Alas, fizzy drinks haven’t come to fruition, but I’ll take the next best thing: a bubbly drink that lifts my spirits, if nothing else. Fizz in your drink, with or without alcohol, is festive and fun – especially for outdoors in the spring and summer. Here are a few options from our archives to consider.
Blickey cocktail, above. Sparkling mineral water brings the effervescence of this refreshing blend of rye whiskey, grapefruit and lime juices and raspberry syrup. It is similar to the rickey, a signature drink of the nation’s capital.
Mint Lemon Soda† The basis of this drink is a syrup concentrate made with honey and lemon juice and zest, in which you infuse fresh mint. You’ll get 2 cups of syrup, and since each serving uses 1 tablespoon per cup of water, there’s enough to get through the week or service a crowd.
White Sangria With Peaches And Raspberries† Be ready to repeat this pretty pink sangria once the summer fruits start rolling in. White wine and brandy form the base for the drink, and you add a splash of sparkling water to each glass to serve.
Summer fruit punch (compot)† Here’s a smart and zero-safe way to use up random bits of summer fruit. Adding vanilla ice cream and club soda makes it our kind of float, but it would be fine with just the bubbly too.
Garden Pimm’s Cup† Our Spirits writer, M. Carrie Allan, says of the classic English summer cocktail, “Everyone makes a Pimm’s cup a little different; this variation brings out the strawberry and cucumber flavour.” Cucumber soda, lemon soda, or ginger ale can all be used for fizz.
Katz’s Egg Cream† Louis Auster is credited with inventing the beloved New York drink made with chocolate syrup, milk, and seltzer, although this particular recipe comes from the famous Katz’s Delicatessen. It calls for Fox’s U-bet chocolate syrup, which imitators started using after Auster refused to patent or sell its formula, but you can also try a new version with my Dark Chocolate Syrup† For another fizzy chocolate option, check out Cold brewed chocolate floats†
Ramos Gin Fizz† This New Orleans drink might remind you of an egg cream, but in this case it contains heavy cream and an egg white, along with the seltzer or club soda, all of which contribute to a dramatic pillow-like head. The drink also contains gin, lemon and lime juice, and orange blossom water.
St-Germain cocktail† I’m a big fan of St-Germain elderflower liqueur (I used it in my Royal Wedding Cake!), and it goes really well here with a double dose of bubbly in the form of sparkling wine and club soda or seltzer.
