This month, the recipe reduxers were challenged to make cocktails/mocktails! This recipe challenge was entirely new to me. I have never designed a drink – not one, not even a smoothie!! I knew I wanted to use fresh fruit to create a great summertime sipper, so I started by doing my research on how to include it in a drink. There were 2 obvious options, infuse the fruit in a simple syrup or into the alcohol. I decided to infuse a simple syrup because it was a shorter and simpler task. I tried this recipe with both raspberries and rhubarb. Rhubarb was the clear winner, and the rhubarb lime sparkling cocktail was born!
This cocktail is sweet with a splash of rhubarb and a hint of lime. I had to do a little research on the best sparkling mixer to use to compliment the other flavors. Club soda will have a mineral-y flavor, and tonic water will impart a bitter flavor. Therefore, I settle on sparkling water (or seltzer water) for a clean, clear flavor, with no additional calories.
Variations to the Rhubarb Lime Sparkling Cocktail recipe:
- The syrup makes this recipe sweet, but you don’t want to use less because you’ll loose the rhubarb flavor. Try using tonic water to cut the sweetness if it is too much for you.
- If you’re not a fan of rhubarb, you can try another tart fruit, like fresh cranberries. I tried raspberries, and found it to be WAY too sweet.
- I prefer lime over lemon in my cocktails. Use whichever you prefer.
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup white sugar
- ¾ cup diced rhubarb, fresh or frozen
- 12 ozs cold sparkling water or seltzer water,
- 6 ozs vodka
- 2 large limes, cut into 12 wedges
- 3 cups ice cubes
- Additonal lime wheels for garnish
- In a small sauce pan, bring water to a boil. Stir in sugar until it is dissolved. Remove from heat.
- Stir in rhubarb and let rest until the syrup comes to room temperature, about 3 hours.
- Place ½ cup ice in an 8 ounce glass. Pour 1 ounce vodka (2 TBS), and 1 ounce rhubarb simple syrup (2 TBS) over ice. Top with about 2 oz (1/4 cup) sparkling water, or until the glass is full.
- Squeeze 1 lime wedge into the glass, and garnish the glass with a second wedge.
- Serve.
This looks so refreshing and perfect for hot summer days. Thanks for the delicious recipe. I can’t wait to try that rhubarb simple syrup!
Thanks Marie, I think you will enjoy it!
What a great way to make the best of spring rhubarb! I love this idea, and we’re coming into a long weekend where I live, so I’m definitely going to try this out. Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks Katie! Enjoy your weekend!
Must try this one!
Please do! It’s so tasty 🙂