# What to do with club soda **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [August 27, 2023, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202 "2023-08-27T22:17:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/21 "2023-08-28T14:30:47Z")
I love club soda with some lemon juice and some sour cherry syrup, all over ice. Nice and refreshing. On the beach, I fill the empty bottle with sand and use it as a club. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/22 "2023-08-28T14:40:27Z")
I’ve heard it gets blood out of the rug after you’ve dumped the body. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/23 "2023-08-28T14:48:22Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > People say that about matzoh balls, too, but frankly I’m skeptical. The theory would seem to be that the gas in the soda water makes the end product lighter, but ISTM that in the process of cooking, the CO2 would be driven out, leaving only plain water. Therefore no different than starting with water in the first place. Sure, but carbon dioxide is a leavener. It would have the same effect as baking powder. So it adds extra leavening to the mix and the thick batter keeps it from escaping until it hits the griddle. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/24 "2023-08-28T19:41:29Z")
Go to the Club! Report back ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/25 "2023-08-28T20:04:49Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Yeast generates CO2 while the cooking/baking is in progress. Yeast doesn’t generate significant CO2 during baking — the heat kills then off pretty quick. They generate CO2 during the rise. The dough grows in volume in the oven because the heat causes the gases within it to expand. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/26 "2023-08-28T20:12:25Z")
An old-fashioned ice cream soda. Years ago, on a visit to the original Greg’s Ice Cream location in Toronto (one of the best ice cream parlors in town, unfortunately went defunct during the COVID-19 pandemic), having seen this on the menu, I asked Greg to make me one. He took a glass and as I recall, put two scoops of one of my favorite flavor, I think it was chocolate frost, and added a can of club soda to it. It lived up to my expectations. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/27 "2023-08-29T02:43:27Z")
I typically just drink it over ice, or use it in mixed drinks like the Tom Collins or a whole host of others. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/28 "2023-08-29T02:52:05Z")
> [@themapleleaf](#): > > An old-fashioned ice cream soda. > > Years ago, on a visit to the original Greg’s Ice Cream location in Toronto (one of the best ice cream parlors in town, unfortunately went defunct during the COVID-19 pandemic), having seen this on the menu, I asked Greg to make me one. He took a glass and as I recall, put two scoops of one of my favorite flavor, I think it was chocolate frost, and added a can of club soda to it. It lived up to my expectations. Yes! And a very happy memory. I don’t know how old I was, but I was a child at a friend’s birthday party, and after bowling (seems like everybody’s birthday party involved bowling in those days), we went to Fran’s\* for ice cream sodas. First time I ever had one, but it would not be the last. Yes, use your club soda for ice cream sodas. If you’re like me, they will bring back many happy memories. (\*) Fran’s: a Toronto diner chain that tried, not always successfully, to be a little more than just a diner. But the food was good, and there was plenty of it, and nobody could have a complaint about the service—always prompt and friendly. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/29 "2023-08-29T02:56:11Z")
You’re absolutely right; that was a brain fart on my part. But it supports my suspicion that using soda water in a recipe doesn’t have a significant effect on the end product. Regarding ice cream sodas, another important component with the soda water is syrup: usually chocolate or vanilla. A chocolate soda with vanilla ice cream was called a “black and white.” I preferred the opposite: vanilla syrup with chocolate ice cream, but I don’t think that one was called a “white and black.” Without syrup, ISTM that ice cream in soda water would just be a float, as ice cream in root beer is a root beer float. I’ve never heard of a “soda water float,” but all the ice cream sodas I’ve ever known needed syrup. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/30 "2023-08-29T04:03:54Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > I’m really curious about the relationship between being at the beach, and having club soda. Is there some correlation between the two that a midwesterner might not understand? Same question, but from a northwesterner. Not sure what club soda has to do with going to the beach. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/31 "2023-08-29T04:40:51Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Without syrup, ISTM that ice cream in soda water would just be a float, as ice cream in root beer is a root beer float. Not where I grew up. That’s a Black Cow. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/32 "2023-08-29T12:25:54Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Not sure what club soda has to do with going to the beach. Indeed. The beaches I frequent (French Caribbean) people often have chilled white wine and a long loaf of French bread. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/33 "2023-08-29T12:55:22Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I use club soda to make my own soda with drink mix packs. I make make flavors not otherwise available in regular soda like raspberry, blackberry, melon, mango, etc… > > Or use some fresh (or bottled) lemon juice and your choice of sweetner for a sparkling lemonade Not a bad idea, but for the record, the Mexican company Jarritos makes soda in unusual flavors like guava, mango, watermelon, mandarin orange, pineapple, and tamarind. Usually have to go to a Hispanic market, at least around here, but I have occasionally seen Jarritos sodas in Kroger. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/34 "2023-08-29T14:08:19Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > That’s a Black Cow. Drink it and get outta here. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/35 "2023-08-29T14:55:31Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Drink it and get outta here. 😉 So outrageous! ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/36 "2023-08-29T15:38:52Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Chocolate egg creams. Oooh. > [@PastTense](#): > > Properly stored, unopened club soda will generally stay at best quality for about **9 months after the date on the package** Well, it’s good to know that if I can’t think of something now, I can still use them in the near future. > [@Balthisar](#): > > I’m really curious about the relationship between being at the beach, and having club soda > [@wguy123](#): > > Same question, but from a northwesterner. We got things for the rental at the beach, okay, and didn’t use all of them. I also ended up with three (now two and a half) limes but I have plans for those so I didn’t mention them. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Goes well with Gin over ice > [@Tarataratara](#): > > Club soda, lots of lemon, lots of ice, and salt is very refreshing. Characters in the hard-boiled detective novel I’m reading are always drinking gin, selzer, lemon juice, and ice, so I might try that. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/37 "2023-08-29T15:53:14Z")
A standard popular drink from the 1920s that I enjoy today is a Gimlet. 4 parts gin, 1 part Roses sweetened lime juice, 1 part ordinary lime juice (fresh or bottled). So 2/3rds booze, 1/3rd non-booze. It’s a rather stiff drink. Cutting that about 50/50 with club soda in a tall glass makes a much more relaxing afternoon cocktail rather than a post-dinner stupor-inducer. If you’re not a gin fan, the flavor profile w vodka is similar. Tart, but not too tart, and not sickly sweet like so many afternoon cocktails. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202/38 "2023-08-29T16:37:31Z")
Aren’t you an airline pilot? Pilots drink scotch in-flight – it’s in the manual! 😆 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-club-soda/989202.md?page=1)