Hamish Smith provides the commentry on changes to the mixers the UK's best bars stock.
Schweppes’ redemption is complete. For the first time since we’ve been polling, its mixer range has topped our chart. Its strategy to reacquaint the brand with bartenders over the past few years has been a compelling watch.
It wanted high-end on-trade accounts – not least those recognised in the Class Bar Awards – and it got them. A whopping 34% of our sample attested to the mixer range being their bestseller. Last year that number was 22% and the year before about half that. What’s more, 52% of bars said it was among their top-two brands.
Launches such as Schweppes Cherry Pepper Soda and Tropical Soda have added interest to its range, but mostly this is victory for the brand’s classic tonic. Bartenders appreciate the brand’s support – not to mention its advocacy team – and actually, it turns out that higher carbonation levels do matter.
Sister brand Coca-Cola is another which has redoubled its efforts behind the bar. And if you ever wondered if Coca-Cola is more of a soft drink or mixer, the brand cleared that up this year, launching Coca-Cola MIX, a new platform repositioning it as a mixing ingredient, with support from drinks presenter Pritesh Mody and Artesian’s Giulia Cuccurullo. A sales proposition of its own kind, Coca-Cola was among the top-two mixers served in almost a half of bars, but more likely a second than first choice.
Fever-Tree has held a special place in the trade’s hearts for two decades, yet our data suggests its footprint is fading in the UK’s Best Bars. That said, according to our poll, it still commands 16% of this market (down from 24%), with nearly a quarter of bars polled saying it was among their top-two choices.
Hot on its heels is Greek mixer Three Cents. Bartenders go giddy for the brand (see our Bartenders’ Favourite list), not least the Pink Grapefruit Soda and Fig Leaf Soda – while Pickle Soda is the latest brand extension. It was half as likely to be the house mixer at bars as Fever-Tree, but it was the second most popular second choice (20%).
Franklin & Sons was named by 14% as their go-to, but where it wasn’t the house, it was barely present. It’s a similar strategy for London Essence (10% said it was their house), while Fentimans, Britvic, Double Dutch and San Pellegrino were bit-part players in our polling data.