Hard Seltzer Drink

A Hard Seltzer is highball drink made with a seltzer (e.g. soda water), alcohol, and fruit flavorings. These flavors can include natural fruit extracts and concentrates, as well as real fruit juice or purée. Served in a highball glass filled with ice cubes, the Hard Seltzer one of most versatile drinks and easiest cocktails to make.

Our Hard Seltzer drink recipe uses vodka and is also known as a Vodka Seltzer. However, a Hard Seltzer can made with other spirit types. For example, you can use gin to create a Gin Seltzer.

It’s important to note that ‘Hard Seltzer’ can also refer to a commercial type of canned alcoholic beverage commonly made from a base of fermented cane sugar, produced similarly to beer. These differ greatly from the Hard Seltzer you’ll find on this page and other Hard Seltzers made with other spirit types.

The taste of your Hard Seltzer drink all depends on the alcohol you use as the base and the choice of fruit flavor.

Our Vodka Hard Seltzer showcases the clean, smoothness of Absolut Vodka, revealing subtle notes of butterscotch, caramel, and vanilla, complemented by a fresh fruity finish. The soda water adds a delightful effervescence that allows the nuances of Absolut Vodka to shine, while the addition of lime introduces a subtle zesty freshness.

• Choose your vodka wisely
  Opt for a premium vodka like Absolut Vodka, which offers a smooth, neutral base that lets any fruit flavors complement it beautifully.

• Roll your limes
  Before slicing your lime wheels, firm up your lime(s) by rolling it under your palm on a hard surface. This technique breaks down the internal juice vesicles and softens the pulp.  As a result, you’ll be able to extract significantly more juice, enhancing the flavor and aroma of your drink.

• Squeeze your lime wheels
  Once you’ve rolled your limes and cut a couple of lime wheel, give them a gentle squeeze over your glass before dropping them in, extracting just enough juice to flavor your drink without overpowering it.

• Pre-chill your glassware
  To keep your drink icy-cold, we recommend pre-chilling your highball glass in the freezer 30 minutes before making the drink.

There are as many variations of a Hard Seltzer as there are books in a library. Here are a couple of our favorite variations for our Hard Seltzer drink recipe.

• Flavored Vodka
  Replace original Absolut Vodka with any Absolut flavored vodka and suddenly you’ve got an entirely new drink!We recommend using fresh fruits to match the flavored vodka.

  For example, if you use Absolut Citron (lemon-flavored vodka), use fresh lemon juice or a couple of lemon wheels. There unlimited ways you can make your own Vodka Seltzer.

• Hard Seltzer Grapefruit Drink
  One of the best examples of how easily swapping original Absolut Vodka for a flavored vodka can create a delicious new drink is a Hard Seltzer Grapefruit drink.

  This Vodka Seltzer uses Absolut Grapefruit, our versatile grapefruit-flavored vodka, as it base, together with soda water and couple of fresh grapefruit wheels. The pink grapefruit adds a delightful tang and subtle sweetness, which is just incredible. Check out the recipe for a Hard Seltzer Grapefruit Drink.

• Gin Seltzer
  Follow the recipe on this page but swap vodka for gin and you’ve got a Gin Seltzer. You can also swap lime for another fruit flavor. For example, you could use fresh raspberries, raspberry fruit juice or raspberry purée to create a raspberry-flavored Gin Seltzer.
• Tequila Seltzer
  Similar to the above, substitute vodka for tequila to create a Tequila Seltzer. Lime works incredibly well with tequila, as does lemon. So, play around, mix things up and make your own Seltzer!
• Vodka Tonic
  If you prefer the mineral quality of tonic water, simply swap soda water in your Hard Seltzer for tonic water and you’ve got a classic Vodka Tonic. Discover our Vodka Tonic recipe.
• Skinny Bitch (aka Vodka Soda)
  A Skinny Bitch cocktail, also known as a Vodka Soda, is essential the same as a Vodka Seltzer. However, our recipe a Vodka Hard Seltzer simply adds fresh lime wheels into the glass, whereas a Vodka Soda uses 15 ml fresh squeezed lime juice. Take a look at our recipe for a Skinny Bitch.

• Being a highball drink, a Hard Seltzer should naturally be served in a highball glass filled with ice cubes.

• We like to keep it simple by submerging a couple of lime wheels in the glass, adding a zesty note to the vodka and soda water while also garnishing the drink.

• If you’re looking to enhance the citrus flavor, add a lemon wheel or two, or even a strip of orange zest.

• For a unique yet complementary twist, garnish with a couple of cucumber slices or a cucumber ribbon.

• Finally, you can gently muddle mint or basil in your highball glass before adding the ice cubes to infuse some delightful herbal notes into your drink.