Understanding Soda Water: The Unsung Hero of Home Hosting
A versatile and widely used mixer in many alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, soda water is an ideal choice to add bubbly textures to your drinks. When added to spirits, they not only add bubbles but also help retain them for long periods of time, although not too enough for batching where the fizz fades away and is lost. From lemon-lime sodas to vodka and bourbon-based cocktails, find out what your chosen soda water can do and add to your tasting experience.
Not Sparkling Water
First things first: soda water and sparkling water commonly tend to have striking similarities. Both are carbonated waters, made by infusing spring water, or any naturally sourced water, with carbon dioxide under very high pressures. While carbon dioxide is primarily used, a combination of nitrogen and carbon dioxide can also be used to prepare the bubbles that rise through the liquid.
However, what sets soda water apart from its counterpart is the additional infusion of bicarbonate of soda in it that helps hold the bubbles when your preferred liquor is added to the base of your drink. While sparkling water contains natural minerals, the mineral quantity in soda water comes from soda bicarbonate, an artificially added mineral. This infused mineral can also impart a slight salty taste to the resulting soda water mixture and can be a go-to option for you if you want your cocktails to contain a subtle saltness to them when consumed. This property of longer carbonation retention by soda water also makes it fizzier than sparkling water.
Also Read: 5 Soda Water-Infused Cocktails With Just 3 Ingredients
Other Alternatives and Cocktail Pairing
A versatile soda water is one like Black Dog Soda, which lets out a gentle hiss of carbonation once popped open, signalling the well-carbonated effervescent bubbles in the drink. With its zero alcohol content and no added sugars, it can be suitably mixed in your cocktails for a slightly salty or savoury and fizz-filled experience. Whether used as a mixer or consumed on its own, the texture and sensations of the bubbly fizz never gets compromised. Moreover, it can be stored for almost six months, allowing it to be used in many beverages as a mixer in close-knit gatherings, that too for a much longer period. In short, this soda water will sustain longer. That being said, soda water, once opened, must be consumed in a few days, owing to the active effervescence which can tend to get lost. Soda water must also be stored in a cool and dry place, avoiding any direct contact with sunlight. Hence, it tastes best when chilled and refrigerated.
With longer fizz retention, soda water is quite well suited for a range of mixed drinks, from highballs to spritzes. For instance, adding soda water to an Aperol Spritz may help create a lighter drink. When mixed with grape juice or cranberry juice into the cocktail, a balance of sweetness and acidity is important to achieve; otherwise the drink can get either too sweet because of the sugars in the juice, or too acidic and fizzy due to the soda water itself. Soda water is also mildly acidic with a pH of 3-4 which helps lend acidity when added to spirits. While soda in some parts of the world refers to a sweet and flavoured carbonated beverage, it largely contains no sugar and is carbonated water with a pinch of soda bicarbonate.
Other ways you can pair soda water are by using it as a mixer in lemon-lime sodas and alcoholic options too. Further, pairing any citrus fruits with soda water makes for a drink with a perfect balance of fizz and sweetness because the citrus fruit’s sweet notes and acidity cut through the effervescence of the soda water, resulting in a bubbly yet flavourful cocktail.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
