How To Use Sparkling Water In A Cocktail
Depending on the kind of sparkling water you buy, it could au naturel or the one made in labs, the taste will be different. The natural ones will cost more, given their source and the process involved in bottling them, so take your pick. Sparkling water often has sweeteners and added flavours, make sure to check the labels so it doesn’t overpower your cocktails. All the recipes yield 1 serving, adjust the quantity if you are batch-making cocktails for your guests.
Moscow Mule
Ingredients
60 ml Smirnoff vodka
½ Lime, juiced
180 ml Ginger beer (can be substituted with ginger ale)
Sparkling lime-flavoured water
Ice
4 Mint leaves
Mint Sprig, and Lime Wedges for Garnish
Instructions
You will need a copper mug for a Moscow Mule. Add the 4 mint leaves, muddle to read the oils and aroma, then fill up the mug with ice, around ⅔ of the mug.
Pour the 60ml vodka into the ice, followed by the ginger beer.
Fill the mug with the sparkling water mug and top with the mint spring and lime wedges.
Skinny Paloma
Ingredients
150 ml Fresh grapefruit juice (around 2 pink or red grapefruits)
45 ml Tequila
1 tsp Lime juice
Grapefruit-flavoured sparkling water
Ice
Sea salt or pink Himalayan sea salt
Instructions
Pour some sea salt flakes or pink Himalayan salt onto a small plate. Run a lime wedge around the rim of the glasses to moisten them, then dip the rims into the salt to create a salted rim.
Using a citrus juicer or by hand, juice two pink or red grapefruits until you have 150 ml of fresh grapefruit juice.
Fill the salted-rim glasses with ice cubes and into each glass, pour 45 ml of tequila, 150 ml of fresh grapefruit juice, and 5 ml (1 tsp) of fresh lime juice.
Use a cocktail stirrer or spoon to gently stir the ingredients together in each glass until combined. Then top up each cocktail with a splash of grapefruit-flavored sparkling water for the fizzy fun texture. Plain sparkling water will also do here.
Garnish each cocktail with a lime wedge and serve immediately with cocktail straws or stirrers.
Sparkling Mojito
Ingredients
60 ml White rum
30 ml Lime juice (1/2 of a medium lime)
20 ml Simple syrup
5-6 Mint leaves
Plain sparkling water
Ice
A sprig of mint and lime wedges for garnish
Instructions
Grab a cocktail shaker and muddle the mint to release the oils, don’t overdo it otherwise, the mint will turn bitter.
Add the lime juice, rum, simple syrup and ice and shake vigorously.
Strain into a Collins glass, drop the wedge in and pour in the sparkling water.
Garnish with mint and serve. 
Tips And Tricks to Maximize Flavour
- The trick is to control the level of carbonation in your sparkling water cocktail, which is key to achieving the desired mouthfeel and drinking experience. To attain this, one hack is to add the sparkling water last when building the cocktail to preserve maximum fizz. Use a long spoon or bar spoon to stir in the sparkling water to avoid losing too much carbonation. For a less fizzy cocktail, consider adding the sparkling water first and letting it sit for a minute before incorporating the other ingredients.
- Layering flavours is another technique that can elevate your sparkling water cocktails. Build the cocktail in layers, pouring the heavier ingredients like juices or syrups over the back of a spoon to create distinct layers. Then, top with sparkling water carefully down the side of the glass to maintain the visual appeal of the layers.
- Ice also plays a crucial role in maintaining the desired temperature and dilution level of your cocktail. Consider using larger, solid ice cubes or spheres to prevent over-dilution as they melt slower. Alternatively, freeze grapefruits, limes, or other fruits in ice cube trays with water to add flavour as they melt.
- Garnishes can enhance the overall presentation and flavour of your sparkling water cocktails. Use a spray bottle with cold soda water to revive flat cocktails with a spritz of fizz. Float delicate garnishes like herbs or citrus twists on top of the effervescent foam.
- If you're batch-making cocktails for parties, make a base for the cocktail without the sparkling water and refrigerate it. Add the chilled sparkling water just before serving to ensure maximum fizz. Set out bottles of sparkling water so guests can top up their own drinks as desired.
