So fizz is fun, but it serves a functional role, too. “Carbonated water lengthens and acidifies drinks,” explains Camper English, author of Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails. “Plus, the bubbles help lift aromatics up out of the drink and tickle your nose.”
However, not all carbonated water is alike. “I know it’s a little funny to wrap your brain around thinking about water as an ingredient, but it’s so important,” says Jena Ellenwood, cocktail educator at NYC bar Dear Irving. “Bubble size and stamina vary with each fizzy water.” And it can make a difference when added to other elements in a drink, like spirits and citrus. In addition, some can add sweet, salty or bitter flavors, so it’s important to know which is which—here we offer this sparkling guide to the world of effervescent H2O.
Soda Water
A catch-all term for carbonated water.
Seltzer
Artificially carbonated water, with no minerals added to it. This was the term mixologists used in the 1800s; they would have used glass siphons to create carbonation. Now, we have access to plenty of bottled seltzers, as well as home carbonating devices like the SodaStream and Aarke. Hard seltzer is a different animal; It’s brewed like beer with sugar and yeast, flavored and then force-carbonated.
Best for: The Spritz
Club Soda
Artificially carbonated water to which sodium salts and/or potassium salts have been added. This is done to mimic the effect of bubbly mineral water, but the salts also are added to neutralize acidity in some water.
In terms of cocktails, seltzer and club soda are both relatively neutral, and can be used interchangeably, says Matt Chavez, bar manager of New York restaurant Ci Siamo. Think about them in terms of texture, not flavor: The bubbles may be larger compared to that of naturally carbonated mineral water and should “dance and tingle” on your tongue—it won’t change the flavor of a drink like a Tom Collins or whiskey highball, but can help “jolt it to life,” he adds. “It enhances the flavors in the cocktail, rather than bringing in more flavors,” Chavez notes, bringing a sense of freshness to a drink.
Best for: Tom Collins
Mineral Water
Flat or sparkling water from a mineral spring. If it’s effervescent that’s naturally occurring, and the bubbles may be more delicate compared to seltzer or club soda. Most of these waters contain some degree of mineral content—hence the name— making them of great interest to early health practitioners.
“Naturally carbonated mineral spring water was thought to be extra healthy compared with regular mineral water, and far healthier than surface water from rivers and streams,” English notes. “European and American mineral springs rich in iron or other mineral salts were recommended to settle the stomach or treat conditions including anemia.”
Of note: Mineral salts can impart distinct salinity. Since the water is derived from a natural source, the flavor, saltiness and bubbliness can vary widely. “Mineral water runs the gamut of flavor and carbonation—from super salty Vichy Catalan, to mild, extra-fizzy Perrier, or a slight salinity and super fizz in a Topo Chico,” Ellenwood explains. “Personally, I like a hint of salt in cocktails, because it boosts other flavors— think salt in desserts.”
Best for: Ranch Water
Tonic Water
A sweetened soft drink made with carbonated water and quinine—the latter adds bitterness and was originally used as a medicinal tool to help ward off malaria. Tonic water is a key cocktail mixer (see gin and tonics, vodka tonics), and bartenders are clear: it is not interchangeable with seltzer or club soda since it adds perceptible bitterness and sweetness. Some brands add additional flavorings, too, like Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic, which maximizes floral notes.
“Tonic is an acquired taste, and it is very far from neutral,” Ellenwood cautions. “Do not swap for anything else.”
Best for: Gin & Tonic
This article originally appeared in the February/March 2023 issue of Wine Enthusiast magazine. Click here to subscribe today!
Published: February 6, 2023
