Understanding Soda Water

Where would we be without sodas? Think about all of the drinks that require club soda, ginger ale or cola. Without these carbonated mixers we would not have the Highball, New Orleans Fizz, Paloma, or (don't say it!) the Gin & Tonic. In the well-rounded bar a nice selection of sodas is usually available and many commercial bars have a few brands of each; usually one of each in a soda gun and some higher end bottles in the cooler.

Soda water (aka seltzer, sparkling water) and club soda are the most common sodas found in mixed drinks because they do not add flavor, just bubbles and water. These transparent mixers are employed when you want to show off the rest of the drink, whether that's a complex Scotch & Soda where the whiskey needs to shine or to add zest to the fruit cocktail of a Melon Splash.

Ginger ale and tonic water are two lightly flavored soda waters that have distinct uses in mixed drinks and make up the volume of some very favorite duos (drinks with one spirit and one mixer). In a Highball, ginger ale adds a smoothing sweetness to the whiskey, but also adds its spice in a light sweet way to a delicate blend in drinks like Herb's Garden Ale. Tonic water is a little less usable but no less important. Vital to the Gin & Tonic and for adding a hint of flavor to Vodka Tonic, it also adds a nice dry aspect to Irish whiskey in a Leprechaun.

Also worthy of note is the appearance of soda in punches and non-alcoholic drinks. Remember those graduation party punches - frozen juice topped with 7-Up - they would not be half as popular without the soda. The Shirley Temple, Pussyfoot and Beach Blanket Bingo are all great mocktails dependent on one of the common sodas. There's something about the carbonation, maybe due to the elegance of Champagne, that makes anyone feel like their drinking an adult drink, liquor or not.

When making soda drinks use the freshest soda possible and try out some of the spendier bottled brands or invest in a soda siphon, there is so much relying on that one mixer that it's worth a little effort and cash.