Gin, sparkling water, and a squeeze of lime over ice make up Gin and Soda, a minimalist highball that lets the spirit's botanical complexity stand on its own. The neutral carbonation carries the gin without the sugar of tonic water, making the drink a drier, lower-calorie alternative to the Gin and Tonic at around 9 percent alcohol by volume. Built directly in a highball glass over ice and stirred, then garnished with a lime wedge, it ranks among the cleanest-tasting gin serves and demands nothing more than fresh ingredients and good gin.
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Gin and Soda
Ingrédients
- Gin 2 oz
- Soda Water 5 oz
- Lime 1/4
Instructions
Pour the Gin and Soda water into a highball glass almost filled with ice cubes. Stir well. Garnish with the lime wedge.
Gin and Soda is a minimalist two-ingredient highball combining gin with sparkling water and a squeeze of lime, served over ice in a highball glass. The neutral carbonation of the soda water allows the gin's botanical complexity to take center stage without the sugar of tonic water, making it a lower-calorie, drier alternative to the classic Gin and Tonic. It is one of the simplest and most clean-tasting gin serves.
History & Origins
Gin and soda water has been a common serve since the 19th century when soda water became widely available and was used as a neutral mixer for spirits. The combination became particularly fashionable with health-conscious drinkers in the early 21st century as the zero-calorie effervescence of soda water was preferred over the sugar-containing tonic water. Its specific origin is unrecorded.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: pronounced gin botanicals — juniper, coriander, and citrus peel — with a clean, neutral carbonation note. Palate: dry and botanical with the gin's full herbal complexity unfiltered by sweetness, lifted by the lime's sharp acidity. Finish: clean, dry, and refreshing with a lingering gin botanical note.
Pro Tip
Use a premium craft gin with a complex botanical profile, as there is nothing to mask or sweeten the spirit — squeeze the lime wedge directly into the drink rather than just using it as garnish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Gin and Soda made of?
A Gin and Soda combines gin with sparkling soda water, typically finished with a squeeze of fresh lime. Unlike a Gin and Tonic, soda water adds no sugar or quinine bitterness, letting the botanicals of the gin shine cleanly.
Is Gin and Soda lower in calories than Gin and Tonic?
Yes — because soda water is calorie-free, a Gin and Soda has significantly fewer calories than a Gin and Tonic, which contains tonic's sugar. A standard serve runs approximately 65–90 calories versus 140–200 for a typical G&T.
What glass is used for a Gin and Soda?
A Gin and Soda is served in a tall highball glass over plenty of ice, which keeps the carbonation intact and the drink refreshingly cold. A wedge of lime on the rim adds aroma and a light citrus note.
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