Little mix

Due to the growing mixer market and continual product innovation, consumers have plenty of options in terms of flavour and pairing. The new focus is on quality and health following the rise in the popularity of consumers drinking less but better quality drinks, and the long-term trend of lighter, lower sugar drinks. Drinks Industry Ireland looks at how brands have been broadening their offerings to include healthier choices and more choice

A pop of flavour

As Ireland’s number one mixer, Schweppes continues to bring bubbles into consumers lives through its unique effervescence and sparkling campaigns. Schweppes is bringing a pop of flavour to you this spring with Schweppes Pink Soda and Slimline Elderflower Tonic Water. Pink Soda is the latest addition to the range. Subtle, citrussy and aromatic, it pairs perfectly with gin, vodka or rosé wine and your favourite garnish. And best yet, enjoy your pink drink guilt-free as Schweppes Pink Soda is 20 calories per 100ml.
Schweppes Elderflower Slimline Tonic Water is the perfect pairing with vodka or gin adding floral freshness to your drink with no added sugar and only two calories per 100ml. Prepare to sparkle with excitement with the delicious taste sensation of the refreshing drinks that Schweppes is known for.
This Spring Schweppes will run a high reach media campaign to drive awareness and encourage trial from March through to the summer months spanning across OOH and social. OOH plan will drive sales in grocery and support the on-trade. Schweppes social plan will run across Facebook and Instagram. The Schweppes flavours will be supported all spring long through a newly developed ‘suggested serve’ booklet providing venues inspiration to create serves linked to all Schweppes varieties. The Schweppes sales team will also work in partnership with outlets to activate the brand on menus, highlighting mixability opportunities and suggested serves. Schweppes Pink Soda and Elderflower Slimline Tonic Water provide an opportunity to further grow Schweppes within the on-trade, driving brand relevance with the return of the spring social occasion in pubs, bars and restaurants.
This summer, Schweppes believes there’s nothing like saying yes to the thrill of getting out, mingling, and loosening up with others! The Schweppes Born Social Bar at Electric Picnic and All Together Now is the perfect spot to unwind with friends and soak up the thrill of being out between headliners. With a host of exciting acts and DJs, Schweppes will be serving up a great line-up of music to festival goers, while its mixologists stir up daring cocktail combinations.

Mix with the best

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

Lighter taste

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.
Brian Greer, marketing manager at Britvic Ireland said: “Following the long-term trend towards sugar reduction across the world, and being consumers of premium drinks ourselves, we found that many “premium” options focused on natural credentials but were also very high in sugar. It’s important to deliver light, natural options that also have great taste to ensure overall enjoyment.”
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.
Greer adds: “A sign of a sophisticated mixer is when they can be enjoyed in any form – with or without a spirit – to satisfy all drinking occasions and preferences. Therefore, not only do we have a fantastic range of tonics and gingers, but also a delicious selection of crafted soda’s includes our Pink Grapefruit and Roasted Pineapple which we launched last year. We are also overwhelmed with recent industry recognition that a selection of leading bartenders – from the best bars in the world – made their selections for the best mixers and voted London Essence as @drinksinternational number 2 top trending mixer brand and the number 4 bestselling mixer brand”
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.

The best of Ireland

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 complement to any premium tequila’ says founder Brendan Colbert. “We also have some very exciting international spirits partnerships to be announced in the coming months in that context”
The Irish company continues its strong upwards trajectory in 2024 with its soon to launch modern Irish retail proposition “We are super excited to be delivering our products for the retail customer in Ireland and internationally.. It will be a dynamic shift for the business”