The 1-Ingredient Seltzer Upgrade I Learned from a Drink Expert (Now, I Do It All the Time)

I began my food writing career at Food & Wine magazine, where I was quickly immersed in the vibrant and expansive world of food and drink. Each day brought something new, surprising, and inspiring. One of the first stories that really stuck with me came from my former colleague (and beverage expert) Lucy Simon. 

She wrote an article about shrubs: concentrated, nonalcoholic syrups traditionally made by macerating fruit and sugar in vinegar. With a bit of sparkling water and/or spirits, shrubs are transformed into a bright, tangy, and refreshingly complex drink. They have been a staple in my warm-weather beverage rotation ever since.

While her piece focused on the cocktail potential of shrubs, which I certainly enjoy, I usually opt for a nonalcoholic version, topped with a splash of sparkling water. My favorite, which I also discovered through that story, is Kosterina’s Crushed Strawberry Vinegar. Bright, tart, and just sweet enough, it’s the base for my definitive drink, especially during the summer.

Kosterina may be known for its high-quality extra-virgin olive oils (I’m a fan of those as well), but my favorite products are the lesser-known fruit vinegars. Available in Tangerine, Blueberry, and Strawberry, these vinegars are made with just fruit, white wine vinegar (imported from Greece), and white cooked grape musk (sugary, reduced grape syrup). All three are delicious, but the one that’s not-to-be-missed, especially during the summer, is strawberry. It’s bright, sweet — but not too sweet — and absolutely delicious. 

While the thought of fruit vinegar might throw you off, it actually makes a lot of sense. Fruit and vinegar pair so well together because they balance each other out — both chemically and flavor-wise. The acidity of the vinegar both matches and tames the sweetness of the fruit and syrup. Vinegar can also amplify our taste buds, making the flavor of nearly any fruit much more complex. Trust me, it’s wonderful.

My favorite way is to drink it. But before we get to that, there’s a wealth of other uses for this strawberry nectar. It makes a fabulous vinaigrette, an unexpected, yet life-changing topping for a yogurt bowl, and a great marinade for chicken. A little goes a long way in all of these applications (as distilled white vinegar does). 

Now for those unbelievably refreshing drinks I mentioned earlier … I start by filling a glass with ice (you can opt for nugget ice). Then, I spoon about a tablespoon of the vinegar in my cup and top it off with sparkling water. It’s sweet, funky, and takes mere seconds to come together. It’s truly the best thing you can make for yourself. 

Buy: Kosterina Crushed Strawberry Vinegar, $15 for 8 ounces at Kosterina