Table of Contents
- FAQs
- Why Soda Water Makes Better Cocktails
- The Drizz Zero-Sugar Highball Builder
- Ranch Water: The West Texas Classic
- Gin Rickey: Bone-Dry and Botanical
- Vodka Soda Citrus Smash: The Blank Canvas
- Whiskey Highball: Elegant Simplicity
- Americano: The Aperitivo Hour Starter
- Aperol Spritz (3-2-1 Light): The Patio Standard
- Hugo Spritz: Floral and Fresh
- Tom Collins (Lighter): The Original Lemon Fizz
- Quick Reference: 9 Cocktails with Soda Water
- The Bottom Line: Keep It Light, Keep It Bubbly
FAQs
What are the best cocktails to make with soda water?
The best soda water cocktails include the Gin Rickey, Ranch Water, Vodka Soda, Whiskey Highball, Americano, and Aperol Spritz. These drinks use soda water to stretch spirits, lift aromatics, and keep calories low — typically under 130 calories per drink.
How many calories are in a cocktail with soda water?
Most cocktails with soda water contain 96-130 calories, coming entirely from the spirit. A standard 1.5oz pour of 80-proof liquor has about 96 calories, and soda water adds zero. Compare that to cocktails with sugary mixers, which can hit 300-400 calories.
Can I make a zero-sugar highball without losing flavor?
Yes. Drizz drops add mixologist-designed flavor to any soda water cocktail with zero sugar and zero calories. Add 3-5 drops of Citrus, Ginger Lime, or Spicy Mango to your spirit and soda — great taste, none of the sugar.
What's the difference between club soda and soda water for cocktails?
For cocktails, club soda and soda water are interchangeable. Both are carbonated water with no sugar or calories. Mineral water (like Topo Chico) adds subtle minerality that works especially well in drinks like Ranch Water.
How do I keep my soda water cocktails from going flat?
Keep everything cold — your soda, glass, and spirit. Build the drink over ice, add soda last, and stir just once. Agitation kills bubbles. Pre-chilling your glass helps carbonation last longer.
Cocktails with soda water are the fastest path to a refreshing, low-calorie drink that stays crisp and sessionable. Using soda water as your mixer stretches spirits, lifts aromatics, and replaces heavy, sugary alternatives — so each sip stays clean and light. From the West Texas Ranch Water to the Japanese Whiskey Highball, these 9 recipes deliver bar-quality flavor with minimal effort and maximum refreshment.
Crisp bubbles. Clean flavor. No sugary crash. If you've been reaching for canned seltzers or premade cocktails, you're settling for someone else's idea of a good time. Soda water gives you control — over the strength, the flavor, and the experience.
This guide breaks down 9 essential cocktails with soda water, including exact ratios, flavor variations, and zero-proof swaps for every recipe. Whether you're hosting friends or mixing solo, these builds keep things simple, light, and ready in under a minute.
Why Soda Water Makes Better Cocktails
Soda water isn't just a filler — it's a tool. Here's what it does for your drink:
Stretches your spirit: A 2oz pour becomes a full, satisfying highball without adding calories. You're tasting the same amount of alcohol over a longer, more sessionable experience.
Lifts aromatics: Carbonation carries volatile compounds to your nose, making botanical gins, citrus peels, and aged whiskeys more expressive than they'd be in a neat pour.
Replaces sugar: Traditional mixers like tonic water, ginger beer, and sour mix can add 20-40g of sugar per drink. Soda water adds zero.
Keeps you cool: Built on ice and bubbles, soda water cocktails are designed for warm weather and long afternoons. They're refreshing by nature, not by accident.
| Traditional Mixer | Sugar (per serving) | Calories | Soda Water Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonic water (6 oz) | 22g | 80 | Soda + Drizz Tonic Drops |
| Ginger beer (6 oz) | 28g | 110 | Soda + Drizz Ginger Lime Drops |
| Margarita mix (4 oz) | 32g | 140 | Soda + Drizz Citrus Drops |
| Simple syrup (1 oz) | 25g | 100 | Skip it |
The Drizz Zero-Sugar Highball Builder
The fastest, cleanest way to build any cocktail with soda water: Drizz drops. These mixologist-designed concentrates turn sparkling water into a bar-quality drink in seconds — zero sugar, zero calories.
The Build (Under 60 Seconds):
- Fill a highball glass with ice
- Add 1.5-2 oz of your spirit (or skip for zero-proof)
- Squeeze in Drizz drops
- Top with 4-6 oz chilled soda water
- Stir once, gently
Flavor Options:
- Citrus — Clean, zesty brightness for vodka or tequila
- Ginger Lime — Snap and spice for whiskey or gin
- Spicy Mango — Tropical heat for tequila or rum
- Flavorless Energy — 65mg caffeine with L-Theanine for any build
| Spirit | Drizz Flavor | Calories | Zero-Proof Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodka | Citrus | ~96 | Soda + Drizz Citrus = 0 cal |
| Tequila | Spicy Mango | ~96 | Soda + Drizz Spicy Mango = 0 cal |
| Gin | Ginger Lime | ~96 | Soda + Drizz Ginger Lime = 0 cal |
| Whiskey | Ginger Lime | ~128 | Soda + Drizz Ginger Lime = 0 cal |
For more on building balanced drinks without sugar, read: Why Great Cocktails Are About Balance, Not Sweetness.
Tonic Cocktail Drops
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Drizz Tonic Drops bring the refreshing taste of tonic water with a clean citrus twist—without sugar, calories, or bulky bottles. Just a few drops turn gin & soda, vodka tonics, or anything in between into a perfectly balanced drink. Slim,… read more
Ranch Water: The West Texas Classic
Ranch Water is minimalism perfected — blanco tequila, fresh lime, and ice-cold bubbles. It emerged from the Texas ranching community and became the unofficial drink of anyone who prefers their cocktails bracing, not sweet.
The Build:
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 6-8 oz cold soda water or mineral water (Topo Chico is traditional)
- Ice
Fill a highball with ice, add tequila and lime, top with soda, stir once. That's it.
Variations:
- Grapefruit twist: Add an expressed grapefruit peel for citrus oils
- Spicy salt rim: Rim the glass with Tajín or chili salt
- Zero-proof: Skip tequila; use soda + lime + Drizz Citrus Drops
| Version | Calories | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | ~136 | Easy |
| Grapefruit twist | ~136 | Easy |
| Zero-proof | ~8 | Easiest |
Gin Rickey: Bone-Dry and Botanical
The Gin Rickey is a Washington D.C. original — gin, lime, and soda water with no sweetener whatsoever. It's proof that a cocktail doesn't need sugar to be satisfying. The lime provides brightness, the gin delivers botanicals, and the soda keeps everything crisp.
The Build:
- 2 oz gin (London Dry works best)
- 1/2 to 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
- 5-6 oz cold club soda
- Ice
Build over ice, stir briefly, garnish with a lime wheel.
Variations:
- Citrus-forward: Use a citrus-heavy gin for extra brightness
- Ginger-lime lift: Add 2-3 Drizz Ginger Lime Drops for depth
- Zero-proof: Soda + lime + Drizz Citrus = refreshing mocktail
| Version | Calories | Flavor Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | ~128 | Bone-dry, zesty, botanical |
| With Drizz | ~128 | Extra citrus pop, still zero sugar |
| Zero-proof | ~8 | All brightness, no alcohol |
Vodka Soda Citrus Smash: The Blank Canvas
The vodka soda is the most customizable cocktail with soda water — a neutral spirit, bubbles, and whatever aromatics you want to add. It's a blank canvas that rewards experimentation.
The Build:
- 1.5-2 oz vodka
- 5-6 oz cold soda water
- Citrus wedges and/or fresh herbs (optional)
- Ice
Lightly muddle citrus and herbs in the glass (don't pulverize them — you want oils, not pulp). Add ice, vodka, and soda. Stir once.
Variations:
- Cucumber-citrus: Add Drizz Cucumber Drops for a spa-fresh twist
- Tequila swap: Blanco tequila for earthy, crisp agave notes
- Zero-proof: Soda + citrus + Drizz Citrus = clean refreshment
Whiskey Highball: Elegant Simplicity
The Whiskey Highball is how Japan drinks whiskey — tall, cold, and endlessly refreshing. The carbonation lifts the spirit's aromatics while dilution smooths any rough edges. It's a cocktail with soda water that makes good whiskey taste even better.
The Build:
- 1.5-2 oz whiskey (bourbon, Japanese, or Scotch)
- 5-7 oz ice-cold soda water
- Ice (clear cubes or pebble ice)
Fill a chilled highball with ice, add whiskey, top with soda, stir once. Garnish with a lemon twist if you like.
Pro tip: The Japanese obsession with the highball comes down to temperature and dilution. Use the coldest soda you can find, and pack the glass with ice.
| Whiskey Style | Flavor Profile | Drizz Pairing |
|---|---|---|
| Bourbon | Vanilla, caramel, lifted spice | Ginger Lime |
| Japanese | Dry, malty, crisp | Citrus |
| Scotch | Smoky, complex | Plain or light citrus |
Americano: The Aperitivo Hour Starter
The Americano predates the Negroni and remains one of the most food-friendly cocktails with soda water. Campari's bitterness, sweet vermouth's depth, and soda's lift create something greater than the sum of its parts.
The Build:
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 3-4 oz cold soda water
- Ice
Build in a rocks glass over ice, stir gently, garnish with an orange slice.
Variations:
- Drier Americano: Use dry vermouth for less sweetness
- Grapefruit twist: Add expressed grapefruit peel
- Zero-proof: NA bitter + zero-proof vermouth + soda
| Version | Calories | Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | ~110-130 | Moderate (from vermouth) |
| Drier | ~100-120 | Lower |
| Zero-proof | ~30-50 | Depends on NA products |
Aperol Spritz (3-2-1 Light): The Patio Standard
The Aperol Spritz is the cocktail that launched a thousand Instagram posts — and for good reason. It's easy, beautiful, and perfectly sessionable.
The Build (3-2-1 Ratio):
- 3 oz prosecco
- 2 oz Aperol
- 1-2 oz cold soda water
- Ice
Build in a wine glass over ice, stir briefly, garnish with an orange slice.
Variations:
- Extra-light: More soda, less Aperol for lower ABV
- Cynar swap: Herbaceous and darker, less sweet
- Zero-proof: NA sparkling + NA aperitif + soda
Hugo Spritz: Floral and Fresh
If the Aperol Spritz is the bitter option, the Hugo Spritz is its floral counterpart. Elderflower liqueur, prosecco, mint, and soda create something garden-fresh and deceptively easy.
The Build:
- 1 oz elderflower liqueur
- 3 oz prosecco
- 2-3 oz cold soda water
- Fresh mint leaves
- Ice
Build in a wine glass, clap mint to release oils, stir gently.
Tom Collins (Lighter): The Original Lemon Fizz
The Tom Collins dates to the 1870s and remains one of the best cocktails with soda water ever created. This version dials back the sweetness for a more modern, lower-calorie take.
The Build:
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 to 1/2 oz simple syrup (optional — or use Drizz)
- 3-4 oz cold soda water
- Ice
Shake gin, lemon, and syrup with ice. Strain into a Collins glass with fresh ice, top with soda, garnish with lemon wheel.
Zero-Sugar Version: Skip the syrup entirely. Use a few drops of Drizz for balanced sweetness with zero calories.
| Version | Calories | Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional (with syrup) | ~170 | 6-12g |
| Lighter (less syrup) | ~140 | 3-6g |
| Zero-sugar (Drizz) | ~128 | 0g |
Quick Reference: 9 Cocktails with Soda Water
| Cocktail | Base Spirit | Calories | Difficulty | Zero-Proof? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drizz Highball | Any | 96-128 | Easiest | Yes |
| Ranch Water | Tequila | ~136 | Easy | Yes |
| Gin Rickey | Gin | ~128 | Easy | Yes |
| Vodka Soda Smash | Vodka | ~96 | Easy | Yes |
| Whiskey Highball | Whiskey | 96-128 | Easy | Yes |
| Americano | Campari + Vermouth | ~120 | Easy | Yes |
| Aperol Spritz | Prosecco + Aperol | ~170 | Easy | Yes |
| Hugo Spritz | Prosecco + Elderflower | ~150 | Easy | Yes |
| Tom Collins | Gin | 128-170 | Medium | Yes |
The Bottom Line: Keep It Light, Keep It Bubbly
Cocktails with soda water aren't about deprivation — they're about clarity. You taste the spirit more clearly, the aromatics come through more vividly, and you skip the sugar crash that comes with traditional mixers.
The technique is simple: keep everything cold, build gently over ice, stir once. Let the bubbles do the work.
For instant, zero-sugar upgrades to any of these builds, explore Drizz drops. Same bar-quality flavor, none of the sugar. Your drink. Your call.
