Raise a cup of kindness to yourself with this aromatic and Tempting Grapefruit Evergreen Mocktail. Just because you’re choosing not to consume alcohol doesn’t mean you can’t have a sophisticated and complex beverage. Fresh grapefruit juice is lightly sweetened with a rosemary and juniper berry simple syrup and topped with black walnut bitters and sparkling soda. Crisp, light and elegantly delicious!

I love serving this drink throughout the holidays. When food tends to be a little richer and heavier, it provides a crisp and clean compliment to the meal. I especially like how this Tempting Grapefruit Evergreen Mocktail holds up to bold holiday flavors found in dishes like a roasted turkey made with my 5-Minute Homemade Herb Rub or Chive & Horseradish Mashed Potatoes. Delicious!

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Craft Cocktail Flavor is as Simple as Simple Syrup

Although I love a good craft cocktail and the complex bouquet of flavors that spirits and other ingredients impart, I don’t always want the alcohol. And if I’m fighting a cold, need to get up early the next day or stay sharp for something, I usually choose to skip the alcohol altogether.

There are some really good non-alcoholic mixes and options on the market right now. One of my new favorites is by Seedlip. What I love about this company is the story behind it. The founder spent two years studying a book from 1651 titled, The Art of Distillation. The book largely focused on botanical mixes and home remedies made from combining natural ingredients. Through careful study and recipe development, Seedlip has given us some delicious, high-quality, non-alcoholic mixers.

Whether you’re hosting a party and want to offer a thoughtful beverage option for your guests or you’re looking to cut back yourself, Seedlip is worth checking out.

Rosemary, Black Walnut Bitters & Dried Juniper Berries – Sounds delicious…..

In the center of a dimpled, copper serving plate, sits a square glass. The base of the glass is framed by rosemary sprigs and dried juniper berries. Ice shows through the glass. A Tempting Grapefruit Evergreen Mocktail looks cool and refreshing. A twist of grapefruit peel and a sprig of rosemary garnish the top of the glass. Cheers! — A refined alcohol free option

.…said almost no one.

I get it. The idea of a beverage flavored with nuts and evergreen ingredients sounds like a terrible idea in the making. But if you like a less sweet, slightly astringent and refreshingly light drink, stick with me.

In order to make this Tempting Grapefruit Evergreen Mocktail, you’ll need two specific ingredients; black walnut bitters and dried juniper berries. The black walnut bitters impart an earthy, nutty flavor to the drink. I like Fee Brothers because you can easily find it at your local liquor store or in the alcohol section of most major grocery stores. Just two – three drops is all you need.

When developing this Tempting Grapefruit Evergreen Mocktail recipe, my husband preferred the two-drop version, while I kept going back to three drops. Since it’s virtually impossible to split a drop of bitters, I suggest starting with two. If you like it, add another. Don’t be tempted to skip the bitters. It might not seem like an important ingredient, but its potency alters the flavor of the beverage with each drop and in some very interesting ways.

In this mocktail recipe, we call for infusing the flavor of rosemary and dried juniper berries into the simple syrup. The juniper berries release their gin-like flavor into the syrup as it cools in such a lovely, aromatic way. Gin lovers will appreciate the subtle familiar, flavor. However, for anyone not a huge gin fan, the syrup provides an easy introduction to this bold aromatic.

Closing thoughts on this Tempting Grapefruit Evergreen Mocktail

Make sure you check out the “Notes” section at the bottom of the post. Here I provide additional guidance on how much salt to add to the drink as well clarification on whether bottled grapefruit juice can be substituted for fresh squeezed. Psst! Yes, it can.

Although I’m not opposed to alcohol, I am sensitive to the fact that not everyone chooses to partake. Whatever your reason, you don’t have to be stuck drinking pop or bottled water at your gathering. Satisfy your sophisticated palate. This Tempting Grapefruit Evergreen Mocktail recipe is one to keep in rotation whenever you want a good, non-alcoholic option.

Tempting Grapefruit Evergreen Mocktail

Recipe by Maria Ostrander Course: LibationsCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Intermediate

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Fresh grapefruit juice lightly sweetened with a rosemary and juniper berry simple syrup and topped with black walnut bitters and sparkling soda.

Ingredients

For the evergreen simple syrup
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp. dried juniper berries
1 small sprig of fresh rosemary
To make the mocktail
2 ounces fresh pink grapefruit juice (1/4 cup)
1 Tbsp. evergreen simple syrup
2 drops Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters
Scant pinch of salt (see notes at the end of this post)
1/2 cup soda water
Grapefruit peel and fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish (optional)

Directions

Make the evergreen simple syrup
Using a mortar and pestle or the back of a cup, gently press the juniper berries to break them up, but do not overwork them. You just need to open them up so they can release their flavor more easily. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Over medium-high heat, bring to the boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until all sugar crystals have dissolved. Approximately 5 – 7 minutes; however, continue to cook until there are no sugar crystals in the mix.
When the simple syrup is done cooking, remove it from the heat and stir in the juniper berries and sprig of rosemary. Allow the aromatics to steep in the syrup while it cools.
When the syrup has reached room temperature, strain out the juniper berries and rosemary. Store the syrup in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to one month.
Assemble the mocktails
If preparing for a group, have ready eight tall glasses. Into each glass, add 2 ounces of grapefruit juice (1/4 cup), 2-3 drops of black walnut bitters, 1 Tbsp. of the evergreen simple syrup and a scant pinch of salt.
When you are ready to serve, add ice and 1/2 cup of soda water to each glass. Stir gently to incorporate.
Garnish with fresh rosemary and grapefruit peel if desired.

Notes

This recipe serves 8 as written. The evergreen simple syrup can easily be doubled to increase the number served.
Fresh grapefruit juice is ideal, but you can also use a good bottled juice to save time. Just make sure it’s unsweetened.
What exactly makes a scant pinch of salt? Believe it or not, a few crystals of kosher salt really enhance the flavor of this drink. Start with just a few crystals of salt (6-7) but certainly nowhere near a full 1/16 of a teaspoon (the accepted standard measurement for a pinch). It’s a very small amount but it makes a significant difference.