by: Kate McMillan
Cook Time
3 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Yield
1 serving
Total Time
3 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Yield
1 serving
summary
There is something so festive about a cocktail at a holiday party. But it’s also nice to have a beverage on hand that doesn’t have alcohol so that all your guests can get into the spirit. This one is light and refreshing. The tart fresh lemon is complemented by a warming ginger simple syrup.
ingredients
- 2 ounces fresh lemon juice
- 1 ounce ginger simple syrup
- Sparkling water
- 1 lemon for garnish
directions
- To make the simple syrup, peel the ginger with a paring knife or back of a spoon and cut into ½ inch pieces. Place the sugar, water and cut ginger in a small saucepan and set over medium heat. Swirl the pan until the sugar completely dissolves, about 3 minutes.
- Turn the heat off and allow the syrup to steep until it comes to room temperature. Strain the syrup to remove ginger.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the lemon juice and simple syrup. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds and then pour into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Top with sparkling water.
- Use a small paring knife to cut a lemon peel for garnish and add this to the glass.
notes
This is meant to be zero proof (or a mocktail) but of course you could also add vodka or tequila for a fully leaded cocktail.
Lemons are all different! If you have a lemon that is particularly tart, you may want to add more of the simple syrup.
The simple syrup can be made and stored in the refrigerator in an air-tight jar for up to a week.
Always use fresh lemons for this and not store-bought lemon juice or lemonade (which will have too much sugar).
