Vodka POP

By Mackenzie Childs

Pop. Soda. Coke. As someone who was born in the Midwest, lived in the South, and has parents from the Northeast, I use all three of these rivaling and region-specific names interchangeably. However, pop has the potential to mean more than just a fizzy drink; it’s what is cool and trendy.

One (alcoholic) fizzy drink in particular has become increasingly trendy and popular. Made ubiquitous by White Claw, hard seltzer now has endless brands and flavor choices. Thankfully, they are now just as likely to make an appearance at a party as beer. Refreshing, fizzy, and subtly-flavored, hard seltzer is reminiscent of the classic vodka soda. As a classic, vodka soda is rigid, without any room for experimentation: it is one part vodka, two parts soda water, and a splash of lime.

I developed the vodka pop to pay homage to hard seltzer (my party drink of choice), vodka soda (my standard order at a bar), and the pop versus soda debate. Inspired by the various hard seltzer flavor choices, I decided to play with an orange flavor instead of lime, the traditional vodka soda flavor. I did, however, maintain the light and refreshing aspects of a vodka soda. As pop and soda both refer to a fizzy beverage, the vodka pop had to be effervescent.

I accomplished the orange flavor, fizz, and refreshment through a one-to-one ratio of Jarritos Mandarin flavor soda/pop and sparkling water. This combination was delicious, but had one-note sweetness and lacked depth of flavor. I wanted something sophisticated that could become my signature cocktail. Thus, I added a dash of orange bitters, which perfectly tied this beverage together to create a refreshing, yet complex, cocktail.

Ingredients

1 part vodka

1 part club sparkling water

1 part Jarritos Mandarin Flavor Soda

Dash of orange bitters

Orange wedge or peel, for garnish

Instructions

Fill a glass with ice.
Add vodka and top with club soda, Jarritos, and bitters.
Stir to combine.
Cheers and garnish with an orange wedge or peel if you’re feeling fancy!