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Pineapple Garden Sparkler

This zero-proof cocktail uses both ISH Mexican Agave Spirit and Optimist Botanicals Fresh, a non-alc spirit packed with crisp, green flavors like basil, tarragon, oregano, and lime zest. With the addition of a simple shrub made with fresh pineapple, this drink is a tropical garden in a glass. Make sure to use fresh pineapple (or fresh frozen) for the shrub. Canned pineapple is way too sweet and lacks the unique, complex flavor of the fruit on which the flavor profile of this cocktail depends. Once you've strained the shrub, you can also eat the remaining, lightly candied pineapple- it's delicious on buttery pound cake, vanilla ice cream, or better yet, both!

Tasting notes: bright, tropical, and crisp, with flavors of caramelized pineapple, oak, fresh herbs

Ingredients

For the Pineapple Shrub:

  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar

  • 1 cup white vinegar

  • 3 cups coarsely chopped pineapple (fresh or fresh frozen)

For the Pineapple Garden Sparkler:

  • 2 ounces ISH Mexican Agave Spirit

  • 1 ½ ounces Pineapple Shrub

  • ½ ounce Optimist Botanicals Fresh

  • seltzer or soda water to top

  • garnish: pineapple slice (optional)

Directions

To make the Pineapple Shrub:

  1. Stir together sugar and white vinegar in a small saucepan over medium low heat until the sugar dissolves completely.

  2. Add pineapple, breaking up pieces with a wooden spoon to release the juice.

  3. When most of the pineapple is crushed, increase heat to high until liquid comes to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to low and cover saucepan.

  4. Let simmer for 30 minutes.

  5. Pour mixture into a jar with a tight fitting lid. Cover and allow to cool, then place in refrigerator overnight.

  6. Strain shrub through a fine mesh sieve, pressing against the pineapple pieces to extract as much liquid as possible. Store pineapple pieces separately for use on toast, cake, ice cream... or just eat with a spoon!

  7. Shrub will keep in the refrigerator in a tightly closed jar for up to a week.

To make the Pineapple Garden Sparkler:

  1. In a highball glass, stir together Pineapple Shrub, ISH Mexican Agave Spirit, and Optimist Botanicals Fresh.

  2. Fill glass with ice.

  3. Top with seltzer to taste.

  4. Garnish with pineapple slice.

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