Only four teams remain in the National Football League Playoffs, which airs this Sunday, January 24, 2016. AFC heavyweights the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos face off at 3:05 p.m., while the Arizona Cardinals take on the top-seeded Carolina Panthers in the NFC matchup at 6:40 p.m. Even if you’re not invested in these teams — I’m still lamenting over my Jets’ heartbreaking loss to our upstate rivals three weeks ago — there are plenty of reasons to clink glasses.
Case in point: these delicious drinks, courtesy of our friends at Sparkling ICE, are each named for a team in the playoffs and can be whipped up using just five ingredients or fewer. They’re so yummy, they’ll convert you into a fan in no time. Click through for each recipe, which features both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
This berry-sweet drink pays homage to Carolina blue. Mrowl!
- 4 oz Sparkling ICE Pomegranate Blueberry

- Blueberries
, muddled
- 1 tsp lemon juice

- 2 oz ginger ale or club soda
- Muddle small handful of blueberries in the bottom of a glass.
- Combine with Sparkling ICE Pomegranate Blueberry and lemon juice, and mix.
- Top with ginger ale or club soda.
- To turn into a cocktail: add 1 ounce of vodka.
Add rum to kick this drink up a notch.
- 4 oz Sparkling ICE Black Raspberry
- Berries
, smashed
- Pineapple
, freshly cut
- 2 oz club soda
- Muddle small handful of berries in the bottom of a glass.
- Combine with Sparkling ICE Black Raspberry and club soda, and mix.
- Top with fresh-cut pineapple.
- To turn into a cocktail: add 1 ounce of rum.
Can you picture Peyton singing the praises of this citrus sipper as part of a future Nationwide promotion? “Boy, this cock-tail tastes so good…”
- 6 oz Sparkling ICE Orange Mango

- Orange purée

- Fresh basil
- Pour orange purée into the bottom of a glass.
- Combine with Sparkling ICE Orange Mango, and mix.
- Top with fresh basil and an orange wedge.
- To turn into a cocktail: add 1 ounce of Champagne.
Fans of America’s team — the one that actually made the playoffs, anyway (sorry, Dallas) — ought to enjoy this patriotic punch.
- 4 oz Sparkling ICE Cherry Limeade

- Mint leaves
- Cherries, mashed

- 1 tsp lime juice

- 2 ounce club soda
- Muddle a small handful of cherries and a few mint leaves into the bottom of a glass.
- Combine with Sparkling ICE Cherry Limeade and lime juice, and mix.
- Top with club soda.
- To turn into a cocktail: add 1 ounce of vodka.
