When To Choose Still Water Over Soda In Mocktails? 5 Tips For The Amateur
Many times, an overtly bubbly concoction tends to undercut some of the subtlety in a mocktail to in effect disguise the gentler floral, fruity or herbal touches which accentuate these blends. At such times, instead of using fizzy sodas as mixers, an interesting addition would be still water such as a Johnnie Walker Luxe Blended Water or any other premium blended water of choice.
The still water with a specifically curated minerality will highlight the subtle notes in mocktails to offer balance, texture and clarity in the drink – which sometimes tends to be elusive when soda is used for the final finish. During such moments, flat trumps fizzy, especially while making non-alcoholic beverages with subdued yet fresh flavours. Yet, for an amateur striking a balance between fizzy and flat, and knowing when to choose which, can be slightly tricky.
Read on below to know more about which are the moments that require a mixologist to swap out soda with still water in certain mocktail recipes to balance the more delicate flavours:
To Make Flavours Shine
While fizzy mixers lend a lot of bubbly, bright qualities to mocktails, they have the tendency to sometimes overwhelm certain ingredients which need more room to open up. Such recipes merit the swap. For instance, herbs like mint, basil or rosemary become more pronounced and their aromas can be experienced with better clarity when they are accompanied by a mixer such as about 45 ml Johnnie Walker Luxe Blended Water or any other premium blended water of choice. The swap works in the case of fruity elements as well, such as with watermelon or lime juice where the still water brings a subtle finish even as the citrusy, sweet and tropical elements come through.
To Make Light Drinks
Still water is used many times for making summer drinks like a classic lemonade, iced tea variations, kokum sherbets and other more complex mocktails like an aam panha. This is primarily because adding about 45 ml Johnnie Walker Luxe Blended Water or any other premium blended water of choice to ingredients like coconut water, herbal infusions or light syrups retains the vibrant flavours of these drinks without making them denser or heavier in ways that flavoured aerated drinks might. So, several summer mocktails can be blended comfortably using still water.
Also Read: Herb Infused Ices And Sodas Can Be Your New Secret Ingredient For Custom Cocktails
With Delicate Ingredients
This swap is especially useful while blending floral cocktails that are laced with subtle flavours of lavender, marigold, rose, hibiscus and other aromatic elements. The flavours of these ingredients are too nuanced for the soda water to complement them. As well, the subtle aromas of crushed cardamoms, fennel seeds or saffron strands also exude themselves better when they are blended with about 45 ml Johnnie Walker Luxe Blended Water or any other premium blended water of choice. Their flavours unfold slowly, and more luxuriously, without the levity of club soda.
For A Softer Texture
Club sodas or aerated drinks primarily bring a lot of textural flair into mocktail concoctions. Yet, there are some recipes which require a slightly softer notes, so the gentler ingredients in the mocktails open up better. At such times, adding about 30 ml Johnnie Walker Luxe Blended Water or any other premium blended water of choice creates a unique drinking experience. This is especially useful while blending mocktails for elegant gatherings at which the non-alcoholic drink would be balanced enough without overwhelming the palate.
To Build Layered Flavours
This is perhaps one of the most imperative reasons which call for a still water swap. Essentially, while experimenting with multiple ingredients, it is possible to make every flavour noticeable with the addition of about 45 ml Johnnie Walker Luxe Blended Water or any other premium blended water of choice. Still water enables several flavours to integrate with minimal textural interference and acts as a neutral base to craft some interesting flavour contrasts like sweet and tart or tangy and floral. So, as an amateur attempting to blend mocktails, go for this swap at tasting sessions that involve experimenting with newer flavour combinations without textural distractions.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
