Tequila is on the up. The Mexican spirit has always been popular across the Atlantic but until quite recently, had yet to make an impact on the UK drinks scene beyond being served as a round of shots.
That has been steadily changing for the last few years. More than 1.5m bottles of the stuff were purchased in Britain in September 2021 according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association’s market report. It points to a rise of 36 per cent, compared to the same time a year before.
With new small-batch and artisan tequila brands and bottles launching every month, we’re discovering new ways to drink the agave-made spirit - and there’s no slamming in sight. Tequila-spiked cocktails like margaritas have never been more popular, with spicy spin-off picante delivering the heat with its chilli-infusion for adventurous drinkers.
The paloma, too, has been making a splash, delivering some polish to your pour, while a tequila sunrise throws it back with a deliciously retro twist. Then there’s the option of swapping your usual G&T for a T&T instead, taking tequila off the bench to give your tastebuds a break from gin.
While aged luxury tequilas are made for neat, solo sipping, for bottles at the more economical end of things, pairing with a mixer can offer a fresh way to experience them, one that doesn’t involve a wincing into lime or complicated steps from a cocktail recipe book.
If you’re ready to experiment with tequila, we’ve rounded up the best mixers to partner them with.
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SodaStream Flavours Classic Diet Tonic Mix
Best for: tonic on tap
What’s fresher than making your own tonic water to order? You can do it with SodaStream’s flavours which allow you to do so much more than simply carbonate your own water.
You can make everything from tonic water and ginger ale to fruity cordials and kombucha in the machine. And thanks to a collab with PepsiCo, you can make the likes of Pepsi Max, Pepsi Max Cherry, Pepsi and 7UP right in your kitchen with a SodaStream machine. It simply does not get fresher than this.
Buy now £23.94, Amazon
Fever Tree Tonic Water Mixed Selection Pack
Best for: pick and mix
Dominating the luxury tonic water market, Fever Tree has nailed the classic mixer and added new flavours for even more options when it comes to your next G&T. Alongside Premium Indian tonic water, there’s Light, Aromatic, Lemon, Mediterranean and Elderflower to wet your whistle. Try the lot in this variety pack, which delivers 24 x 200ml bottles right to your door. It’s a great bulk buy for parties and BBQs, as well as a decent stash for any gin collection.
Buy now £26.49, Amazon
Big Tom Spiced Tomato Juice- Bloody Mary Mix
Best for: hair of the dog
For the mother of all hangovers, call in Bloody Mary’s bigger, bolder sister, Maria. Sub in tequila instead of vodka and add a sprinkle of Mexican spice mix Tajin to blow the cobwebs away. The one constant? A great-quality tomato juice like Big Tom. This purchase is for a pack of six bottles at 750ml each, so one to stock up on ahead of big parties and events (think Boxing Day and Jan 1).
Buy now £13.80, Amazon
TWO KEYS Pink Grapefruit Soda
Best for: minimal mixing
Who has time to faff around squeezing grapefruit and lime juice when they’re hosting? Skip straight to the good part when you’re putting together a round of palomas at your next house party.
Two Keys’ premium pink grapefruit soda delivers all the sunshine flavour and none of the mess. Add a measure of your favourite blanco and garnish with fruit if you like.
Buy now £19.95, Amazon
Cointreau
Best for: a mixologist staple
First created in 1849 and key to over 500 cocktails – from cosmos to margaritas – Cointreau is a classic for good reason. Sweet and bitter orange peel essences are distilled to create its distinctive flavour, a task entrusted to a master distiller, with each batch individually tasted to this day to retain its quality. We couldn’t love it more.
Buy now £17.00, Tesco
Fever-Tree Margarita Mixer 500ml
Best for: mixing smarter not harder
All the flavour of a marg without the need to lug home bags heaving with lime. Fever-Tree has nailed the body of the famous party drink in this recipe, with enough volume to make five servings. Simply sling in a glass with a slug of your favourite blanco tequila into a rimmed glass and get the fiesta started.
Buy now £4.50, Sainsbury’s
Fever-Tree Raspberry & Rose Lemonade 500ml
Best for: sweet fruity freshness
A tasty lemonade brimming with the flavour of raspberries is a delight all on its own, but add a shot of tequila to the mix and you’re looking at one delicious tipple to enjoy year around. Adding frozen raspberries keeps things cool and gets you closer to your five-a-day. Chin chin!
Buy now £2.00, Sainsbury’s
Vita Coco The Original Coconut Water
Best for: a tropical taste
Adored from Havana to the Hamptons, a Blanco Coco is a light, refreshing cocktail that makes blanco tequila the star of the show. Blended with agave, lime and coconut water, it’s just the buddy you need on the beach (or, you know, your sofa) to keep you hydrated.
Buy now £1.75, Ocado
The Village Press Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
Best for: a classic
This wholesome-looking bottle of OJ is ripe for a bit of naughtiness, because what is life if not about balance?
Pour over ice and finish with a splash of your favourite tequila to make a tequila screwdriver cocktail. Our tip? Add a dash of crushed sea salt if you really want to make those sunshine notes sing.
Buy now £3.00, Ocado
