The World's Best Spirit and Mixer This Year Is Rooibos, With Vodka In It

A South African hard iced tea made with rooibos and vodka was named World's Best Spirit and Mixer at this year's World Premix Awards, beating far larger drinks brands.

The winner was Teazy Peach Rooibos Hard Ice Tea, from a small team led by founder Jonty van As. Its peach version also took a style award and a gold medal, and the lemon a silver, judged under the World Drinks Awards programme. The tasters noted the tea came through, with peach and citrus behind it.

"There's something incredibly surreal about hearing that a drink born around a South African idea, made with South African ingredients and built by a small local team, has been judged the best on earth," van As said.

The red bush has been many things. A caffeine-free cup before bed, a tin in the German pantry, a line in a health study. Now it is the base of the world's best mixer, chilled and, this once, with something stronger stirred in. The Ministry notes it, and reaches, as ever, for the kettle.

Sources: Bizcommunity, Local ice tea brand Teazy gains global recognition at 2026 World Premix Awards (June 22, 2026).