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Gin and Soda is a bubbly, refreshing way to enjoy your gin! Stir it up in the glass and enjoy this low calorie cocktail.
Looking for a fast and easy gin cocktail? Try Gin and Soda! Adding club soda to gin lets you enjoy the botanical intrigue of the flavor: and it takes no time at all to mix up. This cocktail is no new idea: it’s very similar to the Gin Rickey, a classic drink from the 1880’s. It’s a refreshing drink that just so happens to be low calorie, too.
What’s Gin and Soda?
Gin and Soda is a highball cocktail made with gin and club soda. It’s very similar to the Gin Rickey, a classic cocktail from the 1880’s made with gin, soda water and lime. The drink rose to worldwide popularity, even making its way into books like the 1920’s novel Great Gatsby. This drink is one in a centuries long tradition of mixing booze and carbonated water, like the whiskey highball and even wine spritzers!
The only difference between this drink and the Gin Rickey? The Gin Rickey has a measured quantity of lime juice. Here it’s just a squeeze from a lime wedge, and totally optional. So the Gin and Soda is even simpler! You’ll need:
- Gin
- Soda water
- Lime wedge
Gin and Soda calories
Mix the Gin and soda water together and take a sip: it’s bubbly and effervescent, letting the botanicals of the gin shine through. It’s almost like it stretches out the flavors, so you can taste each individually.
Another advantage of cocktails that mix liquor and soda water? It’s a low calorie drink. Two ounces of gin is 149 calories. So a Gin and Soda is only 149 calories, compared to approximately 250 calories for a standard cocktail. Score!
Club soda vs tonic water
Gin and Soda is very similar to another classic cocktail: the venerable Gin and Tonic. How does club soda differ from tonic water? What is soda water? Here are the major differences:
- Soda water (aka seltzer or sparkling water) is carbonated water with no additives, carbonated by injecting carbon dioxide (CO2). It’s the base for brands like La Croix, or what comes out of a SodaStream.
- Club soda is carbonated water infused with added minerals, which give it a salty or lightly sweet flavor. It’s very similar to soda water and can be used interchangeably.
- Tonic water is carbonated water with added quinine and sugar. It was first sold in the 1850’s as a way to drink quinine, prescribed at the time to fight malaria. It tastes sweet and bitter: and because of its unique flavor, it’s not a substitute for the first two.
More club soda drinks
Looking for more drinks like the Gin and Soda? You can make it with almost any type of alcohol. Here are a few to try:
- Vodka: Try the Vodka Soda
- Whiskey: Go for a Whiskey Highball
- Tequila: Opt for Ranch Water or Tequila Soda
- Campari: Try Campari and Soda
- Coffee: You can even use coffee, in Coffee Soda!
- Wine: Go for a White Wine Spritzer, Red Wine Spritzer, or Rosé Spritzer
Another great gin highball? Try the Finnish Long Drink!
Gin and Soda
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 ounces* gin
- 6 ounces soda water
- 1 squeeze lime wedge, plus more for garnish
- Ice, for serving (try clear ice!)
Instructions
- Add the gin, and ice to the glass and stir gently. Top with the soda water and a squeeze of lime juice. Serve immediately.
Notes
*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
