Club Soda No. 1

Rumored to be the Negroni's predecessor, the Americano has become a classic in its own right.

Americano Recipe:

1.5 oz Campari

1.5 oz sweet vermouth

Top Note Club Soda No. 1, to top

Optional 3 dashes orange bitters

Garnish: orange slice

Stir ingredients together with ice and garnish.

Enter: the Gin Sonic. Nope, not a typo. It’s what you get when you mix Japanese Roku Gin with equal parts tonic water and club soda. We love the simple elegance and balance of this cocktail and we’re betting you will, too.

Gin Sonic Recipe:

1.5 oz Suntory Roku Gin

2.25 oz Top Note Club Soda No. 1

2.25 oz Top Note Classic Tonic

Garnish: expressed lemon twist

Stir all ingredients together in an ice-filled highball glass and garnish.

Butterfly pea flowers are beautiful flowers native to Southeast Asia, popular for their brilliant blue pigment and most commonly seen brewed as tea. However, their natural blue color can easily be infused into spirits and syrups and has become an exciting addition to the repertoire of both cocktail and zero-proof mixologists and home bartenders across the world.

Infusing the flowers produces a deep blue hue, but adding citrus juice changes the color to purple. Watching your drink change colors before your eyes is half the fun!

Photo by @steph.achter

Sparkling Butterfly Pea Lemonade Recipe:

1.5 oz butterfly pea flower syrup

1.5 oz lemon juice

3 oz Top Note Club Soda No. 1

Garnish: fresh or dehydrated citrus

Stir all ingredients together in a glass with ice and garnish. (To achieve the best gradient effect, stir the syrup, soda and ice together first, then top with the lemon juice.)

Butterfly Pea Flower Syrup: In a small pot, combine 1.5 tbsp butterfly pea flowers, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let the flowers steep another 20 minutes before straining into a clean glass container. Keep refrigerated.

We might be celebrating the holidays a bit differently this year, but one thing we’re grateful for every year is holiday cocktails!

Last year we spotted a cocktail called "Wonderful Times" by Clay Kirkland of Wisecraft Mixology, featuring vodka infused with seasonal spices, tart cranberry juice, and our very own club soda. We've been waiting for the holiday season to come around again so we could make a version for ourselves and we love it so much that we just had to share. Here's to the social media movers, shakers and mixologists making this season a bit brighter!

Wonderful Times Recipe:

2 oz spiced vodka*

.5 oz orange liqueur

1.5 oz unsweetened cranberry juice

.5 oz lime juice

1 oz simple syrup

Top Note Club Soda No. 1, to top

Garnish: cranberries and rosemary

Shake all ingredients except Club Soda with ice, then strain into a glass filled with fresh ice. Top with Club Soda, stir, and garnish.

*Spiced Vodka: add 2 crushed cardamom pods and 2 tsp whole cloves to a jar and top with 8 oz vodka. Let steep for 2 days, then strain out the spices and enjoy.

Transfusion Recipe:

2 oz vodka

.5 oz Ginger Beer reduction*

.5 oz lime juice

2 oz Top Note Club Soda No. 1

Concord grape juice ice cubes**

Garnish: fresh Concord grapes and crystallized ginger

Combine all ingredients except the Club Soda in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass over Concord grape juice ice cubes. Top with club soda, stir, and garnish.

*Ginger Beer Reduction: Pour an 8.5 oz bottle of Top Note Ginger Beer into a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes or until reduced by half. Remove from heat and let cool. Keep refrigerated.

**Concord Grape Juice Ice Cubes: Pour Concord grape juice into an ice cube tray and freeze for at least 8 hours.

Cran-Apple Gin Pitcher Cocktail Recipe:

5 oz barrel-aged gin

4 oz apple cider

2 oz cranberry liqueur

2 oz lemon juice

1 - 8.5 oz bottle Top Note Club Soda No. 1

Garnish: fresh herbs and citrus, optional

Stir all ingredients together in a pitcher. Serve over ice and garnish if desired. Serves 3-4.

This simple and bright riff on the classic Vodka Club is super refreshing in the summer heat.

Citrus & Honey Vodka Club Recipe:

2 oz Great Lakes Distillery Rehorst Citrus & Honey Vodka

4 oz Top Note Club Soda No. 1

Squeeze of citrus, optional

Garnish: expressed lemon peel

Stir ingredients together in a highball glass with ice and garnish.

Spirit-free but full of flavor, try this non-alcoholic recipe the next time you're in the mood for a drink with a kick!

Spirit-Free Mule Recipe:

.5 oz lime juice

.5 oz Royal Rose Ginger Lime Syrup

5 oz Top Note Ginger Beer

1 oz Top Note Club Soda No. 1

Garnish: lime wedge

Stir all ingredients together in an ice-filled rocks glass or Mule mug and garnish.

This festive low-ABV spritz will carry you through a night of merriment without leaving you with a headache the next day.

Cran-Apple Ginger Spritz Recipe:

4 fresh cranberries

1 slice fresh ginger

1 oz cranberry liqueur

3 oz apple cider

3 oz Top Note Club Soda No. 1

1 oz Top Note Ginger Beer

Garnish: fresh cranberries and orange slices

Muddle the cranberries and ginger in a cocktail shaker, then add the liqueur, cider, and ice. Shake and double strain into a chilled flute or wine glass. Top with Ginger Beer and Club Soda, stir gently, and garnish.