Pop Rocks: Eight of Toronto’s best house-made sodas
Pop Rocks: Eight of Toronto’s best house-made sodas
By Eric Vellend | May 22, 2012
By Eric Vellend | 05/22/2012
Bartenders are making sober sipping fun with artisanal sodas that are as complex and tasty as any cocktail. Here, the best boozeless bubblies
By Eric Vellend | Photographs by Christopher Stevenson
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138392 The most cloying of all soft drinks gets an elegant upgrade: water, <strong>dried beet powder</strong> (for the fuchsia hue) and organic cane sugar infused with vanilla bean are piped through an old-school soda siphon for fizz. $3.<br />
<em>Woodlot, 293 Palmerston Ave., 647-342-6307. </em> Cream soda Cream soda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda1.jpg 560 590 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pop-rocks/slide/may12soda1/ may12soda1 0 0
138393 The <strong>peels</strong> from grapefruits, oranges, lemons, limes and minneolas (a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine) are steeped in syrup that’s added to soda, along with a bit of rosemary. The resulting drink is like haute Fresca with a subtle hint of pine. $4. <br />
<em>Ortolan, 1211 Bloor St. W., 647-348-4500. </em> Citrus-rosemary Citrus-rosemary https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda2.jpg 560 590 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pop-rocks/slide/may12soda2/ may12soda2 0 0
138394 A naturally carbonated drink made from yeast, sugar, two kinds of <strong>ginger</strong> and a pinch of cayenne. It’s great on its own, or mixed with rum, lemon juice and Denison’s Wheat Beer for a spicy cocktail. $3. <br />
<em>Hoof Cocktail Bar, 923 Dundas St. W., 416-792-7511. </em> Ginger beer Ginger beer https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda3.jpg 560 590 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pop-rocks/slide/may12soda3/ may12soda3 0 0
138395 In the Caribbean, sorrel soda is a Christmas tradition. Café Belong’s version replaces the tropical herb with <strong>hibiscus flowers</strong> for a tart soda that tastes like a cran-raspberry cocktail without the saccharine sweetness. $3.<br />
<em>Café Belong, 550 Bayview Ave., 416-901-8234. </em> Hibiscus Hibiscus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda4.jpg 560 590 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pop-rocks/slide/may12soda4/ may12soda4 0 0
138396 Root beer extract and <strong>Mexican vanilla</strong> are brewed in a kettle and piped through the bar taps, resulting in a spicy, almost creamy sip. $3.50. <br />
<em>Mill Street Brew Pub, 55 Mill St., Bldg. 63, 416-681-0338. </em> Draft root beer Draft root beer https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda5.jpg 560 590 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pop-rocks/slide/may12soda5/ may12soda5 0 0
138397 Roasted cola nuts, cassia, bergamot and <strong>lavender</strong> are steeped, chilled and carbonated for a mix that’s more floral than classic Coke. Caramelized cane sugar syrup gives it a deep, brooding sweetness. $3. <br />
<em>Gilead Café, 4 Gilead Pl., 647-288-0680. </em> Cola Cola https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda6.jpg 560 590 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pop-rocks/slide/may12soda6/ may12soda6 0 0
138398 Ripe <strong>mango</strong> purée creates a smoothie-like texture, while a squirt of lime juice and a little bit of zest cut through the sweetness and make the tropical fruit flavours pop. $3. <br />
<em>Cheesewerks, 56 Bathurst St., 416-243-3327. </em> Mango-lime Mango-lime https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda7.jpg 560 590 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pop-rocks/slide/may12soda7/ may12soda7 0 0
138399 The True Blood–hued drink—made with <strong>blood orange</strong> juice, zest and leaves—has a tart punch, while milder notes of star anise, cinnamon and fennel whisper in the background. $3. <br />
<em>Hey Meatball, 719 College St., 416-546-1483. </em> Blood orange crush Blood orange crush https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12Soda8.jpg 560 590 [] https://torontolife.com/food/pop-rocks/slide/may12soda8/ may12soda8 0 0