spring

A sweet and earthy sage simple syrup is shaken with fresh lemon juice and bitters to form the base of this sweet-tart mocktail. Each glass is topped off with Topo Chico to add some fizz. This vegan gluten-free mocktail is perfect for winter, spring, and beyond!

recipe updated 2/19/2023

Let’s talk about this mocktail! I’ve been experimenting with a lot of non-alcoholic beverage mixing lately because I have less and less desire to drink alcohol the older I get. At this point, I’ve pretty much cut it out entirely. This sparkling sage lemonade was a recent creation due to a sizable sage harvest in the garden. Sage is one of my favorite herbs but I almost always use it in savory recipes. I wanted to try something sweet for a change so I decided on a sage simple syrup. Inspired by the return of warm spring weather, I paired it with sunny lemon and sparkling water for a seasonally appropriate tipple!

Why You Should Make This Recipe

• The sage and lemon balance each other really well. Even though they seem like an unlikely pair in a drink, they yield a super refreshing and delicious mocktail!
• It’s incredibly easy to make, especially if you want to multiply it for a large group or party.
• It tastes like the time of year when we have one foot planted in winter and the other reaching for spring.
• It’s perfect for those that don’t drink alcohol but still want to sip on something special.

Making The Sage Simple Syrup

You’ll start by making a batch of sage simple syrup. The amounts listed in the recipe below will yield enough simple syrup for 8-10 drinks. Combine the water and sugar in a sauce pan. Bring it to a simmer, stirring as you go to encourage the sugar to dissolve. Once the sugar dissolves and the syrup comes to a simmer, add 1/2 cup of lightly packed sage leaves. Simmer the sage in the syrup for 3 minutes, then remove the pan from the heat. Cover it with a lid and let it steep for 30 minutes to infuse the sage flavor. Once you strain out the sage, the syrup is ready to use!

Making the Sparkling Sage Lemonade

Aside from the ingredients for the sage simple syrup, you’ll notice the rest of the ingredients listed are for each drink. Simply multiply the amounts based on how many drinks you’d like to make. For instance, if you’d like to make 4 drinks, you’ll need 4 oz of lemon juice, 4 oz of the pre-made sage simple syrup, and 12-16 oz of Topo Chico or sparkling water. Easy-peasy!

To make each drink, you’ll add the lemon juice, sage simple syrup, a strip of lemon peel, 1-2 dashes of digestive bitters or cocktail bitters, and 2 or 3 sage leaves to a cocktail shaker. Or, you can use a mason jar and a lid like I did! Add a large handful of ice, then shake vigorously for 60-90 seconds. Strain this mixture into a glass, add some ice, then top it off with the Topo Chico. If you prefer, you can garnish each drink with a lemon round and some sage leaves.

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