First Beverage Group’s private equity arm, First Beverage Ventures has invested in Q Drinks, the carbonated drinks maker, as a part of $11m equity funding raised by the company.

Carbonated mixers made from natural ingredients by Q Drinks are packed in custom bottles that are used to maintain high levels of carbonation.

The fund raised will be used by the drinks company to expand its network at restaurants, bars and major retailers.

The company also intends to enter into new channels and territories.

Q Drinks plans to invest in sales and marketing to enter into partnerships with liquor companies across the country as well as to support liquor distributors.

First Beverage managing partner Tom First said: "The Q Drinks team have built an incredible brand that’s poised for tremendous growth.

"The past decade has seen an explosion of higher-end spirits. Better mixers are next – they soon will make up the majority of sales by dollar volume in the category just like premium spirits and waters do in theirs."

Q Drinks, which was started by founder and CEO Jordan Silbert in 2007, served several restaurants including Blue Hill and Bourbon & Branch as well as retail stores such as Kroger, Total Wine, Safeway, Albertsons, Target, BevMo! and Whole Foods.

Q Drinks caters for customer demand in eight different flavours that include ginger ale, ginger beer, tonic water and club soda.

Silbert said: "People are drinking better spirits and they want better mixers to mix them with.

"We built an incredible foundation over these past eight years and have a line of truly superior products and a sterling reputation among thought leaders both on and off-premise."