Fever-Tree Mixers Part 1

Made by: Fevertree Ltd

Origin: UK








We were thinking of making a few long drinks to combat the muggy weather, which had us hunting the shelves for a mixer or two... This brought us to Fevertree, a company that since 2000 sought to create an Indian Tonic mixer from all-natural ingredients, including quinine (the bark extract of the Cinchona tree, colloquially known as the 'Fever Tree').

They launched their Tonic Water in 2005, and have since managed to redefine the mixer category by eschewing the use of artificial ingredients (using only natural sweeteners and flavourings, and avoiding preservatives), taking instead a qualitative approach to drink formulation and packaging. They have since grown their product range, and success in new markets followed and continues apace...

Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water

Fever-Tree tonic water is a bright, clear liquid. It exhibits a lively carbonation, with noticeably small bubbles rising steadily when the drink settles in the glass.

An attractive, fresh, delicate aroma of lemon icing on the nose, with that familiar dusting of icing sugar...

On the palate, fresh lemon citrus, with some supple acids producing a gentle tang. There is excellent balance here between the elements, as a stimulating lemony bitterness develops and persists on the finish.

A quality mixer that speaks for itself, with a unique texture and flavour profile, that avoids the cloying, salty nature associated with artificial sweetener and preservative use.


Packaging claims: Contains natural quinine, no artificial sweeteners, flavourings or preservatives

Ingredients: Spring water, cane sugar, citric acid, natural flavours, natural quinine

Price: Should be about £0.75 for a 200ml glass bottle (£3.00 for a 4 x 200ml pack), widely available


Fever-Tree Lemonade

Fever-Tree lemonade is a colourless, bright liquid. After the initial rush of carbonation, much smaller bubbles can be observed rising slowly through the liquid in the glass.

Fragrant, biscuity nose with sweet lemon. This is juicy, mouthwatering and with plenty of sun-warmed fruit.

A lemonade that is soft and round in the mouth, with warm, biscuity citrus flavours. Supple acids again producing a gentle tang on the short finish.


Packaging claims: Contains Sicilian lemons, no artificial sweeteners, flavourings or preservatives

Ingredients: Spring water, cane sugar, lemon juice 2.5%, citric acid, natural flavours

Price: Should be about £0.75 for a 200ml glass bottle (£3.00 for a 4 x 200ml pack), widely available


Fever-Tree Ginger Beer

Fever-Tree ginger beer is a cloudy, pale yellow colour that takes on a green hue when examined in the light. There is a fine sediment of ginger particles in suspension.

Instantly aromatic on the nose, with fresh ginger in abundance, and then some. There is an extraordinary scent here, earthy and distinctly spicy- cumin? Intoxicating stuff...

Be sure you're sitting down for this one! An intense rush on the palate, with a controlled explosion of deep, freshly grated ginger flavour, topped with lemon and black pepper seasoning. This is as peppery and fiery as you could want, with that entrancing and utterly unique spicy, earthy cumin note intact and almost musky now. Predictably long finish as the chilli and fire trail off, this remains clean and refreshing throughout.

A heady, entrancing experience; a one of a kind ginger beer that sets a stylish example.


Packaging claims: Contains natural gingers, contains natural sediment, no artificial sweeteners, flavourings or preservatives

Ingredients: Spring water, ginger extract, cane sugar, natural flavour, ascorbic acid

Price: Should be about £0.75 for a 200ml glass bottle (£3.00 for a 4 x 200ml pack), widely available

Bundaberg Ginger Beer

Made by: Bundaberg Brewed Drinks P/L

Origin: Australia

Imported into the UK by: Bundaberg Brewed Drinks UK Pty Ltd





Bundaberg Brewed Drinks have been making traditional soft drinks using natural ingredients since 1960. They are based in the town of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. Due to overwhelming popular demand we present our review of perhaps their most well known product, the Bundaberg Ginger Beer...

This is a pale, cloudy off white colour. When poured out the drink is gently sparkling, translucent and with a light yellow tint to the colour.

The aroma is fresh, up front and citrussy at first, with a distinct lemon barley theme. The warmth of ginger follows some way behind. This is quite subtle and restrained for a ginger based drink, appetising and with a moist gingercake sweetness.

On to the palate, where citrus flavours (lemon and orange) and the light-medium body make a fresh, fluid impression. The ginger notes arrive in fine understated style, with a controlled force, and without the raw burn or aggression found in some ginger beers.

There is a long finish to this, with rolling ginger now and a subdued pepper bite, recalling more sweet fruit than fiery spice. As with its stablemate, this is a soft drink that clearly demonstrates what can be done with a dedication to quality ingredients and deft handling.

Packaging claims: Naturally brewed to be better, always cloudy, full of real ginger pieces, traditionally brewed, the natural flavours of ginger

Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, ginger root, natural flavours, acid (citric acid), yeast, preservatives (E211, E202), antioxidant (E300)

Price: Should be about £1.40-£1.50 for a 340ml glass bottle, available from Waitrose and selected supermarkets, and specialist retailers

Grace Ginger Beer

Made by: GraceKennedy Ltd

Origin: Jamaica

Imported into UK: Grace Foods (UK) Ltd






When poured Grace ginger beer is a lightly cloudy, translucent drink with a very pale yellow hue that becomes watery towards the rim of the glass.

The lively carbonation soon settles, and on the nose a spicy, peppery ginger note catches (think of wasabi). The warmth of the ginger is lightened by a fresh lemon citrus, reminding me of lemon barley and citronella.

By the time this hits the palate the carbonation is creamy, and the flavours open on a very light, sweet lemon citrus theme. Again the texture reminds me of barley water, marked by a touch of oil. Then the ginger flavours make a late entrance and gather in strength, to explode finally on a long finish containing warm notes of chilli pepper and cordial.

Packaging claims: Quality since 1922, Jamaican style, Great Caribean taste

Ingredients: Carbonated water, sugar, flavourings, citric acid, preservative: Sodium benzoate

Price: Should be about £0.50 for a 330ml can, from specialist retailers

Marks & Spencer Ginger Beer

Made by: Marks & Spencer plc

Origin: UK

The second new release from M&S is this pale, cloudy Ginger Beer. In the glass it's gently carbonated, translucent and showing a watery rim at the edge of the glass. As it settles the nose is treated to the warm, spicy aroma of freshly grated ginger root.

On the palate this is light and sweet at first, then spicy and warming with a little more creaminess in the middle, with the peppery ginger, encouraged by a marked sweetness, becoming resurgent on the finish.

Packaging claims: No artificial colours, no artificial flavourings, Vegetarian, traditional since 1937, a traditional recipe

Ingredients: Carbonated water, sugar, natural flavouring, citric acid, preservative E202

Price: £0.63 for a 330ml can, from Marks & Spencer and Marks and Spencer Simply Food outlets