Be your own mixologist with SodaStream this Christmas

I may have mentioned my addiction to a well-known fizzy drink. I’m hoping that will all change as we’ve recently been trying out SodaStream Source. Using water direct from the tap, Source creates an array of fizzy drinks, from classic colas and ginger beers through to custom flavours.

SodaStream has always been simple to use and the new Sodastream Source is no different. Source is a slick and elegant addition to your kitchen, bringing you within a button-press of cheaper and healthier soda. I don’t give my children any kind of soda yet but that hasn’t stopped my son helping us make drinks. He loves nothing more than “making bubbles” as he calls it and I’m already partial to their ginger beer and ginger ale flavours.

It’s quickly become a family ritual – whether you want to make fizzy water, or one of SodaStream’s own flavours, from their range of over 100 flavour syrups. Powered by a refillable CO2 canister, Source’s responsive touch system allows you to create three levels of fizziness, clearly visible on an LED display, while a new Snap-Lock mechanism makes the system quick, simple and easy to use.

As well as making delicious drinks, one of the things I am most excited about is making shop-bought bottles a thing of the past. Apparently using a SodaStream can help the average home save on 550 wasted bottles per year (and money off the weekly household bill too). SodaStream’s flavoured syrups offer a healthier alternative to bottled sodas, rejecting the high sugar levels and artificial sweeteners crammed into many off-the-shelf fizzy drinks. With the new Stevia range, consumers also have an all-natural and entirely sugar-free option.

I suppose I should have written this last night as SodaStream have come up with some brilliant cocktails to enjoy on a Saturday night at home. In fact, with a SodaStream and some key ingredients you have all the elements for the perfect night in. I was sent a list of cocktails and mocktails created by award winning mixologist Michael Stringer of BlackLeaf Events.

How about mixing Sodastream Cranberry & Raspberry soda with white wine, Grand Marnier and fresh raspberries to mix a Holly Days? Or if the children want to join in you could always make some Mocktails! Try Sodastream Lemonade soda with Passion fruit juice, cranberry juice and Sodastream sparkling water for a fun Cranberry Fever.

We’re all sorted for Christmas now. The SodaStream looks great in my kitchen and I can’t wait to see what else my little machine is capable of. I can’t find a link to the full recipes for the SodaStream cocktails and mocktails but you can find lots more inf0rmation on the SodaStream website or follow them on Twitter @SodaStreamUK.

Disclosure: we were given our Sodastream Source and bottles of syrup free of charge for the purposes of this review.