Mystic Cherry Negroni Mocktail Recipe
Mystic Cherry Negroni Mocktail Recipe
In this luscious mocktail, we combine the deep flavors of cherry and pomegranate juice. We added a teaspoon of Black Cherry Balsamic to make those tart flavors pop and add a bit of a throat feel similar to the burn of alcohol.
Next, we muddled in a bright citrus pop of fresh juiced orange and grapefruit. To round out all that sweetness, we bring in a touch of smoke from a simple syrup made from Lapsang Souchong tea.
Cherries are tart and seductive and enticing, the smokiness almost flirty, while the citrus creates a smooth and sweet undertone to this cocktail. We were channeling a romantic evening for two in a smoky cigar lounge that could easily translate into a night at home on the back porch under the stars or enjoying an evening by the fireplace with some Frank Sinatra trickling in the background.
Whatever your idyllic romantic moment, this deep and charming mocktail is the perfect accompaniment to the perfect company, and it is filled with rich antioxidants from the cherry juice. The tea-infused syrup helps with blood flow and cardiovascular health.
With a few easy steps, it is incredibly simple to pull together.
A Touch of Smoke on the Horizon
The most important part of this cocktail is the simple syrup made from steeped Lapsang Souchong tea. This syrup imparts a sweet and smoky backbone to this otherwise tart and fruity cocktail. It helps play on the intricacies of spice and flavor customarily found within a traditional Negroni cocktail.
According to the New World Encyclopedia, Lapsang Souchong is imported from the Fujian region of China. This tea is smoked by hand over a campfire instead of air-dried in a traditional centuries-old process before the final stage of pan firing and fermenting, which makes this a black tea.
This tea has historical significance and has Chinese lore surrounding its development. Supposedly the tea was made by accident as the residents of the Fujian mountains were attempting to speed up the process and hide their tea from being destroyed by the invading Wuyi Shan army.
When they returned to their village from hiding, they discovered this tea’s smoky flavor and thought it may have gone bad. They sold it to Dutch traders anyway, and the following season the Dutch came back looking for more of this strangely smoky tea.
Simple Lapsang Souchong Syrup
Prep Time: 0 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients and Supplies:
- A small boiler
- One cup water
- One cup white sugar
- 2.5 teaspoons of dried Lapsang Souchong from Estero Bay
First, we will heat the water to steep the tea and then use the steeped tea to make the syrup. In a small boiler, bring your cup of water to a rolling boil. Allow the water to sit for one minute to cool and then pour over your tea and allow the tea to steep. The typical steep time for just one serving of Lapsang Souchong is about two and half minutes. We will be steeping our tea for five minutes to make sure it is good and strong.
After five minutes, strain your tea leaves and add the tea back into the boiler. Bring your water to a boil and stir in the sugar, immediately bring down to medium, and continue stirring in the sugar for 15/20 minutes. For a thicker honey-like syrup, you can double the sugar.
Store your syrup in a tight-fitting container in the refrigerator, and it will be good for up to one month.
Now, let’s make this mocktail!
Mystic Cherry Mocktail
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Ingredients and Supplies:
- A Cocktail Shaker or a jam jar with a tight-fitting lid
- A muddler wand
- A rocks glass
- Four wedges of fresh grapefruit
- Four wedges of fresh orange
- 1.5 ounces tart cherry juice. We used Juicer Performer as it is 100% cherry juice.
- 1 ounce pomegranate juice, we used Pom brand.
- 1 teaspoon of Black Cherry Balsamic
- 1 tablespoon of our homemade Lapsang Souchong simple syrup
- 1 cup of ice cubes
Add all ingredients to your shaker glass and muddle with your muddler. Instead of stirring like a traditional negroni, we will shake to combine all our flavor profiles together.
And, if you were to want to add liquor to this mocktail, we suggest a delightful gin like the beautiful purple Empress 1908 for its gorgeous color and flavors.
Add a cup of ice to your shaker and shake for 30 to 45 seconds. Then strain into a rocks glass. You can also serve this cocktail over ice in a highball glass or simply straight out of the shaker. Garnish with an orange twist or a thin slice of orange.
Estero Bay Olive Oils and Teas make it easy to pull together something fun, unique, and delicious. Having a small assortment of teas and balsamics on hand will make it easy to whip up an evening cocktail or two, as the best way to enjoy this mocktail is with someone special.
External Source