The Wins
Fever-Tree captured 10 awards across two independent competitions — the 2026 SIP Awards and The Fifty Best Cocktail Mixer Awards — with recognized products spanning its tonic water, ginger beer, and ready-to-mix cocktail lines. The sweep covers formats central to on-premise drink menus, from classic gin-and-tonic builds to margaritas, Bloody Marys, and espresso martinis.
At the SIP Awards, which are decided through consumer tastings, Fever-Tree earned Platinum honors for its Premium Tonic Water in the tonic category and for Sparkling Lime & Yuzu in the carbonated drinks category. The Classic Margarita Mixer took Double Gold, while Premium Club Soda and Classic Bloody Mary Mixer each landed Gold. At The Fifty Best Cocktail Mixer Awards — judged blind by a panel of beverage professionals — the Classic Margarita Mixer again earned Double Gold, joined by the new Pineapple Ginger Beer. The Classic Bloody Mary Mixer and Classic Mojito Mixer received Gold, and the Espresso Martini Mixer earned Silver.
Why It Matters for Operators
For bar directors and beverage managers sourcing mixers, dual validation from consumer panels and expert blind tastings offers a practical quality signal. The breadth of winning SKUs — ranging from a foundational tonic to a trend-forward Pineapple Ginger Beer — reflects the full spectrum of premium mixer applications now expected across hotel bars, independent restaurants, and casual dining programs. Flavor-forward, naturally sourced mixers have become a selling point in their own right as operators increasingly merchandise the "full build" of a cocktail rather than spotlighting spirits alone.
"Fever-Tree believes the mixer is just as important as the rest of the drink," said Tracey Bien Schenck, Senior Director of Marketing, Non-Alc Brands at Molson Coors Beverage Company. "Whether it's a classic gin and tonic, a margarita or an alcohol-free spritz, our goal is simple: make every drink better with thoughtfully sourced ingredients and balanced, distinctive flavor."
Molson Coors Distribution Backdrop
Fever-Tree has been named the No. 1 best-selling mixer brand in the world's best bars for 12 consecutive years. In 2025, Fever-Tree partnered with Molson Coors Beverage Company to expand its U.S. distribution footprint, a move that has widened on-premise and retail availability nationwide. That broader reach makes the 2026 award wins particularly timely for operators reviewing their back-bar mixer programs heading into fall cocktail menu cycles. For restaurant and bar buyers evaluating premium beverage portfolios, the combination of expanded distribution and independently verified quality creates a more compelling procurement case than brand marketing alone.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
