Head to head
Ice Cream Soda and Italian Soda side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.
The difference, by the numbers
Both have soda water. Only the Ice Cream Soda has chocolate syrup, half-and-half and vanilla ice cream; only the Italian Soda has raspberry syrup. In parts, an Ice Cream Soda is 1 chocolate syrup, ½ half-and-half and 6 soda; an Italian Soda is 1 raspberry and 8 soda. By volume, the Ice Cream Soda is 87% mixer and juice and 13% syrup and sugar; the Italian Soda is 89% mixer and juice and 11% syrup and sugar. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.
They are about equally strong in the glass (both 0.0% ABV), and they hold about the same alcohol (0.00 standard drinks each). The Ice Cream Soda has more calories (about 537 against 72) and more sugar (65.4 g against 18.0 g). Both are built and served in a highball.
Zero Proof · Zero proof
The ratio · 1 : ½ : 6
Highlighted: not in the Italian Soda.
Zero Proof · Zero proof
The ratio · 1 : 8
Highlighted: not in the Ice Cream Soda.
Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.
Ice Cream Soda vs.
Italian Soda vs.