It actually started on a warm August evening in a small garden in Stavanger. The hostess came out carrying a tray full of icy glasses, and in each glass something fresh and pink was bubbling – a kind of rosé spritz, but without wine. Just sparkling water with strawberry flavor, a few mint leaves, and a couple of drops of bitters. It was the lightest, most refreshing thing I had tasted all summer. And I thought: this is brilliantly simple.
Summer is warm, and the best drink for the grill needs neither long ingredient lists nor exotic bottles. Flavored sparkling water – what we often call flavored water – has quietly become one of the most versatile tools in the summer drinks kitchen. It's accessible, inexpensive, and almost impossible to get wrong.
The best summer cocktail is always the one you can make in under a minute with what you already have.— LARS LANSEN
What exactly is flavored water – and why does it work?
Naturally flavored sparkling water is not the same as sugary soft drinks. Most varieties contain zero or very little sugar, and the flavor comes from natural aromas – citrus, berries, herbs, cucumber, apple. That makes them a perfect starting point for both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, because they give you flavor and bubbles without drowning out whatever you're mixing with.
Think of them as a kind of pre-mixed tonic, but without the bitter quinine taste. They're neutral enough to combine with things, yet characterful enough to contribute something on their own. It's exactly that balance that makes them so useful – whether you're at a barbecue, a picnic, or just want something cold and interesting in your hand on the terrace.
The main rules are simple:
- Find a flavor that complements what you want to combine it with
- Always use ice-cold water – the bubbles hold better and the drink tastes fresher
- Pour the water in last, and never stir too much
- Feel free to garnish, but keep it simple – one thing is enough
For the grill: three combinations that work
When the meat is sizzling on the grate and the sun hangs low, you want something in your hand that is light, fresh, and doesn't require much thought. Here are my favorite combinations this summer:
1. Citrus + aquavit
One of my favorite discoveries is mixing a bright citrus water with a mild Norwegian aquavit. Fru Lysholm Aquavit is a good choice here – it has a feminine, herbal character with hints of caraway and lemon that marry naturally with the citrus bubbles. Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in 3–4 cl of aquavit, and top with citrus water. Squeeze a lime slice over the rim. Voilà. It's a drink that tastes of Norwegian summer without being heavy or complicated.
2. Cucumber + gin (or just cucumber)
Cucumber water is underrated. It tastes of summer, garden, and freshness in a way that almost no other flavor can match. Mix it with a good gin for an informal G&T variation, or drink it on its own with a few cucumber slices and a pinch of flaky salt. Both versions are perfect with fish and seafood on the grill – the green, cool note of the cucumber cleanses the palate between each bite.
3. Berry + bitters
Here's the trick from the Stavanger evening: take a berry or elderflower water, add 2–3 drops of Luxardo Rhubarb Bitters, and top with ice. That small amount of bitters – just a few drops – gives depth and complexity to something that would otherwise be flat and sweet. The rhubarb bitters has an earthy, slightly tannic character that lifts the berry flavor and makes the whole glass more interesting. It tastes like a half-finished cocktail, and that's exactly what it is.
Picnic mocktails without a recipe
Picnics are the domain of non-alcoholic drinks. And this is where flavored water is at its very best, because you don't need anything other than ice and a little creativity. No shaker, no bartender course, no strange ingredients.
My summer formula for a good non-alcoholic picnic drink is simple:
Flavored water + fresh fruit + herbs + acidity
Examples that work:
- Apple-ginger water + slices of green apple + fresh thyme + a squeeze of lemon
- Raspberry water + fresh raspberries + basil + a handful of pomegranate seeds
- Peach water + thin peach slices + rosemary + a splash of apple cider vinegar (just a few drops!)
The little bit of acidity from citrus or vinegar lifts all of these combinations from "sweet and boring" to "this is actually interesting". It's the same logic that means a good spritz always has a little acidity in it – without it, everything falls flat.
The aperitif moment: simple and elegant
The summer aperitif doesn't always have to be a spritz with millimeter precision and five ingredients. Try this next time you have guests:
Set out a bottle of good flavored sparkling water – citrus or grapefruit works well – a simple bottle of prosecco, and a few small bowls of olives and nuts. Let the guests mix for themselves. Half prosecco, half flavored water: it works, and it's lighter on the alcohol than a straight spritz. People love having something to do with their hands, and mixing your own drink gives a small sense of accomplishment.
An off-dry prosecco like Le Rive Prosecco Millesimato Extra Dry 2022 fits nicely here – it has a mild fruit sweetness with hints of green apple and white flowers, and the light bubbles cooperate with the flavored water rather than clashing with it. It's a prosecco that doesn't try to be something it isn't, and that's exactly what you want in this context.
Alternatively: Koskenkorva Blueberry Juniper is a low-alcohol spirits with blueberry and juniper that is made for exactly this kind of combination. The flavor is fruity and slightly woodsy at the same time – juniper gives a dry, aromatic edge that balances the blueberry sweetness perfectly. A couple of centiliters in a glass filled with blueberry-flavored water and ice is one of summer's decidedly simplest aperitif tricks.
A quick cocktail formula to remember
| Flavored water | Spirits | Garnish |
|---|---|---|
| Citrus | Aquavit or gin | Lime, rosemary |
| Berry | Vodka or nothing | Mint, lemon |
| Apple/ginger | Whisky, bourbon | Apple slice, cinnamon |
| Cucumber | Gin | Cucumber, dill |
| Grapefruit | Tequila or Campari | Grapefruit peel |
The table is not a definitive answer – it's a springboard. Use it as a starting point, and trust your own taste.
It's about freedom
The great thing about flavored water as a base ingredient is that it removes the pressure. You don't need a fully equipped home bar. You don't need three different lemonades and five bottles of syrup. You need a cold bottle, some ice, and a desire to experiment.
The best summer cocktail is always the one you make with what you have on hand – and now you know that what you already have in the fridge is actually quite a lot to work with. Flavored water is not a compromise solution. It's a deliberate, smart, and delicious one.
Cheers, and happy summer!
