Good Sodas™ meets botanical mixology
It’s a testament to everything we believe in at good sodas™: natural ingredients, intentional enjoyment, and good vibes.
Herb bundles
good cola™ & fresh mint
Fresh, aromatic mint complements the herbal, botanical profile of good cola™. It's a fresh, alcohol-free alternative to the classic Cuba Libre and perfect for a barbecue with friends.
Start with ice, and lots of it. Slide a couple of lime slices between the ice and the side of the glass. Fill to the brim with good cola™. Gently slap the mint to wake up the flavours and let it sit on top of the drink and infuse. The last step, if you're feeling extra fancy, is a reusable straw. Want a stronger mint flavour? Use the straw to muddle it into your drink.
good orange™ and thyme
Herbaceous thyme is a perfect partner to the bright, full-bodied flavour of good orange™. The earthiness of the thyme balances the sweetness and acidity of the orange. The result? A more complex, interesting sip.
Fill your glass with ice and add a slice of fresh orange for extra flair. Fill with good orange™, give your thyme a gentle slap to release the thymol, and slide it into your glass. Top it off with a reusable straw. You can double it up as a muddler if you want more of that earthy flavour to come through.
good lemon™ and basil
Basil has a fresh, green flavour that brings out the brightness of good lemon™. This one is made for sipping in the hot, heavy summer sun.
Depending on how strong you want the basil to come through, give it a slap before adding it to your iced Good Lemon™, or muddle it to release even more of the essential oils. Finish with a couple of lemon slices for extra brightness and you've got sunshine in a glass.
good tonic™ and rosemary
Tonic and rosemary is a classic for a reason. It just works. Rosemary has a deep pine profile that complements the slight bitterness of the tonic, with a strong scent that brings so much life to the drink.
Fill your glass with ice and top it up with a cold can of good tonic™. Add some slices of lemon for freshness before adding a stalk of rosemary. Rosemary is one of the tougher herbs, so you can go a little heavier when slapping it to release the flavours. The tougher stalk also makes it a great stirrer.
Rims
good cola™ and lime salt
To make a quick lime salt, use a fine grater to zest the lime. You only want the green zest and not the white pith, as that has a bitter taste. Use a pestle and mortar to grind the zest into the salt and release all of the aromatic oils. You can adjust the ratio of salt to lime zest to suit your taste. We like ours extra zesty for a hit of fresh lime in each sip.
Slide a slice of lime around the rim of your glass before rolling it in the lime salt (a flat dish works best for this). Add your ice, fill the glass with good cola™ and top it all off with a slice of lime. The result is zingy, salty and full of flavour.
good orange™ and tajín
Tajín is a Mexican spice blend made up of chilli, lime and salt. It adds a little fire to the sweetness of Good Orange™, while the lime in the Tajín complements the acidity of the orange.
You can either buy a Tajín spice mix or make your own using dried lime powder, chilli powder and salt. We already had some pre-made Tajín on hand, and after trying it, we're pretty sure it'll be a staple in your cupboard too.
Get your Tajín ready on a flat plate. Wet the rim of your glass with a slice of lime and roll the rim in the Tajín. Don't be afraid of the spice! You can go a little heavy on this one. Add your ice and good orange™, and throw in the slice of lime you used to wet the rim for good measure.
It's spicy, surprising, and one is rarely enough.
good lemon™ and lavender sugar
For this one, we're turning to a sugar-based rim. The sharpness of good lemon™ carries the sweet, floral lavender sugar so well.
To make lavender sugar, use either a pestle and mortar or blender to combine sugar with dried lavender (food-grade only). Again, adjust the ratio to suit your taste. We went with about 5 tablespoons of sugar to one tablespoon of lavender for a fairly strong flavour.
good tonic™ and hibiscus salt
Hibiscus has a much brighter, tangier floral taste than lavender. It's bold in colour and in taste. We chose to mix it with salt as this tempers the bitterness of the tonic, but if you prefer something sweeter, sugar works just as well.
To make the hibiscus salt, grind or blend dried hibiscus flowers with salt. A 2:1 ratio of hibiscus to salt is a good starting point, then adjust to suit your taste. This one takes a little more work to achieve a fine consistency, but keep at it. It's worth it.
Use a slice of lemon to wet the rim of the glass and roll it in the vibrant hibiscus salt. Fill with ice and good tonic™ and finish with a few slices of fresh lemon.
If you want something harder, this is the perfect base for a gin and tonic.
How to Serve Good Sodas™ Like You Actually Know What You're Doing
We’re pretty chill about serving styles. We’re not about to lay down the law on ice shapes. If anything, this is another opportunity to get creative.
That being said, we do have a few practical tips to keep your sodas fizzy and flavourful for longer.What is the best ice for craft soda?
When it comes to ice, bigger is better. The bigger the cube, the slower it melts, meaning your drinks won’t get watered down. You also want to use a generous amount of ice, to keep the drink cold and stop the ice melting so quickly.Which glasses should I use:
For glasses, go with whatever you have. Mix and match’em or keep it uniform. Whatever fits the vibe.
That being said, the glass shape can impact your fizz. Check out the next point to find out why.
How do I keep my soda fizzy longer?
If you want to maximise the fizz, go for glasses with a narrower opening, as they keep the bubbles where they should be. Want to go all out, chill your glasses before serving.
Garnishes for gatherings:
One last suggestion from us. If you’re hosting and want an easier, more laid back approach, set up a DIY garnish bar. Prepare your herbs ahead of time, set up bowls with flavoured salts and sugars for rimming, and don’t forget a selection of citrus wedges.
Remember, these are just suggestions. Try them all, mix it up, and make it yours. Little details, big difference. That's the good™ way.