Sparkling Water Recipe

Chill and prepare glass

If possible, chill the glass in the refrigerator or freezer for 5–10 minutes beforehand. This helps keep the drink colder longer and preserves carbonation.

Add ice

Place 4 ice cubes into the chilled glass. Use fewer cubes if you prefer less dilution.

Add optional sweetener

If you want a lightly sweetened sparkling water, add 1 teaspoon of simple syrup or liquid sweetener to the glass. Stir gently to combine with the melting ice so it dissolves evenly.

Pour sparkling water

Carefully pour 12 oz of cold sparkling water into the glass over the back of a spoon or down the side of the glass to minimize agitation and preserve fizz. Pour slowly to avoid excessive foaming.

Garnish and flavor (optional)

Cut half a lemon or lime wedge (use 1/2 fruit total). Squeeze the wedge lightly over the drink to release a few drops of juice, then drop it into the glass. Optionally slap a fresh mint sprig between your hands to release aroma and place it in the glass.

Final stir and serve

Give the drink one gentle stir with a spoon (1–2 turns) to incorporate any added sweetener and citrus without flattening the carbonation. Serve immediately to enjoy maximum effervescence.

For flavored sparkling water, substitute plain sparkling water with a naturally flavored sparkling water (lemon, lime, berry) and omit the fruit garnish. For a fizzy mocktail, add 1–2 tbsp fruit juice (orange, cranberry) before pouring the sparkling water and stir gently. Adjust sweetener to taste. To make a large batch, scale ingredient quantities proportionally and mix in a pitcher, adding sparkling water last and stirring gently.