LaCroix sparkling started in 1981 as an “anti-Perrier” brand, marketed to the masses counter to Perrier’s snobbiness.  It has been a staple in the Midwest, but its popularity has recently boomed to the coasts, especially as sugary soda sales hit new lows.  LoCroix boasts its no calorie, no sweetener, and salt free qualities on its label, but it is also gluten free, vegan, non-gmo and most importantly: kosher.  All of these elements combined makes for a versatile and almost universally enjoyed beverage, but how do you utilize LaCroix in cocktails?

LaCroix Cans

LaCroix’s lack of sugar is a blessing and a curse.  Cocktails like the Collins or Americano already utilize soda water, and LaCroix can easily substitute in for a refreshing new take:

Americano:

1.5 oz Sweet Vermouth

1.5 oz Campari

Pour both ingredients over ice in a collins glass, top with sparkling water, garnish with orange peel.  Recommended LaCroix Flavors: Passionfruit, Tangerine, and Coconut.

Collins:

.75 oz simple syrup

.75 oz lemon juice

1.5 oz gin or vodka

Shake all ingredients until chilled, pour in collins glass over ice, top with soda water.  Recommended LaCroix Flavors: Mango, Coconut, and Grapefruit/Pamplemousse.

Sugar

The curse with the lack of sweetener in LaCroix means adding sugar to your cocktail, defeating the purpose of using the low calorie LaCroix.  Typically simple syrup, a solution of 1 part sugar and 1 part water, is used in equal parts with citrus, as seen in the collins, but has 70 calories per ounce.  So the trick is limiting your citrus, and utilizing a mildly sweet cordial, like triple sec, to carry your sugar.  High quality cordials like Tattersall Orange Crema have higher alcohol and more authentic flavor than bottom shelf brands like Stirrings and Dekuyper.  These cordials can be used as a main ingredient over hard alcohol, eliminating the need to make simple syrup, and keeping your cocktail relatively low calorie.

For example, take a look at a classic Margarita:

2 oz tequila

.75 oz triple sec

.75 oz lime

.25 oz simple syrup

Shake all ingredients, pour in a glass, enjoy.

Classic Margarita

Our LaCroix Paloma-rita has the same ingredients but in different quantities.

1 oz Tattersall Lime Crema

1 oz Tattersall Grapefuit Crema

1 oz Tequila

.25 oz lime juice (to taste)

Pour all ingredents over ice in a glass, top with Grapefruit Lacroix.

The sweeter Tattersall cordials lifts the LaCroix flavor adding to the cocktail.  Topping a classic margarita with LaCroix is watery and bland, and would need more sugar to balance the dilution and citrus.

Try LaCroix cocktails at home, or try it this Thursday with Aaron at the Tasting Bar from 5-8pm.  Learn about the history of the Paloma, Daiquiri, and Pina Colada while sipping on our LaCroix versions of them.