suits the drinks you plan to serve.
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Treating every light tonic as sugar-free
Light-tonic calorie comparisons are specific to a product and its stated regular counterpart; the light version may still contain sugars.
Compare the current nutrition panels per 100ml and keep the regular flavour available if guests want that option.
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Choosing packs without counting serves
A pack's container size affects how many drinks it can make and how many bottles or cans you may need to open.
Count individual serves and consider how many guests are likely to choose each flavour before deciding between small containers and larger bottles.
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Discarding labels after decanting
Guests may then be unable to check the ingredients or allergen information for the mixer in their glass.
Keep the current containers or clear photographs of their labels accessible throughout the party.
Which brands offer relevant options?
These brand ranges illustrate different flavour and format choices; a brand's inclusion here does not establish that a particular product will be available for your party.
Fever-Tree
Its range includes Indian tonic and light-tonic variants. Fever-Tree positions its Premium Indian Tonic Water for gin, vodka and fortified wines.
- A classic-tonic route to consider for a table serving several spirits.
- Check the exact variant: regular and light products have different ingredient and nutrition information.
Fentimans
Fentimans describes citrus and herbal notes in its Premium Indian Tonic Water and suggests serving it with London Dry gin.
- Offers a more distinct tonic flavour when that is part of the drinks plan.
- That flavour is a preference-led alternative, not an automatic substitute for a classic tonic.
London Essence
Britvic has described London Essence Crafted Lemonade in 150ml cans and crafted-soda varieties in 250ml cans.
- Lemonade and soda give hosts a non-tonic route for mixed or alcohol-free drinks.
- Choose these alongside, rather than in place of, tonic if classic G&Ts are on the menu.
Schweppes
A familiar tonic option; Tesco has listed standard and Slimline tonic in 1L bottles and 12 × 150ml packs.
- The listed formats allow a choice between larger bottles and individual serves.
- Check the current label if choosing between standard and Slimline variants.
Tesco Finest
Tesco has listed its Finest Indian Tonic Water in a 500ml bottle.
- A larger-bottle Indian tonic option to consider when several guests will choose the same mixer.
- The Finest name alone does not establish a particular flavour or ingredient match with branded tonics; compare the labels.
Joybuy tonic options
These Joybuy options cover classic Indian tonic and two light-tonic flavours in individual-can packs. Choose other drinks separately if your street party table also needs a non-tonic option.
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Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Premium Indian Tonic Water, 15 × 150ml
A light Indian tonic option for guests who prefer it alongside a regular tonic. The pack contains fifteen 150ml serves; check the current can for ingredients and nutrition rather than treating light as sugar-free.
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Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water, 8 × 150ml
A classic Indian tonic choice for mixed drinks, in eight 150ml cans. The Joybuy product information says to refrigerate after opening and consume within three days for quality; check the pack when serving.
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Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Mediterranean Tonic Water, 8 × 150ml
A different light-tonic flavour route to consider with citrus- or herb-led gin. The pack contains eight 150ml cans; check its own nutrition label rather than assuming it matches the light Indian tonic.
Street party mixer questions
Are individual cans or larger bottles more practical for a street party?
Individual 150ml or 200ml serves make it easier to open several mixer flavours as needed. Larger bottles may suit a flavour that many guests choose, provided you can chill them and follow the product's storage instructions after opening.
Does light tonic mean sugar-free?
No. Fentimans lists 3.4g sugars per 100ml for Naturally Light Tonic Water, while describing its calorie reduction in comparison with its own Premium Indian Tonic Water. Check the current nutrition label for the exact variant you serve.
How can guests check ingredients after drinks have been decanted?
Keep the original mixer containers or clear photographs of their current ingredient and allergen labels available at the drinks table. Guests can then check the information for the particular drink being offered.
How much mixer goes into a gin-and-tonic-style drink?
Fever-Tree's product information gives 150ml of mixer as part of one suggested recipe, not a required serving size. Plan for guests who want a different mix or a drink without alcohol rather than treating one recipe as the party standard.