A good mixer

The mixers market presents significant growth opportunities, driven by evolving consumer preferences and innovations in product offerings. Drinks Industry Ireland highlights some of the best mixer brands on the Irish market at present

The global mixers market has experienced significant growth and is projected to continue expanding in the coming years. In 2023, the market was valued at approximately €8.2 billion and is expected to reach around €12 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.71% during the forecast period.
The mixers market’s growth is driven by several factors, including the increasing popularity of craft cocktails, a trend towards premiumisation, and a rise in home entertainment, leading consumers to seek high-quality mixers for at-home use. Additionally, health-conscious consumers are demanding mixers with natural ingredients and lower sugar content. We take a look at some of brands embracing those very trends

Taste the pink bursting bubbles!

Ireland and Northern Ireland’s number one mixer, Schweppes, is kicking off the spring-summer season with the launch of Pink Grapefruit Soda non-returnable glass in the on-trade.
Available from March 2025, the new flavour is an exciting addition to the extensive 200ml Schweppes Core range, which includes Schweppes Tonic Water, Slimline Tonic Water, Soda Water, Ginger Ale, Slimline Elderflower Tonic Water and Lemonade.
New Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Soda provides an opportunity to further grow Schweppes within the on-trade, driving relevance for the brand with the return of the spring / summer social occasion in pubs, bars and restaurants. Consumers are now looking for flavoured soda options, which deliver on taste and fizz. Schweppes Pink Grapefruit soda meets those needs as it can be consumed mixed or straight appealing to all consumers who prefer a serve with or without alcohol.
Flavoured soda is the second most likely mixer for tequila in Ireland after lemon & lime*. The rising popularity of the Paloma serve across bars nationwide is a trend Schweppes Pink Grapefruit will tap into and will help simplify the bartenders’ path to a great Paloma serve by simply adding tequila and pink grapefruit garnish. For consumers who prefer a no-alcohol alternative Schweppes Pink Grapefruit is best served poured over ice for a crisp and refreshing alcohol-free option.
The launch will be supported with a fully integrated marketing campaign in May in line with ‘World Paloma Day’ on the 22 May 2025 targeting socialisers ages 25-39, including value added deals for outlets. This will include functional activation items such as glassware to keep the brand top of mind for customers and to support the ‘Paloma’ cocktail trend, venue point-of-sale, a newly developed ‘suggested serve’ booklet to provide Schweppes inspiration for summer menus, targeted social, out of home media and PR. The Schweppes sales team will also work in partnership with outlets to activate the brand on menus, highlighting mixability, straight drinking opportunities and suggested serves. Schweppes Pink grapefruit soda will be supported all summer long with the return of the Schweppes roadshow across venues in Ireland and Northern Ireland and feature as part of Schweppes takeovers at key summer festivals.

Pioneering the premium mixer category

In 2013, Fever-Tree was introduced to the Irish market via Richmond Marketing and has since become Ireland’s number one premium mixer brand. Throughout the past 10 years, we’ve seen a market wide shift towards premiumisation with Fever-Tree pioneering the premium mixer category, bringing choice, quality, and excitement back into the previously overlooked space.
Since launching in Ireland, Fever-Tree has continued to diversify its portfolio to meet the ever-evolving needs of the Irish consumer. For the brand, it’s all about putting quality back into both the on trade and at home occasion with one simple premise – If ¾ of your drink is the mixer, mix with the best.
Fever-Tree now offers one of the market’s most expansive mixer ranges encompassing flavoured tonics, Ginger Ale, Ginger Beer, Soda Water, Mexican Lime Soda Water and most recently, Pink Grapefruit Soda, which is made using naturally sourced ingredients to achieve the perfectly balanced, bitter-yet-sweet flavour with fresh and floral notes.
From old school classics to modern twists, Fever-Tree’s award-winning range of mixers will enhance the taste of any long drink or cocktail.
For more information, please visit www.fever-tree.com

Enhancing the spirit

Following the rise in the popularity of consumers drinking less but better quality liquids, and the long-term trend of lighter, lower calorie and lower sugar drinks, means there has been a need for brands to broaden their product offering to include ‘healthier choices’ that strengthen consumer’s overall drinking experience in terms of taste, serve and enjoyment.
At the forefront of this evolving category and lighter drinking movement is London Essence, producing elegantly distilled mixers designed to accentuate the finest spirits. Each expression is delicately light at under 20kcal per 100ml, low in sugar at under 4g per 100ml and is crafted without the use of artificial sweeteners, thanks to its unique use of distilled essences.
Through its relationship with the on-trade and conversations with world-leading bartenders, London Essence also recognised that high-sugar mixers often overpowered the characteristics of the spirit partner, instead of enhancing them.
With that in mind, the brand took inspiration from its heritage in creating distilled essences which capture the flavour of the finest ingredients to deliver aromatic signature notes and great taste, with only a dusting of sugar.
The London Essence range is designed to bring out the best in gins, vodkas and dark spirits through mixer varieties including Original Indian Tonic Water, Grapefruit & Rosemary Tonic, Blood Orange & Elderflower Tonic, Pomelo and Pink Peppercorn Tonic Water as well as a delicate Ginger Ale and a Spiced Ginger Beer. Crafted Soda range includes Pink Grapefruit, White Peach & Jasmine and Roasted Pineapple
Irish through and through
Fast growing premium Irish drinks brand Poachers Drinks extended its range last year from seven to nine to include two award-winning new sodas – Grapefruit Soda with Achill Island Sea Salt and Lemon Soda with farm grown Irish Mint.
The Guaranteed Irish™ Company who make their entire range of premium drinks and sodas in Ireland continues to highlight the best Irish ingredients in all of their products.
“Our new Sodas are absolutely delicious on their own or as the perfect compliment to any premium tequila,” says founder Brendan Colbert