Hosts serving a mixed-age group
Squash concentrate and separate sparkling water let you vary the dilution by glass. Check the exact bottle's ingredients before serving it to guests with dietary requirements.
Who is each drink format for?
The useful distinction for a New Year's Eve drinks table is whether guests will mix their own glasses or pour a finished sparkling drink.
Hosts planning floral or citrus drinks
A cordial can bring elderflower or another distinctive flavour to a drink mixed with sparkling water. Marks & Spencer says its cordials can be diluted with still or sparkling water.
Hosts wanting quick self-service
A ready-to-drink sparkling bottle needs no measuring or dilution. Its flavour and sweetness are already set, and its label may call for prompt use after opening.
What matters when choosing party drinks?
No-added-sugar squash and sparkling water
Choose it when: Guests may prefer different strengths and you can mix drinks as they are served.
Allow for: Separate sparkling water and a check of the concentrate's sweeteners and allergens.
Floral cordial and sparkling water
Choose it when: Elderflower or another distinctive cordial flavour is central to the drinks table.
Allow for: Mixing each drink and checking sugar and allergens; the cited elderflower cordials list sugar and sulphites.
Ready-to-drink sparkling pressé
Choose it when: Guests need a drink they can pour without a dilution step.
Allow for: A fixed sweetness level and the bottle's opened-storage instructions.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar per glass | Compare sugars for the same volume of prepared drink. Waitrose lists less than 0.5g per 250ml serving for its no-added-sugar lime cordial, 11.4g for its elderflower cordial and 12.2g for its ready-to-drink elderflower pressé. | If I'm choosing for guests who want less sugar, I need the figure for the glass I'll serve, not just a claim on the front of a concentrate bottle. |
| Fizz and preparation | Check whether the bottle is a concentrate or already sparkling. For cordial, follow its dilution guidance and provide sparkling water; Waitrose suggests one part of its elderflower cordial to four parts water. | Do I have time and space for mixing drinks, or would guests rather pour straight from a bottle? |
| Ingredients | Read the exact pack for allergens and sweeteners. Marks & Spencer's elderflower cordial lists sulphites; Waitrose's no-added-sugar lime cordial lists sodium metabisulphite and sucralose. | Guests with an allergy, intolerance or sweetener preference need to be able to check the drink they'll actually have. |
| After opening | Check refrigeration, opened-life and packaging instructions for each bottle. Waitrose says to consume its opened sparkling elderflower pressé within three days and its opened elderflower cordial within one month. | If there may be leftovers, I want a bottle size and storage plan that fit the gathering. |
Mistakes to avoid with sparkling party drinks
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Assuming every sparkling fruit drink has similar sugar content
Waitrose lists different sugars per 250ml serving for its no-added-sugar lime cordial, elderflower cordial and sparkling elderflower pressé. A claim on one bottle does not describe another flavour or format.
Compare the nutrition labels using the volume and dilution you intend to serve.
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Forgetting that cordial needs a mixer
A cordial or squash concentrate is not sparkling on its own; a ready-to-drink pressé already is.
Have sparkling water ready for concentrates and mix individual glasses or small batches close to serving.
The concentrate route also takes sparkling water and time to prepare each serve.
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Judging ingredients by the flavour name
The cited M&S elderflower cordial lists sulphites, while Waitrose's no-added-sugar lime cordial lists a sweetener and sodium metabisulphite.
Read the physical pack before serving and leave it available for guests who need to check ingredients.
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Using one opened-storage rule for every bottle
Waitrose gives different opened-life instructions for its elderflower cordial and its pressurised sparkling elderflower pressé.
Open pressurised bottles carefully, refrigerate leftovers as directed and follow the instruction on the exact container.
An opened bottle may go unused if its stated storage period does not fit your plans.
Brands and ranges to consider
These brand and retailer examples illustrate drink formats and label differences; each product still needs its own ingredient and serving check.
Robinsons
A fruit-squash option for mixing individual sparkling drinks.
- Robinsons says its core squash range has no added sugar.
- Check the chosen flavour's label for its ingredients and dilution instructions.
Tesco
Its squash range includes own-label no-added-sugar concentrates in several fruit flavours.
- Tesco Groceries lists quadruple-strength squash among its concentrate options.
- Follow the specific bottle's dilution guidance rather than treating every concentrate as the same strength.
M&S
A cordial range for drinks mixed with still or sparkling water.
- Marks & Spencer lists cordial flavours including elderflower and ginger.
- Its cited elderflower cordial contains sugar and lists sulphites; check other flavours separately.
Waitrose
Its cited products include lime cordial, elderflower cordial and ready-to-drink sparkling elderflower pressé.
- The product labels give serving information that helps distinguish concentrate from a finished sparkling drink.
- The cited products differ in sugars, ingredients and opened-storage instructions; do not apply one label to the whole range.
Joybuy options for mixing or pouring
These options include squash concentrates to mix with sparkling water and one ready-to-drink sparkling elderflower can. The can is an alternative to squash, not a concentrate.
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Ribena No Added Sugar Blackcurrant Squash 1.5L
A blackcurrant concentrate for mixing party drinks by the glass with sparkling water.
The bottle is labelled no added sugar. Check its dilution guidance and ingredients, including sweeteners and sodium bisulphite, on the pack before serving.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
Choose this orange concentrate if you want to mix sparkling drinks to different strengths.
It needs separate sparkling water. Check the pack's dilution, sweetener and sulphite information, particularly when serving children or guests with dietary requirements.
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Ribena No Added Sugar Pineapple and Passion Fruit Squash 850ml
This pineapple and passion fruit concentrate offers another flavour for drinks mixed with sparkling water.
It is labelled no added sugar but still needs dilution. Check sugars for the prepared serving, along with the pack's sweetener and sulphite information.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 1L
A summer-fruits concentrate for guests who prefer a fruit-blend flavour in a mixed sparkling drink.
Provide sparkling water and follow the bottle's dilution guidance. Check its sweeteners, sulphites and opened-storage instructions on the pack.
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Dalston's Fizzy Elderflower 330ml
This ready-to-drink sparkling elderflower can suits a drinks table where guests can pour without mixing.
It is not squash or cordial, so it does not offer concentrate-style control over strength. Check the can's nutrition and storage instructions for the serve you plan.
Questions about sparkling squash and pressé
Can I mix ordinary squash or cordial with sparkling water?
Yes, if the concentrate is intended for dilution: use sparkling water and follow its bottle instructions. Marks & Spencer says its cordials can be diluted with sparkling water, while Waitrose suggests one part of its elderflower cordial to four parts water.
Is sparkling pressé the same as diluted squash?
No. A ready-to-drink pressé is already sparkling, whereas squash or cordial is a concentrate you dilute yourself. The distinction matters if guests want to adjust the strength of individual glasses.
How can I compare sugar between these drinks?
Compare sugars for the same volume of prepared drink. Waitrose lists less than 0.5g sugars per 250ml serving for its no-added-sugar lime cordial, 11.4g for its elderflower cordial and 12.2g for its ready-to-drink sparkling elderflower pressé; check the exact product and dilution you will use.
What if a guest has an allergy or avoids sweeteners?
Read the ingredient and allergen statement on the exact pack before serving. The cited M&S elderflower cordial lists sulphites, and Waitrose's no-added-sugar lime cordial lists sodium metabisulphite and sucralose; a flavour name or no-added-sugar label does not settle either question.
Can opened cordial and pressé be stored for the same length of time?
Do not assume so: follow each bottle's instructions. Waitrose says to refrigerate its sparkling elderflower pressé after opening and consume it within three days, while its elderflower cordial has a one-month opened-life instruction.