There’s a multitude of mixers you could buy for a party, but here are our top suggestions for simplicity’s sake. We selected these mixers for the variety of liquors they pair with, their general popularity with a crowd, and if they can stand alone as a nonalcoholic drink. As always, consider your guest list and preferences when stocking up on mixers for a party.
Club Soda – A ubiquitous mixer, this baseline bubbly pairs with vodka, gin, tequila, scotch, rum, whiskey, and bourbon, as well as some bar outliers like Campari, vermouth, and aperol. It also can top a variety of cocktails, as well as white wine or rosé to make a wine spritzer.
Tonic Water – This bitter-tasting cousin of club soda isn’t as versatile, but it is the star of gin and vodka tonics. Tequila and tonic is a lesser-known pairing, but it works! Adding a generous squeeze of lime in these cocktails makes the difference between a rad drink and a sad drink.
Ginger Beer – This is another all-star mixer, making a 2-ingredient cocktail something special. Ginger ale is another option, although we prefer ginger beer for its stronger ginger flavor. You can make a variety of mules with vodka, gin, bourbon, tequila, mezcal, and rum, or offer it on its own. Again, a lime garnish is a must.
Coca Cola – This soda is the star of Jack and Coke and rum and Coke, but Coca Cola can also be paired with vodka, whiskey, and even tequila. Mexican Coke is preferred, if possible, because it’s made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup, but regular canned Coke will work, too. The aforementioned lime garnish is highly recommended.
Grapefruit Juice – Why grapefruit over orange juice or cranberry juice, you might wonder? Because grapefruit juice is perfect with vodka, gin, and tequila, and its bitter nature elevates a cocktail when paired with a squeeze of lime. Although fresh is always preferred, canned grapefruit juice is nice to have on hand.
