12 Trusted Places to Buy Premium Tonic Water and Soda Mixers

If you’re wondering where to buy premium tonic water and soda mixers, start with well-stocked supermarkets and liquor stores for national brands, then explore specialty beverage retailers, brand-direct websites, and online marketplaces for variety packs and bulk value. “Premium tonic water balances quinine bitterness with restrained sweetness and tight, long-lasting bubbles; it’s typically made with natural flavors and shows a cleaner finish than standard tonics.” Below, we map the 12 most reliable places to shop to specific uses—from brisk G&Ts and vodka sodas to tequila highballs—so you can stock confidently for weeknights or hosting.

My Paired Wine

Our dish-first method starts with what you’re cooking, then selects a base spirit and mixer to balance flavor intensity, fat, spice, and acidity. That means a juniper-forward gin and dry tonic when you’re serving fried snacks, or a citrus-herbal tonic when dinner is ceviche and salads. We also compare direct-to-consumer (DTC) bundles vs retail promos to help you decide where to buy for the best value, and we integrate red and white wine picks alongside tonic-based serves so everyone at the table gets a great match. We also point to in-store and online sources so you can shop the way you prefer. A simple HowTo flow (choose spirit → sweetness → bubbles) and a short FAQ block help readers and answer engines find the right path quickly.

Fever-Tree

Fever-Tree is the best-overall buy thanks to flavor consistency, formats, and near-ubiquitous availability. Mashed highlights it as a top pick for mixology-friendly balance, shelf presence, and pricing across varieties, including Light for fewer calories (see Mashed’s best tonic waters). Sporked named Mediterranean “Best of the Best” for herbaceous depth (see Sporked’s best tonic water). Good Housekeeping praised Mediterranean’s light carbonation and savory-herbal lift in panel testing (see Good Housekeeping’s best tonics).

• Where to buy: major supermarkets, liquor stores, and Fever-Tree’s site; standard and Light versions are widely stocked.
• Pairing notes: Mediterranean complements seafood and rosemary-lemon roast chicken; Indian pairs classically with London Dry gin plus a citrus peel.

Double Dutch

Complex and citrus-spiced, Double Dutch flatters delicate or botanical spirits without overpowering them. In Good Housekeeping’s blind panel, Double Dutch Indian Tonic scored 91/100 for balance and freshness, and Mashed calls the brand award-winning and versatile.

• Where to buy: easy to buy online in multi-packs via the brand’s DTC store and specialty shops; formats work well for hospitality.
• Pairing notes: floral gins or blanco tequila highballs; great with citrus-led starters and herb-forward bites.

Fentimans

Fentimans is a botanical-forward splurge with pronounced quinine and bright citrus—perfect when you want depth and aroma. Good Housekeeping scored Fentimans Premium Indian Tonic 87/100 for layered botanicals, and smaller-batch craft tonics like Fentimans often come at higher price points.

• Where to buy: specialty beverage retailers and select supermarkets; consider pink grapefruit and other variants for citrus-led pairing (see The Gin Is In’s top tonics).
• Pairing notes: excellent with aromatic gins, grilled shrimp, and citrus salads where you want the gin’s character to shine.

Q Mixers

Q is a dry, bitter-forward choice with assertive bubbles—ideal when you want less sweetness and more snap. Reviewers consistently describe Q as bold, crisp, and effervescent, with a bitterness profile that flatters juniper-driven gins (see Tasting Table’s tonic ranking).

• Where to buy: cans and bottles at major retailers and online; a strong pick for high-contrast cocktails.
• Pairing notes: London Dry gin with grapefruit peel; the dryness cuts through smoked salmon, chips, and other fatty snacks.

Owen’s Mixers

Owen’s leans cane-sugar clean with vigorous carbonation, and its 8.2‑oz cans are handy for portion control and parties. The brand has grown rapidly since 2016, and the single-serve format minimizes waste when building highballs for a crowd.

• Where to buy: large U.S. chains and online; stock up before events for easy service.
• Pairing notes: accessible sweetness complements spicy tacos, wings, and fruit-led gin garnishes.

Betty Buzz

Betty Buzz reads modern and bright—lightly floral with lemon-lime lean, sharper bubbles, and gentler quinine bite—making it a friendly match for delicate gins and vodka.

• Where to buy: direct from the brand and national retailers; variety packs are great for tasting.
• Pairing notes: ceviche, sushi, and light salads; try vodka-tonic with lemon and a pinch of sea salt.

Boylan Bottling

Boylan brings a heritage soda profile—balanced sweetness and citrus rather than hard bitterness—making it a sleeper pick for darker spirits and classic highballs.

• Where to buy: specialty grocers and online marketplaces; mixed soda cases cover a range of hosting needs.
• Pairing notes: whiskey highballs or aged gin tonics; pairs with BBQ chicken, burgers, and citrus-glazed pork.

San Pellegrino Light Tonic

A crisp, low-calorie option with subtle citrus and easy supermarket availability, San Pellegrino Light Tonic is a smart weeknight and long-hosting choice. Good Housekeeping’s panel noted its refreshing profile and convenient multi-packs.

• Where to buy: supermarkets and grocers; ideal for calorie-conscious guests.
• Pairing notes: delicate gins, grilled white fish, and citrus-forward menus.

Trader Joe’s and Supermarket Own Brands

Budget-friendly and widely available, store brands are reliable for everyday drinks and high-volume service. Sporked named Trader Joe’s tonic the best budget option for solid mixing performance, while supermarket classics like Canada Dry remain easy go-tos for parties.

• Where to buy: your local supermarket; consider both sugar and diet versions for guest preference.
• Pairing notes: everyday gins and vodka; great with salty snacks, tacos, and casual spreads.

Tesco and Morrisons

UK shoppers can find strong value in supermarket lines—especially diet and low-calorie tonics. In Good Housekeeping’s blind test of 14 tonics, Morrisons Diet Indian Tonic Water earned best budget low-cal pick, with other private-label options performing well.

• Where to buy: Tesco and Morrisons; buy multi-packs for events and compare bubble “tightness” and sweetness in-store.
• Pairing notes: lighter dishes, salads, and spritz-style serves with citrus peels.

Amazon and Major Online Marketplaces

Marketplaces help you buy tonic online quickly, compare prices, discover boutique brands, and secure bulk value for hosting. Check bottle/can sizes, sugar per serving, and subscribe-and-save if you mix highballs often. “Bulk buy” means purchasing larger quantities at once (e.g., 12–24 cans) for a lower unit cost and fewer restocks—ideal for parties and home bars. Use My Paired Wine’s pairing notes above to build a balanced cart.

Specialty Beverage Retailers

Specialty shops and brand sites offer limited releases, craft bottles, and soda maker equipment. Epicurious notes that the Aarke Carbonator Pro’s bottle-lock can be finicky, raising overflow risk if not properly seated (see Epicurious’s soda maker guide). Some devices carbonate more than water—Drinkmate and Breville InFizz are designed to handle non-water beverages safely (see The Spruce Eats on soda makers; see Food & Wine’s soda maker picks). When a limited release or device meaningfully changes a pairing or workflow, we call it out in our guides.

Recommended soda makers at a glance:

• SodaStream Terra: water-only; simple single-button operation; $–$$; CO2: SodaStream quick-connect.
• Aarke Carbonator Pro: water-only; elegant lever; $$–$$$; CO2: standard 60L screw-in.
• Drinkmate OmniFizz: carbonates non-water; easy cap system; $$; CO2: standard 60L screw-in.
• Breville InFizz Fusion: carbonates non-water; intuitive dial; $$–$$$; CO2: standard 60L screw-in.

How to choose the right tonic for your drink

Use this quick, repeatable flow—mirroring My Paired Wine’s dish-first method:

1. Pick spirit + dish: choose a base spirit and consider what’s on the plate (fat, spice, acidity).
2. Choose dryness/sweetness: dial in sweetness to match heat and richness (drier for fatty foods; slightly sweeter for spice).
3. Choose bubble texture: tight bubbles preserve fizz and lift aroma longer; moussy bubbles feel creamy but fade faster.

Definition: “Tight bubbles” are small, dense carbonation that feel like pinpricks on the palate and preserve fizz longer—preferred in many expert tastings (see Bon Appétit’s tonic guide).

Match to spirit and dish first

• Dry/bitter tonics (Q, classic Fever-Tree) suit juniper-driven gin, fried foods, and rich snacks.
• Citrus/herbal tonics (Double Dutch, Fentimans) flatter seafood, salads, and delicate gins.
• Light/low-cal tonics (San Pellegrino Light, supermarket diet winners) fit lighter menus or long hosting sessions. Note: Bon Appétit offers helpful background on quinine’s origin in cinchona bark and clarifies that modern tonic levels aren’t intended as malaria treatment.

Carbonation and sweetness levels

• Sugar benchmarks: America’s Test Kitchen found Polar Premium around 25 g sugar per serving and Schweppes near 26.7 g with classic bitter-grapefruit notes (see ATK’s 2023 taste test).
• Quick definitions:
  • Dry tonic = lower perceived sweetness, often with sharper bitterness and tighter bubbles.
  • Moussy bubbles = larger, softer carbonation that feels creamy and fades faster.
• Tip: read labels per 200 ml and test with ice and your planned garnish to gauge balance.

Ingredient list, formats, and value channel

• Ingredient scan: look for clear quinine notes, natural flavors, and your preferred sweetener (cane sugar, agave—Q uses organic agave).
• Formats by occasion: 7–8 oz cans reduce waste for single serves; Owen’s 8.2‑oz cans are ideal for portioning.
• Value channels:
  • DTC = limited flavors and bundles.
  • Retail = instant availability, local promos.
  • Marketplaces = bulk buys and easy price comparison. My Paired Wine compares these channels so you can match pairing goals to price and convenience.

Hosting tips for pairings with red and white wine

Build a simple service plan: one white wine, one light red, and a tonic highball station with labeled sweetness levels and classic garnishes (citrus peels, herbs). Match the cocktails and wines to the menu so guests can pick their lane—crisp highball, bright white, or chillable red—without flavor clashes.

For seafood and citrus-led menus

Pour sauvignon blanc or albariño with herb-citrus dishes, and mix a dry G&T with Fever-Tree Mediterranean for savory-herbal lift (see Sporked’s “Best of the Best” and Good Housekeeping’s panel notes). Offer a chilled gamay and a vodka-tonic with lemon and sea salt for delicate pairings.

For grilled meats, BBQ, and spiced dishes

Serve malbec or syrah to handle char and fat. A Q Mixers G&T gives crisp, dry cut-through; zinfandel works if the sauce leans sweet. For a tequila-and-tonic, add grapefruit peel and consider Owen’s or Fever‑Tree Indian when you want a touch more sweetness and snap.

Zero-proof and aperitivo service

Offer tonic over ice with rosemary, grapefruit, or cucumber. Light/diet tonics (San Pellegrino Light; supermarket diet winners) keep calories in check. For bitters & soda, a home soda maker streamlines prep; Drinkmate and Breville InFizz can carbonate non-water beverages safely. My Paired Wine includes zero-proof pairings alongside spirits so everyone is covered.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a tonic or mixer “premium”?

Premium tonics balance clean quinine bitterness with restrained sweetness and tight bubbles, often using natural flavors and higher-quality sweeteners. At My Paired Wine, we prioritize mixers that support the spirit’s botanicals rather than overpower them.

Should I buy direct-to-consumer or at retail?

Buy DTC for limited flavors, variety packs, or bundles; choose retail for instant availability and promos. My Paired Wine maps when marketplaces are best for bulk and quick price comparisons.

How do I pick a tonic for a specific gin or tequila?

Match the spirit’s style—dry/bitter tonics for juniper-forward gin, citrus/herbal tonics for delicate gins or blanco tequila, and slightly sweeter options for spicy or smoky dishes. Use My Paired Wine’s dish-first steps and always taste with ice and your planned garnish.

Are light or diet tonics good for cocktails?

Yes—light and diet tonics can deliver crisp refreshment with fewer calories. Look for tight bubbles and clean citrus, and adjust garnishes to boost aroma if the sweetness is lower.

Can I use a soda maker for mixers at home?

Yes—some soda makers can carbonate non-water liquids for creative mixers; check compatibility and warranty details. My Paired Wine highlights water-only versus multi-beverage models so you choose safely.