Kansas City Ice Water is a refreshing and invigorating cocktail that combines the crispness of vodka and gin with a zesty splash of lime juice. Topped with club soda, this drink is perfect for a hot summer day or a lively evening gathering. Its simplicity and effervescence make it a crowd-pleaser that’s easy to prepare.
While most of the ingredients for Kansas City Ice Water are common, you might need to ensure you have gin and club soda on hand. Gin is a distilled alcoholic drink that can vary in flavor depending on the botanicals used. Club soda is a carbonated water that adds a fizzy element to the drink. Both can be found in the liquor and beverage sections of most supermarkets.
Ingredients for Kansas City Ice Water
Vodka: A clear distilled alcoholic beverage made from grains or potatoes, providing a neutral base for the cocktail.
Gin: A distilled alcoholic drink flavored with juniper berries and other botanicals, adding complexity and depth to the cocktail.
Lime juice: Freshly squeezed or bottled, it adds a tangy and refreshing citrus flavor to the drink.
Club soda: Carbonated water that adds a fizzy and refreshing element to the cocktail, balancing the strong flavors of the spirits.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When shaking the vodka and gin with ice, make sure to shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds. This not only chills the liquor but also helps to slightly dilute it, balancing the strong flavors. When topping with club soda, pour gently to maintain the carbonation, giving your Kansas City Ice Water a refreshing fizz.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
vodka - Substitute with white rum: White rum has a similar clear and neutral profile, making it a suitable replacement in mixed drinks.
gin - Substitute with tequila: Tequila offers a distinct flavor that can add a unique twist to the drink while maintaining the alcoholic content.
lime juice - Substitute with lemon juice: Lemon juice provides a similar tartness and acidity, making it a good alternative for lime juice.
club soda - Substitute with sparkling water: Sparkling water has the same effervescence and neutral flavor, making it an ideal substitute for club soda.
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How To Store / Freeze This Recipe
For short-term storage, keep the vodka and gin in a cool, dark place, preferably in a liquor cabinet or pantry. Ensure the bottles are tightly sealed to maintain their quality.
If you have leftover lime juice, transfer it to an airtight container or a small glass jar. Store it in the refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for up to a week. For longer storage, consider freezing the lime juice in ice cube trays and then transferring the cubes to a freezer bag.
Club soda should be stored in a cool, dry place. Once opened, keep it refrigerated and tightly sealed to maintain its carbonation. Use it within a few days for the best fizz.
If you want to prepare the Kansas City Ice Water in advance, mix the vodka, gin, and lime juice in a pitcher and store it in the refrigerator. This mixture can be kept for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, pour it over ice and top with freshly opened club soda.
Avoid freezing the entire Kansas City Ice Water cocktail, as the club soda will lose its carbonation and the drink will not taste as intended. Instead, freeze the lime juice separately if needed and mix fresh club soda when serving.
How To Reheat Leftovers
- First, ensure you have a clean, chilled highball glass ready. This will help maintain the refreshing coolness of your Kansas City Ice Water.
- Pour the leftover Kansas City Ice Water into a cocktail shaker filled with fresh ice. This will help re-chill the drink and blend the flavors once more.
- Shake the mixture vigorously for about 10-15 seconds. This step is crucial to ensure the vodka, gin, and lime juice are well-mixed and properly chilled.
- Strain the mixture back into the chilled highball glass filled with fresh ice. This will keep your drink cold without diluting it too much.
- Top with a splash of fresh club soda to add a bit of fizz and refresh the drink's effervescence.
- Garnish with a fresh slice of lime or a twist of lemon peel for an extra burst of citrus aroma and flavor.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Cocktail shaker: A container used to mix ingredients together with ice to chill and dilute the drink.
Ice: Used to chill the cocktail shaker and the highball glass, ensuring the drink is served cold.
Jigger: A measuring tool used to accurately measure the vodka and gin.
Strainer: A tool used to strain the mixed drink from the cocktail shaker into the highball glass, keeping the ice out.
Highball glass: A tall glass used to serve the finished cocktail.
Bar spoon: A long-handled spoon used to stir the drink if needed after topping with club soda.
Lime squeezer: A tool used to extract juice from the lime for the splash of lime juice.
Club soda: A carbonated water used to top off the drink, adding a refreshing fizz.
How to Save Time on Making This Recipe
Pre-measure ingredients: Measure out vodka, gin, and lime juice in advance to streamline the process.
Use a jigger: A jigger ensures precise measurements, saving time and reducing the need for corrections.
Keep ice ready: Have ice prepared and easily accessible to avoid delays.
Batch cocktails: If making multiple drinks, scale up the recipe and mix in a larger container, then pour into individual glasses.
Use a highball glass: This type of glass is perfect for the Kansas City Ice Water and eliminates the need to transfer between containers.

Kansas City Ice Water
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 oz Vodka
- 2 oz Gin
- 1 splash Lime juice
- to top Club soda
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka, gin, and a splash of lime juice. Shake well. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with club soda.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
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