Low in calories, carbs and sugar, hard seltzers have taken North American by storm. If you’ve found yourself cracking open a White Claw, Truly, Social Lite or other brand of hard seltzer, you might want to try making it at home!
Hard Seltzer 101
What is Hard Seltzer?
At its most basic level, hard seltzer is sparkling water with alcohol in it. What that alcohol is made out of can differ — usually it’s malt liquor with added fruit flavours, but sometimes they are made with base spirits or wine. Most hard seltzers’ alcohol content hovers between 4-6% alcohol by volume (ABV), which is about the same as a light beer.
Why Make Homemade Hard Seltzer?
It’s super simple! Homemade hard seltzers are made with things you probably already have on hand. All you need is water, fresh or frozen fruit, herbs, and your alcohol of choice. Because you’ll be using real ingredients, you won’t be left wondering if chemical additives might be hiding in your drink. Not to mention, you’ll also save money!
What Kind of Alcohol Should You Use?
Canned hard seltzer is usually made with malt liquor or vodka, but we chose vodka because it’s accessible and pairs great with a variety of flavours. If you’re not a fan of vodka, you can try white rum, tequila or gin.
Sweetener
We prefer to skip the sugar altogether, but if you’re craving a little bit of sweetness, give this honey simple syrup a try. It’s all-natural, contains no refined sugar and is so easy to make!
3 Refreshing Hard Seltzer Recipes
Ginger Lime: Provides the perfect blend of spice and zest, ginger lime is light and refreshing. You will need:
- 3 slices of lime
- 1” ginger, thinly sliced
- 2-3 oz. vodka
- honey simple syrup (optional)
Grapefruit: Juicy grapefruit is a classic for a reason! Its subtle citrus essence makes this perfect for summer sipping. You will need:
- 1 slice of grapefruit, quartered
- 2 mint leaves
- 2-3 oz. vodka
- honey simple syrup (optional)
Raspberry Lemon: This bubbly combination of sweet berries and sour lemon might just become your new poolside go-to. You will need:
- a handful of raspberries
- 2 slices of lemon
- 2-3 oz. vodka
- honey simple syrup (optional)
Instructions: Add solid ingredients and vodka to your Spärkel bottle. Next, add simple syrup (optional), we suggest starting with 1 tbsp and adding more depending on how sweet you like your drink. Carbonate on desired level. Cheers!
If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, we would love to hear from you! Reach out to us at hello@sparkel.com
