Hard Carbonated Water (Homemade Hard Seltzer) Recipe
Building the drink over ice with well-chilled vodka and sparkling water, and pouring the water in last down the side of the glass, keeps the carbonation from flattening out the way it does when a shaker or stirred pitcher is used.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 5 min
- Servings
- 4
Ingredients
- 6 fl oz unflavored vodka (80 proof)
- 24 fl oz chilled sparkling water
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 4 cups ice cubes
- 4 wedges lime wedges, for garnish
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 100
- Protein
- 0g
- Carbs
- 1g
- Fat
- 0g
Based on the recipe as written, one serving. Recalculates if you swap an ingredient above. An estimate only, exact values depend on the specific ingredients used.
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Instructions
- 1Chill the vodka, sparkling water, and four glasses in the refrigerator or freezer for at least 30 minutes before mixing.
- 2Fill each glass about two-thirds full with ice cubes.
- 3Pour 1.5 fl oz (45 ml) of chilled vodka into each glass.
- 4Add 1.5 tsp fresh lime juice to each glass.
- 5Slowly top each glass with 6 fl oz (180 ml) of chilled sparkling water, pouring it down the inside wall of the glass rather than straight down the center.
- 6Give the drink one gentle stir with a bar spoon, just enough to combine without knocking out the bubbles, then garnish with a lime wedge and serve right away.
Tips & variations
- Swap the lime juice for fresh grapefruit or lemon juice for a different citrus profile.
- Use a flavored sparkling water (grapefruit, black cherry, lime) instead of plain to skip the fresh juice step entirely and still land close to a bottled hard seltzer flavor.
- For a lower-alcohol version, cut the vodka to 1 fl oz per glass and top with an extra ounce of sparkling water.
- A few muddled berries or a splash of pure fruit puree in the bottom of the glass before adding ice gives a fruitier finish without added sugar.
Storage & reheating
This drink is meant to be mixed and served immediately, since carbonation and chill are what define it; sparkling water and vodka don't keep their fizz once combined. Store unopened sparkling water and vodka at room temperature, but chill both in the fridge or freezer for at least 30 minutes before the next batch.
Tips from the Tulo kitchen
- A tall, narrow glass holds carbonation longer than a wide rocks glass, since there's less surface area for the bubbles to escape from.
- If the sparkling water has gone a little flat, a fresh bottle makes a bigger difference to the final drink than any amount of stirring technique.
FAQ
What is hard carbonated water?
It's a low-calorie alcoholic drink made by combining a neutral spirit, usually vodka, with carbonated (sparkling) water and a splash of citrus, essentially a homemade version of canned hard seltzer.
How much alcohol is in a glass of homemade hard seltzer?
Using 1.5 fl oz of 80-proof vodka per glass puts the drink at roughly 5% ABV once topped with sparkling water, which is comparable to most commercial hard seltzer brands.
How many calories does this have compared to bottled hard seltzer?
At about 105 calories per glass (mostly from the vodka), it's in line with or slightly lower than most 100-calorie canned hard seltzers, since there's no added sugar.
Can I use flavored vodka instead of plain?
Yes. Citrus or berry-flavored vodka works well and lets you skip the fresh lime juice, though it will add a small amount of extra sugar depending on the brand.
Why does my homemade version go flat faster than canned hard seltzer?
Canned seltzer is carbonated and sealed under pressure at the factory, so it holds its fizz longer than sparkling water poured and mixed by hand; drinking it within a few minutes of mixing gives the best fizz.