The Best Ways to Booze Up Your LaCroix

How did a sparkling water from the Midwest suddenly burst onto the scene as the drink of the summer? We’ll leave that to the experts. Our own expertise lies in cocktails, so we’ve spent Labor Day Weekend figuring out how to booze up LaCroix for you. (You’re welcome.)

The fruit flavors are recognizable, but subtle, so you don’t want to dump tons of liquor into your soda or the flavor will disappear entirely. But use a light touch, add an awesome garnish, and you’ve got a perfect 30-second cocktail.

Cherry Lime & Vodka

If you’re adding vodka to soda water, you’re basically getting… a vodka-soda. But the sweet cherry flavor of Cherry Lime (aka Cerise Limón) carries through even once you add the booze; adding a little cherry and lime to garnish just heightens those flavors further.

Instructions: In a tall glass with ice, combine 1 1/2 ounces of vodka and 4 ounces of LaCroix Cherry Lime. Give a quick stir and garnish with a cherry and a few lime wheels.

Passionfruit & Rum

Sweet, tropical passionfruit just screams for dark rum — and dark rum’s best friend, Angostura bitters. A simple lime wedge adds a little vibrant acidity and keeps things from getting too sweet. Rum + Ango + lime + soda is already one of our favorite simple highballs; that hit of passionfruit flavor makes it better still.

Instructions: In a tall glass with ice, combine 1 ounce of dark rum and 4 ounces of LaCroix Passionfruit. Dash in some Angostura bitters. Give a quick stir and garnish with a lime wedge.

Gin & Tonic & LaCroix

When soda is too boring and tonic is too sweet, we often cut the latter with the former; stirring your gin up with both soda and tonic keeps the drink lighter and drier. Even better? Swap in LaCroix Lime for the soda.

Instructions: In a tall glass with ice, combine 1 ounce of gin (use a classic London Dry like Beefeater), 1 ounce of tonic, and 3 ounces of LaCroix Lime. Give a quick stir and garnish with a lime wedge, squeezing it into the drink.

Tangerine Aperol Spritz

While everyone knows a Spritz has Aperol and bubbles, there’s a third, less talked-about ingredient: soda, which lightens the drink up a bit. Here, we’re upping the soda and using LaCroix Tangerine, whose fruit flavor comes through clearly in this totally brunch-friendly cocktail.

Instructions: In a tall glass or wine glass with ice, combine 1 ounce of Aperol, 1 ounce of sparkling wine, and 3 ounces of LaCroix Tangerine. Give a quick stir and garnish with an orange half-moon.