This recipe is really just a 3-2-1 ratio with almost endless adaptations. Start with a base liquor of your choice. Add something sour — citrus or another unsweetened, tart juice. You can even add a splash of brine from pickled vegetables or a little vinegar to take the cocktail in the direction of a shrub, which has popped up on drink menus all over because it’s so refreshing. Finally, add something sweet — basic simple syrup or just about any other liquid sweetener you have on hand. Once you are ready to shake it with ice, you can personalize it further by throwing a few herb sprigs or pieces of fruit in the shaker. Finish with a topper of seltzer, prosecco or another fizzy beverage, if you like. The proverbial cherry on top can be any garnish you have on hand — fruit, pickles, candy, herbs, you name it. Begin with simple combinations — see our suggestions below — and then experiment to find the ones you like the most.
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 5 min |
| Active: | 5 min |
| Yield: | 1 cocktail |
Ingredients
- 2 ounces liquor, such as vodka, gin, rum, bourbon, whiskey or tequila
- 1 1/2 ounces sour, such as lemon juice, lime juice, grapefruit juice, unsweetened pomegranate juice, unsweetened cranberry juice, pickle brine (from sour pickles, pickled jalapenos, giardiniera, etc.) or vinegar
- 1 ounce sweet, such as simple syrup, agave, maple syrup, honey, orange juice, pineapple juice, maraschino cherry juice from the jar or Triple Sec
- Flavor enhancer, such as herb sprigs or fruit pieces, optional
- 2 ounces fizzy topper, such as plain seltzer, flavored seltzer, prosecco or other sparkling wine, ginger ale or sparkling Italian soda like San Pellegrino, optional
- Garnish, such as fresh fruit, pickles, olives, herb sprigs, maraschino cherries or other fruit in syrup, candy or crunchy raw vegetables
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the liquor, sour and sweet and flavor enhancers if using and shake well. Strain and pour into a glass over ice. Add a fizzy topper if using. Garnish as desired.
- Whiskey + Pomegranate juice + Honey (no fizzy topper)
- Gin + Lime juice + Orange juice + Seltzer topper
- Vodka + Lemon juice + Maraschino cherry juice from the jar + Sliced strawberries + Prosecco topper + Maraschino cherry garnish
- Tequila + Lime juice and a splash of pickled jalapeno brine + Triple Sec + Lime and jalapeno garnish (no fizzy topper)
- Bourbon + Lemon juice + Maple syrup + Lemon wedge garnish (no fizzy topper)
- Rum + Unsweetened pomegranate juice + Simple syrup + Flavored seltzer topper + Fresh fruit garnish
- Rum + Lime juice and a splash of white wine vinegar + Simple syrup + Blackberries + Prosecco topper + Gummy candy garnish
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 1 servings |
| Calories | 314 |
| Total Fat | 1 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 31 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 18 g |
| Protein | 2 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 18 mg |