Why not? We do Christmas in July, right?
For this week’s mocktail, I'm exploring the lovely flavors of lingonberry, elderberry and sage. You might think sage is an unusual ingredient in a beverage, but it's earthy, pungent flavor is a nice balance to the tart lingonberry and floral elderberry. The flavor of lingonberry is a lot like cranberry and quite intense. You only need a couple. If you can't get them where you are, cranberries are a good substitute. You could even use raspberries for a nice punch of flavor.
Ingredients:
Elderberry tonic (I used Jack Rudy Cocktail Co Elderflower tonic)
Lingonberries
Club soda (or tonic water)
Fresh sage leaf
1 tsp of sugar
Lime wedge
Muddle the sage, sugar and lingonberries in the bottom of a tall glass (you can use a long handled spoon to bruise the leaves if you don't have a muddler.) Add 1 - 1.5 ounces of the elderberry syrup and fill with club soda and stir. The sage is very potent so one leaf should do the trick. It balances the bright flavors from the lingonberries and gives the beverage a slightly savory note that balances the sweetness from the elderflowers.
Of course, if you want to add a little vodka, it would work nicely with the flavors in this cocktail too.
I hope you enjoy this and you have a lovely little weekend!!