Sparkling water is today considered a go-to ingredient for bartenders worldwide, adding fizziness, lightness, texture, balance and even drama to many of our favorite cocktails and mocktails. Three experts tell HN how they use sparkling water to take their beverages to the next level.

A versatile cocktail ingredient

Sparkling waters, including flavored varieties, are a key ingredient in many of our cocktails. We love the way sparkling water balances out ingredients, adds a fizzy texture and imparts a pleasant sense of minerality and complexity to drinks. The beauty of sparkling water is that it is clear and neutral looking, but also pops with energy! Sparkling water cocktails are also highly versatile. Whether you prefer classic combinations, like a refreshing cucumber and mint spritzer, or want to explore more adventurous flavor profiles with herbs, spices and fruit infusions, the possibilities are endless.

Championing sustainability

For us, creating a sparkling water cocktail is all about balancing flavors and textures, blending the gentle fizz with the bold notes of our favorite spirits. The bubbles not only enhance the flavors, but also add a refreshing, lively texture. Demand is definitely on the rise for these beverages, which is why we decided to invest in equipment to create our own tailored sparkling waters. Sparkling water cocktails are rooted in freshness, seasonality and, importantly, sustainability. With just a few ingredients, we can whip up impressive fizzy drinks. We focus on infusing to create flavored sparkling water with fresh and seasonal fruits, like strawberries, lime, cucumber or spices, for extra taste. Then we add everyone’s favorite spirits and garnish, including fresh herbs, like mint or basil, for an elevated touch.

Delighting the senses

When it comes to mocktails, a well-crafted drink should be a symphony of flavors and textures, engaging the senses and providing a satisfying drinking experience. Syrups are popular in sparkling non-alcoholic beverages, as they bring a sweet element to a drink. A good sparkling non-alcoholic drink can be hard to make, but it helps when you use high quality and seasonal products. Fruit juices with natural flavors definitely help to make a great drink.

A refreshing touch

Sparkling water is an essential tool for bartenders. It adds fizziness and lightness to cocktails, making them refreshing and vibrant. You can use it to balance strong flavors, elongate a drink or create texture without overwhelming the palate. A splash of sparkling water in a classic cocktail, like an Americano, transforms it into something breezy and approachable. For modern menus, sparkling water can help craft lighter, seasonable cocktails that are ideal for warm evenings and for guests looking for a low-alcohol option.

Visual benefits

Flavored sparkling waters are a great tool in mixology. They bring subtle flavor without extra sweetness, which can elevate a cocktail’s complexity. For instance, a cucumber-lime sparkling water can add
a refreshing twist to a gin spritz, while a blood orange variety can brighten up a tequila-based cocktail. They’re also visually stunning when served in clear glasses, as the fizz adds drama. One of my favorites is a grapefruit sparkling water with mezcal or tequila, since it enhances the smoky notes, while keeping the drink crisp and refreshing. Another go-to is lemon or yuzu sparkling water with vodka or gin, topped with fresh herbs, like basil or thyme. These combinations work because they amplify natural flavors and keep the profile clean and modern.

Flavorful bases

Flavored sparkling water is becoming a cornerstone of alcohol-free cocktails. It offers a satisfying fizz and nuanced flavors that mimic the complexity of a crafted drink without the need for alcohol. Bartenders are using them to create zero-proof cocktails that are just as exciting as their spirited counterparts. They’re also a fantastic base for experimenting with fresh fruits, herbs and spices, allowing for endless creativity. As demand grows, flavored sparkling water is poised to become the standout ingredient in non-alcoholic drinks.

Mix and match

Bartenders can use sparkling water in several ways to enhance flavor, texture and presentation. A versatile tool, it plays a variety of important roles, whether as a mixer in cocktails, to add texture, as a dilution agent or to create custom-flavored fizz. Examples of where it works well as a mixer include classic highballs, such as a Gin Rickey or Whiskey Soda, with sparkling water a key ingredient, adding effervescence and balancing the flavors without overpowering the base spirit. When it comes to creating custom-flavored fizz, bartenders often infuse sparkling water with herbs, fruits or spices to create unique soda-like mixers that complement cocktails. For example, basil or cucumber-infused sparkling water adds depth to summer cocktails.

Creative combinations

Sparkling water is an excellent ingredient, making it ideal to combine or pair with other elements in cocktail creations. My personal favorites include the following:

Spirit ideas

Gin, tequila, vodka

• Other ingredients: fresh herbs (mint, basil, thyme), simple syrups and bitters.
• Vodka, rum, sparkling wine
• Other ingredients: fresh berries, citrus (lemon or lime) and elderflower cordial.

Cocktails

• Lime Paloma: tequila, lime sparkling water, grapefruit juice, agave syrup, salt rim, berry flavored sparkling water (raspberry, strawberry and blackberry). Berry Mojito: white rum, berry sparkling water, muddled mint, berries and lime juice.

A mocktail essential

Incorporating sparkling water into non-alcoholic cocktails (mocktails) adds effervescence, texture and depth to the drinks, giving them a sophisticated touch. It provides a base for light and refreshing drinks, and, in particular, a clean, bubbly foundation for mocktails. The Citrus Spritz, which features lime sparkling water, fresh orange and grapefruit juice, finished with mint leaves and ice, is one such example. Sparkling water definitely has a key, versatile role to play as a mocktail ingredient, from helping to dilute overly sweet ingredients to giving creamy mocktails a light, frothy texture.