Sparkling Lemon-Suze Pitcher Cocktail Recipe

By
Elana Lepkowski
Elana Lepkowski is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Elana Lepkowski
Elana Lepkowski is an LA-based mixologist who shares her cocktail recipes at Serious Eats and on her award-winning blog, Stir and Strain. 
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Updated August 29, 2018
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Photo: Elana Lepkowski

Make the most of affordable sparkling wine by adding tart lemon, woodsy sage, and Suze, a bitter French aperitif. This prep-ahead cocktail is a little tart, a little sweet, a little bitter, and full of herbal flavors. There's no high-proof spirit in the mix, so it whets the appetite without getting anyone blitzed.

Recipe Details

Sparkling Lemon-Suze Pitcher Cocktail Recipe

Active 15 mins
Total 60 mins
Makes 6 drinks
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • For the Lemon-Sage Syrup:
  • 6 ounces water
  • 8 ounces (about 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon) sugar
  • 2 ounces fresh juice from 2 lemons
  • Finely grated zest from 2 lemons
  • 10 medium sage leaves
  • For the cocktails:
  • 6 ounces Lemon-Sage Syrup
  • 1 1/2 ounces Suze
  • 1 bottle chilled Cava or other dry sparkling wine
  • 6 strips lemon zest
  • 6 fresh sage leaves

Directions

  1. For the Lemon-Sage Syrup: Combine water, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and sage in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to boil, remove from heat, and let stand 1 hour. Strain and refrigerate in an airtight container up to 1 week.

  2. For the cocktails: The night before serving, combine the lemon-sage syrup and Suze in a large pitcher. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. When ready to serve, add Cava, pouring slowly, and gently stir to combine. Split between six Champagne flutes, twisting a lemon zest strip over each and garnishing with a sage leaf.

Special equipment

saucepan, strainer, airtight container, pitcher

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