Prep the berries: Rinse the strawberries, remove the stems, and cut in halves or quarters for easier blending.

Make the strawberry base: In a blender, combine the strawberries with 2 tablespoons of honey or simple syrup and the juice of 1 lemon. If the mixture is too thick to blend smoothly, add 2–4 tablespoons of cold water.

Blend until smooth: Purée until you have a silky, bright red mixture with no large chunks.

Strain (optional but recommended): Pour the purée through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing with a spoon to remove seeds and pulp. This step gives a smoother, more elegant spritzer.

Taste and adjust: Stir and taste the base. Add more lemon for tang, or an extra spoon of honey for sweetness. Keep it slightly concentrated—you’ll be topping with bubbles.

Add the bubbles: Pour in 4–6 cups of chilled sparkling water or club soda, starting with less and adding more to reach your preferred strength. Stir gently to keep the fizz.

Serve: Fill glasses with ice. Add a few strawberry slices and a lemon wheel to each glass. Pour in the spritzer and garnish with mint if using.

Optional lime twist: For a brighter profile, squeeze a wedge of lime into each glass right before serving.