The Tonic & Mixer Masters 2026 medal winners
Thanks to flavour innovations and evolving drinking patterns, tonics and mixers are more than able to stand on their own in a world of spirits. Our annual blind-tasting competition sought to highlight the best on offer.
Tonic and mixer producers have fought hard to be viewed as making a product that can be consumed on its own as a high-quality and delicious alcohol-free option, without the addition of spirits. Innovation in unusual flavours has helped to support the category, alongside growing interest in easy-to-make cocktails and a move towards moderation (such as the ‘zebra striping’ trend of alternating between alcoholic and booze-free drinks).
However, the category has not been immune to the current economic downturn and inflationary challenges. The Premium Soft Drinks and Mixers Market Report 2026 by Fentimans revealed total mixer sales fell by 1% to £310 million (US$423m) in Britain’s grocery channel in the year to 1 November 2025 (Nielsen IQ RMS data). Volume-wise, this segment decreased by 4%. But in the on-trade the category was slightly more positive, posting growth of 1.2% in the 12 months to mid-July 2025, according to NIQ figures cited in the report.
There was some growth on the premium end of the soft drinks and mixer category in Britain’s on-trade, which rose by 1.4% in the year to mid-July 2025. The rise was in line with mainstream options (up by 1.6%) and ahead of budget brands, which were stagnant. As the report notes: “In the context of a difficult trading environment, even modest growth is welcome.”
The purpose of the annual Tonic & Mixer Masters competition is to decide which products are shining examples of the category, assessing products anonymously to decide which are worthy of Master, Gold, and Silver medals. This year’s panel was chaired by Nicola Carruthers, deputy editor of The Spirits Business, who was joined by Sarah Miller, founder of the Gin A Ding Ding blog, and Ruchira Neotia, drinks consultant and founder of Ruchira’s Table.
The competition got off to a strong start with a pair of Masters found in the opening flights. German mixer brand Thomas Henry secured the Masters in the Soda and Indian Tonic Water heats.
The first went to Thomas Henry Soda Water, praised by Neotia for offering “everything you need from a soda”. She praised the soda for having the “right level of effervescence and minerality to brighten up and energise a base spirit”.
Thomas Henry Tonic Water also took home a Master. It had an “attractive aroma, with notes of citrus and quinine”, according to Miller, who highlighted its “nice carbonation” and lengthy finish.
A duo of Golds were dished out in the following flight, Tonic Water – Other, including another for Thomas Henry. The brand’s Botanical Tonic was enjoyed for its “savoury palate with notes of rosemary”. The other Gold winner was Hysope’s Tonic Water Méditerranéan, which had a “fresh bitter-sweet nose, some subtle spices and an orangey note”. Two Silvers finished the flight.
The next heat, Flavoured/Infused Tonic Water, resulted in a Gold for Lady Alaï London Tonic Water. One judge noted that it had a “lovely inviting aroma of fresh cucumber” and described it as being “light, fresh and authentic”. After tonics came a tasting of flavoured and infused carbonated mixers, which produced four Gold medallists.
The first went to Chantry Well Pink Grapefruit Soda, which had “grapefruit zest on the nose and a nice touch of citrus sourness on the palate, with well-balanced sweetness”, one judge said.
Thomas Henry scored a hat-trick of Golds in this flight for its Mystic Mango, Pink Grapefruit, and Vivid Watermelon mixers. Ruchira was a fan of Thomas Henry Mystic Mango, which had a “juicy fleshy texture, and nice authentic mango flavour”.
Summing up the flight, Neotia described it as “consistent”, adding that the expressions all “demonstrated a level of freshness of fruit which was quite good.” Miller added: “The most successful ones are the ones that replicated the flavours successfully.”
The panel progressed to the Bitter Lemon heat, where Thomas Henry added to its medal tally with another Master.
Thomas Henry Bitter Lemon secured the award, with Miller highlighting its “inviting aroma of lemon peel and a touch of bitter pith – nice lemon flavour with well balanced bitter finish”.
Thomas Henry also walked away with a Master in the next flight: Lemonade.
Miller said of Master winner Thomas Henry Citrus Lemonade: “Pretty colour, intriguing aroma of cucumber and watermelon. Not much citrus on the nose. Cucumber to the fore on palate, very subtle citrus on finish. Some florality and a little subtle pepper chilli warmth on the finish. Complex and intriguing with some good length.”
The panel then progressed to the Ginger Beer round, where two Golds and one Silver were found. Chantry Well Ginger Beer and Thomas Henry Spicy Ginger were the Gold medallists, with the former described as having “ginger notes on the nose, with subtle florality”.
A tasting of ginger ales came next, in which Train Station Brewery Ginger Rail secured a Gold. The judges liked its “inviting aroma of fresh ginger” and its “nice bubbliness”.
The last heat, Other, led to a Gold being awarded to Le Tribute Non-Alcoholic Bitter Aperitivo. “Lovely bittersweet nose, reminds me of a Negroni – perfect non-alcoholic option or would be great mixed with a spirit for after-dinner,” one judge commented.
After retasting the competition’s Master winners, it was a unanimous decision for this year’s Tonic & Mixer Taste Master to be awarded to Thomas Henry Citrus Lemonade . “Cucumber, lime zest, and a peppery tingle both on the nose and the palate,” said Neotia of The Taste Master winner. “Quite refreshing, and complex for a lemonade.”
On the whole, the mixer category is delivering when it comes to offering standout expressions that avoid artificial flavours, as the tasting proved. It’s a tough job to make a decent mixer that can shine alone or lift a base spirit, but there were plenty of high-quality examples here that met the task and surpassed expectations. Here’s hoping we see more complexity and fresher flavours from future offerings.
| Soda | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Thomas Henry | Thomas Henry Soda Water | Master |
| Indian Tonic Water | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Thomas Henry | Thomas Henry Tonic Water | Master |
| Tonic Water – Other | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Thomas Henry | Thomas Henry Botanical Tonic | Gold |
| Hysope | Tonic Water Méditerranéen | Gold |
| Lady Alaï | Tonic Water | Silver |
| Mälardalens Destilleri | Mälardalens Destilleri Tonic | Silver |
| Flavoured/Infused Tonic Water | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Lady Alaï | London Tonic Water | Gold |
| Thomas Henry | Thomas Henry Cherry Blossom Tonic | Silver |
| Thomas Henry | Thomas Henry Wild Berry | Silver |
| Lady Alaï | Tropical Tonic Water | Silver |
| Flavoured/Infused Carbonated Mixer | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Chantry Well | Chantry Well Pink Grapefruit Soda | Gold |
| Thomas Henry | Thomas Henry Mystic Mango | Gold |
| Thomas Henry | Thomas Henry Pink Grapefruit | Gold |
| Thomas Henrys | Thomas Henry Vivid Watermelon | Gold |
| Bitter Lemon | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Thomas Henry | Thomas Henry Bitter Lemon | Master |
| Lemonade | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Thomas Henry | Thomas Henry Citrus Lemonade | Taste Master & Master |
| Ginger Beer | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Chantry Well | Chantry Well Ginger Beer | Gold |
| Thomas Henry | Thomas Henry Spicy Ginger Beer | Gold |
| Lady Alaï | Ginger Beer | Silver |
| Ginger Ale | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Train Station Brewery | Train Station Brewery Ginger Rail | Gold |
| Thomas Henry | Thomas Henry Ginger Ale | Silver |
| Other | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| MG Destilerías | Le Tribute Non-Alcoholic Bitter Aperitivo | Gold |
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