Add Some Sparkle · Cocktails · Festive Drinks · jun. 11, 2026

Father's Day Cocktails: 3 Recipes to Make at Home

There's a version of Father's Day where you hand over a card and a bottle of something. And then there's a version where you actually make him something. The second one is always well received and if you've got The Bubbla at home, you've already got the key ingredient for all three of these concoctions.

Each recipe below uses CO2 YOU sparkling water as the base - freshly carbonated. That matters more than it sounds. A Highball made with flat or tired sparkling water is a flat, tired drink. Made properly, it's one of the best things you can put in someone's hand on a Sunday afternoon in June.

Any of these recipes can be made alcohol-free, and we've included suggestions of replacement mixes to make it even easier.

Before you forget, Father's Day is 21 June!

Recipe 1: The Whisky Highball

The most elegant drink on this list, and the one that requires the least work. A Highball is two ingredients - whisky and sparkling water, and the quality of each is directly tasted. Get both right and it's genuinely one of the best drinks there is.

You'll need

50ml whisky - blended Scotch (Johnnie Walker Black), Japanese whisky (Suntory Toki), or bourbon if that's their preference
150-180ml CO2 YOU sparkling water, freshly carbonated
A large, ice-filled Highball glass
Strip of lemon peel to finish

Method

Fill a tall glass to the top with ice.
Pour the whisky over the ice and let it chill for ten seconds.
Carbonate your water using The Bubbla - three to four lever pulls for sharp carbonation.
Pour the sparkling water slowly down the inside edge of the glass to preserve the bubbles.
One gentle stir to combine.
Bend the lemon peel skin-side down over the glass to express the oils, run it around the rim, and drop it in.

Make it yours: For a zero-alcohol version, use Lyre's American Malt in the same proportions. For a ginger note, drop two or three thin slices of fresh ginger in with the ice before pouring.

Recipe 2: Elderflower Gin Fizz

Gin is the quintessential British summer drink. Elderflower - wild in UK hedgerows right now, is the natural partner for it. This is a lighter, more floral option than the Highball: the kind of drink that works before Sunday lunch as well as during it.

You'll need

50ml gin - London Dry or something floral (Hendrick's, Tanqueray No. Ten)
20ml elderflower cordial - shop-bought, or homemade f you have it
Juice of half a lemon (freshly squeezed)
100ml CO2 YOU sparkling water, freshly carbonated
Ice, cucumber slice and a sprig of mint to garnish

Method

Fill a glass with ice.
Add the gin, elderflower cordial, and lemon juice directly over the ice.
Give it a brief stir to combine - three or four rotations.
Carbonate your water using The Bubbla - three lever pulls, and pour slowly down the side of the glass.
Garnish with cucumber and mint. Serve immediately.

Make it yours: Swap the gin for a non-alcoholic alternative (Seedlip Garden 108 works particularly well here). Add a dash of angostura bitters for a more complex finish. Swap lemon for lime for a sharper edge.

Recipe 3: Rum & Ginger Sparkle

The rum-and-ginger combination is one of the best things that exists, and this version uses fresh ginger rather than ginger beer, which means you control the heat and the CO2 YOU sparkling water does the work of lifting it. It's a bit longer, a bit spicier, and good for the dads who find Highballs a touch understated.

You'll need

50ml dark rum - Appleton Estate, Kraken, or a good supermarket dark rum
4–5 thin slices of fresh ginger
Squeeze of half a lime
150ml CO2 YOU sparkling water, freshly carbonated
Ice, lime wedge to garnish

Method

Add the ginger slices to a glass with a generous handful of ice. Press the ginger briefly against the side of the glass with a spoon to bruise it slightly - this releases the flavour without muddling it into the drink.
Pour the rum over the ice and ginger. Squeeze in the lime.
Carbonate your water using The Bubbla - three lever pulls, and pour slowly over the back of a spoon into the glass.
Stir once, gently. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Make it yours: Add a splash of pineapple juice for a tropical version. Use a spiced rum (Sailor Jerry, Captain Morgan Spiced) for extra warmth. Swap rum for a non-alcoholic spirit - Lyre's Dark Cane Spirit mirrors the rum flavour profile well.

All three of these are better for being made at home rather than ordered in a bar - because you control the carbonation, the temperature, and the ratio. The Bubbla is the machine that makes that possible.

For more ideas on what to do with your CO2 YOU sparkling water, our round-up of favourite sparkling water cocktails has a full collection to work through.

Frequently asked questions

Which spirits work best with CO2 YOU sparkling water in a cocktail?

Whisky (blended Scotch or Japanese), gin, rum, and vodka all work well. The key is using the sharp carbonation setting - three lever pulls on The Bubbla, which gives enough fizz to hold up to the spirit and carry the flavour rather than being overwhelmed by it.

Can you make non-alcoholic versions of these cocktails?

Yes. All three work well with non-alcoholic spirit alternatives. Lyre's American Malt for the Highball, Seedlip Garden 108 for the Elderflower Gin Fizz, and Lyre's Dark Cane Spirit for the Rum & Ginger Sparkle. Use the same method and proportions.

How carbonated should I make these cocktails?

When mixing with alcohol, the more bubbles the better. Three to four pulls on The Bubbla should get it to the right amount of carbonation but you can adjust this as you like. Cocktails benefit from stronger carbonation because the bubbles need to hold up in the glass as the drink sits, and the spirit and mixers can mute lighter carbonation levels.

Can you carbonate other liquids in The Bubbla?

The Bubbla is designed for cold tap water. Adding sparkling water to spirits is the method used in all three recipes above - the water is carbonated separately, then combined with the spirit in the glass. This gives you a better result than trying to carbonate a mixed drink directly.