Hosts serving several spirits
If guests will choose between gin, vodka and vermouth drinks, a classic tonic gives you a starting point. Add other flavours for specific planned serves rather than filling the table with similar options.
Who is choosing the mixers?
Hosts planning flavour-led gin drinks
If London Dry gin is central to the menu, you may want a tonic that contributes noticeable citrus and herbal notes. Fentimans describes lemon oil, lemongrass and herbal infusions in its Premium Indian Tonic Water.
Hosts offering lighter and alcohol-free choices
Set out a lighter tonic for guests who want one, and plan a separate soft-drink serve for people not drinking alcohol. Check the exact label before treating a lighter variant as sugar-free.
What should you check before buying?
Plan the drinks first, then match each mixer’s flavour and container size to the serves you expect to make.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour fit | List the spirits you will serve. Compare a classic Indian tonic with more botanical options; Fentimans describes its Connoisseurs Tonic as having a delicate flavour profile. | I want a tonic for gin, vodka or vermouth, but would add a stronger citrus-herbal flavour only for a drink where it is welcome. |
| Lighter tonic | Compare calories, sugars and ingredients per 100ml on the exact variants. Joybuy lists Fever-Tree Naturally Light Indian Tonic at 15 kcal and 3.8g sugars per 100ml and lists fructose among its ingredients. | A lighter tonic would give guests another choice; I would not assume that a product labelled light is sugar-free. |
| Serving format | Match can or bottle size to the expected pace of pouring. Check each pack’s storage instructions, particularly after opening. | If people will choose different drinks throughout the evening, individual cans let me open tonic as needed. A larger bottle makes more sense if it will be poured repeatedly. |
| Alcohol-free drinks | Choose a soft drink that works as a complete serve, not just a substitute for tonic. Britvic has described London Essence crafted lemonade and flavoured sodas in multipack formats. | I want guests who are not drinking alcohol to have a planned drink of their own, with a flavour and serving size that suit the menu. |
| Pack details | Read the ingredients, allergen information, nutrition, best-before date and storage instructions on each exact flavour and format. | When serving guests with dietary requirements, I need to check the packs I will actually open rather than rely on another variant’s label. |
What can go wrong with a party mixer selection?
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Buying several botanical tonics without planned serves
A prominent citrus-herbal tonic changes the flavour of a simple mixed drink and may not suit every guest’s choice of spirit.
Decide which drinks need a distinctive tonic before adding one alongside a classic option.
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Assuming light means sugar-free
Fever-Tree Naturally Light Indian Tonic is listed with 3.8g sugars per 100ml and contains fructose.
Check calories, sugars and sweetening ingredients per 100ml on the exact pack.
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Leaving a large bottle open during slow service
A partly used bottle may lose carbonation before the next pour, and opened products can have specific storage instructions.
Consider individual cans for occasional pours. If using a larger bottle, follow its instructions for resealing and refrigeration.
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Applying one variant’s label to a whole brand
Ingredients, nutrition and allergen information can differ between flavours and formats.
Check every exact pack you plan to serve, especially when a guest has a dietary requirement.
Which brands offer relevant mixer styles?
Fever-Tree
Fever-Tree’s tonic range includes Indian, Mediterranean, Aromatic and lighter variants, giving hosts different flavour directions to consider.
- Its Indian Tonic 8 × 150ml listing suggests pairings with gin, premium vodka and vermouth.
- That Indian Tonic listing states 8.0g sugars per 100ml; the Naturally Light Indian variant still lists 3.8g sugars per 100ml.
Fentimans
Fentimans offers a citrus-herbal Premium Indian Tonic Water and describes its Connoisseurs Tonic Water as more delicate.
- Fentimans lists lemon oil, lemongrass and herbal infusions for its Premium Indian Tonic Water.
- A pronounced botanical flavour is worth choosing for a planned drink rather than assuming it will suit every spirit or palate.
Schweppes
Joybuy lists Schweppes Indian and Slimline tonic multipacks among its mixer options.
- The listed formats include 12 × 150ml packs of both Indian and Slimline tonic.
- Compare the exact packs’ ingredients and nutrition when deciding between the two variants.
London Essence
London Essence offers non-tonic directions for a drinks table, including crafted lemonade and flavoured sodas.
- Britvic’s May 2025 retail announcement described 150ml Crafted Lemonade six-packs and 250ml crafted-soda four-packs.
- Check the current retailer listing and exact recipe for the pack you intend to buy.
Joybuy mixers for the drinks table
These options cover classic and lighter tonics alongside non-tonic lemonade and elderflower drinks for a varied party menu.
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Fever-Tree Naturally Light Tonic Water, 8 × 150ml
A lighter Indian tonic option for individual gin, vodka or vermouth serves, according to the Joybuy listing. It states 15 kcal and 3.8g sugars per 100ml and lists fructose, so it is not sugar-free.
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Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water, 8 × 150ml
A classic tonic in individual cans; the Joybuy listing suggests it with gin, premium vodka and vermouth. It states 36 kcal and 8.0g sugars per 100ml. Follow the pack’s instructions after opening.
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Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Mediterranean Tonic Water, 8 × 150ml
Consider this lighter Mediterranean tonic when citrus or herbaceous gins are on the menu. The 150ml cans allow individual serves; check the exact label for sugars and ingredients if those details matter to guests.
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Fever-Tree Premium Lemonade, 6 × 150ml
A non-tonic choice for the drinks table, in six individual 150ml cans. The listing suggests it for serves with vodka, gin or whisky; choose it when lemonade suits the planned drink rather than substituting it for tonic.
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Dalston's Fizzy Elderflower, 330ml
An elderflower soft drink rather than a tonic; the listing also suggests it with gin or vodka. Check how many 330ml units are included before planning party servings.
Common questions
Should I buy small cans or large bottles of tonic for a party?
Choose individual cans if guests will pick different drinks or tonic will be poured slowly; a larger bottle suits rapid repeat pours. Check its instructions once opened. Joybuy’s Fever-Tree Indian Tonic listing says to refrigerate after opening and consume within three days for best quality.
Is a lighter tonic sugar-free?
Not necessarily. Joybuy lists Fever-Tree Naturally Light Indian Tonic with 3.8g sugars per 100ml and fructose in its ingredients. Check the exact variant’s label rather than relying on the word light.
What should I check when serving guests with dietary requirements?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on every exact pack you intend to serve, including each flavour variant. A statement about one mixer does not establish the ingredients or suitability of another.
What can I serve guests who are not drinking alcohol?
Plan a standalone soft drink as well as any tonic intended for mixed drinks. Crafted lemonade, flavoured soda or an elderflower drink can provide a non-tonic option; choose the flavour and serving format to suit the rest of your menu.