Sunrise Mocktail

It does look like sunrise in a glass, doesn’t it? I am super excited to share this amazing mocktail with all of you, but first, I must tell you how it came to be.

I mentioned in this post that a bunch of us have decided to do a monthly blog post based on a common theme. When the majority voted for cold beverages and started talking about cocktails this month, I secretly shuddered. We are teetotalers, you see. I use wine in cooking and that’s about it.

Then I realized this is a golden opportunity for me to expand my horizons. This blog could do with a cocktail/mocktail recipe and I was now a girl on a mission. Though we do not consume alcohol, my husband is a fruit juice junkie. He loves trying new combinations and flavors. But I really wanted to try my hand at a classic mocktail.

That is when I heard about the sunrise cocktail. Generally made with a shot of tequila, orange juice and grenadine, it is called so because the gradation of colors in the drink resemble a sunrise. The tequila was obviously out and so was grenadine, because I hate cherry-flavored anything.

What’s red and sweet, other than cherries? Why, strawberries, of course! I made a quick homemade syrup using juicy red strawberries.

Would you look at that? Don’t you just want to dip your spoon in it and forget all your worries for a while?

For the yellow-orange colors, I thought of using a combination of fresh orange juice and club soda. That’s when I came across these golden bottles on my weekend grocery run. What you see below are bottles of Izze sparkling clementine juice, which are the perfect golden-yellow color for my mocktail. (I have no connection whatsoever with this particular brand, I just happen to love their sparkling fruit juice line.) You can use OJ and sparkling water/club soda instead.

What sets a good mocktail apart from an excellent one are the little details, the perfect garnishes. Herbs and lime wedges are simple additions which will make a pretty drink. Which herb goes well with strawberries and oranges? Rosemary or maybe, sage. I first thought of mint, but it might be a tad overpowering in this drink. But feel free to use what you prefer or leave it out entirely.

Once you have all the ingredients on hand, it is time to assemble the drink. Since there is carbonated juice involved, you obviously cannot make this ahead. But the strawberry syrup keeps well for a few days, so that can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator.

Let’s see how we get the sunrise effect, shall we? It’s so cool, like a little chemistry experiment. You fill a tall glass with crushed ice or small ice cubes. Add the sparkling juice next. Then drizzle a few spoonfuls of the sweet strawberry syrup on top. And right before your eyes, you will see it settling down at the bottom of the glass. Gently nudge with a straw or spoon to help it along. Then you tuck in a sprig of fragrant rosemary, add a wedge of lime or lemon and serve.

If you cannot find the sparkling clementine juice I used here, feel free to use lemon-lime soda or a combination of fresh orange juice and club soda. For a proper cocktail, replace part of the juice with a shot of tequila or vodka.

I made my strawberry syrup extra thick, but when stirred slightly, it made a beautiful red-orange-yellow gradation in the glass, just like a sunrise. This was undoubtedly the best drink I’ve ever had. We had rains and fog the last week in Texas. But true to Texas tradition, the weather did a 180 degree turnaround and Sunday was very warm. This drink hit the sweet spot on a warm and lazy Sunday afternoon. Try it for yourself and see.

SUNRISE MOCKTAIL DRINK {WITH STRAWBERRY SYRUP AND SPARKLING CLEMENTINE  JUICE}

You will need:

For the strawberry syrup,

• Strawberries – 1 lb, washed and hulled
• Sugar – 1/2 cup (more or less, depending on the sweetness of the berries)
• Water – 1/4 cup
• Lime juice – a small squeeze

For the drink (Makes three 8-oz drinks),

• Crushed ice – enough to fill 3 tall glasses
• Sparkling clementine or orange juice – 12 fl.oz (or use a combination of fresh juice and club soda)
• Strawberry syrup – 4-6 tbsp
• Rosemary – 3 sprigs
• Lime – 1, cut into thin wedges (to garnish)

How to:

• Strawberry Syrup: Puree and strain the strawberries. You will have roughly 2 cups of thick strawberry pulp.
• Take this pulp, sugar, water and lime juice in a deep saucepan and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes or till syrup thickens and coats a spoon dipped in it. You will have roughly 1 cup of syrup.
• Cool this syrup and store in a clean jar in the refrigerator till needed.
• Sunrise Mocktail: To make a drink, start by loosely filling a tall glass with crushed ice or small ice cubes. Then add the sparkling juice (or a combination of fresh juice and club soda). Drizzle 1-2 tbsp of strawberry syrup on top and wait for it to sink to the bottom. Gently nudge the ice around with a straw or spoon to guide the syrup down. Tuck a sprig of fresh rosemary in the drink and  garnish with a thin wedge of lime. Serve immediately. Gently swirl or stir with the straw while drinking to distribute the syrup better.

Notes:

• If you do not get the sparkling clementine juice, try this with lemon-lime soda. Or you can use a combination of fresh orange juice and sparkling water (or club soda). I wouldn’t advise using canned orange soda like Crush or Fanta, because it has a very strong taste and a dark orange color, so you may not see the pretty gradation of colors.
• For a true cocktail, replace part of the juice in the recipe above with a shot of tequila or vodka.

And there you have it, a beautiful drink anyone would love to have. Drink up and cheers till the next time!

To see what the rest of the team has come up with, please visit Dolphia, Sujatha, Subhasmitha and Jyothi.

Let me know what you think about this colorful drink? Do you make mocktails? Any favorite recipes? Do share.

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