Soft Drink Making

Since getting a soda stream a few years ago, and going through a few bottles of the proprietary syrups, I want to try and create my own. This was mainly as a learning experience, but also had some cost benefits(though not much as sugar's so expensive) After a short amount of research online, I came across a YouTube channel called Ardon who had made an engaging video on the subject. His method seem reasonably easy, so I decided to give it a go.

Ardon's Recipe

400g sugar
zest of 3 oranges
juice of 3 oranges
juice of 2 tangerines
top up with water or adjust by drinking until you have 300ml juice total

7,5g citric acid

simmer

1:10 syrup to water

While This tasted really good, it wasn't what I was looking for - almost too real. Also, there was a lot of work and preperation required to make a small batch, which I got through very quickly. So I sought a better option.

Art of Drink's Recipe - this is good

30ml Sweet Orange Oil 9/3 = 3

Citric acid - https://www.aksoy.uk/products/aksoy-citric-acid?srsltid=AfmBOorM6QhahXr5xIJhb1XcGqiK8IizaNWhLnjN_z-nO90sZDBxkpDi&variant=40838013648979 I got 1 kg of this for £5.49

220 ml 95 abv alcohol I used Neutral grain spirit from Master of Malt found here - https://www.masterofmalt.com/spirit/grain-neutral-spirit/grain-neutral-spirit I got 700ml for £43 including shipping

then stir for 15 min

Add 20 ml Glycerine 8/50 = 0.16 or way more if buy less

Then stir for 15 min

Add 200ml water

Stir 2 hours

Sit 24 hours

Add 20ml alcohol

Put one ounce of this in 2L of 4:3 simple syrup (this syrup is 0.697% alcohol)

One ounce of syrup in 7 ounce of carbonated water with some acid (for around 0.087% alcohol)

to make the acid mix 10 g of citric in 100ml of water

Price Over View

Spend 21.08 + 8 + 9 = 38 Use 5.27 + 0.16 + 3 = 8.43