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Tart botanical spritz

Rhubarb Rhapsody

60 minutes total · Easy · Makes 2

Pale coral rhubarb and black pepper alcohol-free spritz in a narrow flute with a curled rhubarb ribbon

Tart rhubarb, bright lemon and a quiet crackle of black pepper meet fine bubbles in a crisp, pale-coral aperitif.

15 minutes to mix45 minutes to chill2 finished drinks

01

What you’ll need

  • 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh or frozen rhubarb
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 cup certified vegan organic cane sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarsely cracked black peppercorns
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 cups chilled plain alcohol-free sparkling water
  • 2 very thin fresh rhubarb ribbons, cut with a vegetable peeler, for garnish

02

Mix the drink

  1. Combine the chopped rhubarb, water, certified vegan sugar and cracked black pepper in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat and cook for 8 minutes, until the rhubarb is soft and the liquid is rosy.
  2. Remove the saucepan from the heat and steep for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve into a heatproof jug without pressing hard on the solids, then cool to room temperature.
  3. Refrigerate the rhubarb-pepper cordial for at least 45 minutes. It should be fully chilled before the sparkling water is added.
  4. Place the rhubarb garnish ribbons in ice water for 10 minutes to encourage them to curl, then drain and blot dry.
  5. For each drink, pour 1/4 cup chilled rhubarb-pepper cordial and 2 tablespoons lemon juice into a small mixing glass. Stir for 10 seconds.
  6. Slowly add 3/4 cup chilled plain sparkling water to each portion and stir once very gently to combine without losing the bubbles.

03

Serve it beautifully

The glass, temperature and first aroma all shape the drink. Set those details before the final pour.

  1. Chill two narrow champagne flutes or small tulip glasses for 15 minutes before serving.
  2. Pour each spritz into a chilled glass with no ice; the narrow, cold glass preserves the fine bubbles and keeps the pale-coral drink visually clear.
  3. Hook one curled rhubarb ribbon just inside each glass, keeping the top of the ribbon above the liquid for easy removal.
  4. Serve immediately at refrigerator temperature, while the carbonation is lively and the black-pepper aroma is fresh.

At the table

What to pair with it

Mini leek and white-bean tartlets with lemon zest

Crisp za’atar roasted chickpeas with cucumber ribbons

Smoked tofu canapés with mustard and cornichon

Estimated per drink

Nutrition at a glance

Calories
74
Fat
0.1g
Saturated fat
0g
Carbohydrates
19g
Fibre
0.5g
Sugars
17g
Protein
0.3g
Sodium
6mg

Estimated per drink; most of the carbohydrates come from the measured rhubarb cordial.

Estimates vary with ingredient brands, substitutions and serving size.