An apple-ginger sparkling drink

For an apple-ginger sparkling drink, start with two ounces of apple juice, one teaspoon of ginger juice, and four ounces of plain sparkling water. Stir and taste before deciding whether it needs lemon.

Apple juice can provide plenty of sweetness on its own. Adding syrup by habit may hide the ginger and make the glass taste heavier than you wanted. A few drops of lemon can change the balance without turning it into lemonade.

Serve over ice if that is how you like long drinks. Keep the apple slice thin and remove any seeds before using it as a garnish. For a still version, use cold water instead of sparkling water. Write down which version you prefer rather than treating bubbles as an automatic improvement.