Phony Spirit Free Recipe

Juice citrus

Juice the orange, lemon, and lime and measure out the amounts indicated (1 cup orange, 1/4 cup lemon, 1/4 cup lime). Strain through a fine mesh if you prefer a smoother base without pulp.

Combine the citrus juices in a pitcher and whisk briefly to homogenize.

Just before serving, add the cold sparkling water to the citrus mix and stir gently to preserve carbonation.

Muddle herbs

In a mixing glass or wooden muddler-equipped glass, place the fresh mint leaves, basil leaves and cucumber slices. Add the honey/agave and lightly muddle 6–8 times — press just enough to release essential oils and cucumber juice but not shred the leaves.

Scrape the muddled herb-cucumber mixture into the pitcher with the citrus base, making sure to include the liquid produced.

If the honey/agave is thick, warm it slightly or dissolve it first in 1–2 tablespoons warm water, then add to the pitcher. Stir to incorporate sweetener evenly into the citrus-herb blend.

Add the non-alcoholic aromatic bitters (or the equivalent orange extract) to the pitcher and stir once more. Taste and adjust sweetness — add up to 1 tablespoon more honey/agave if you prefer sweeter.

Fill two serving glasses with ice (about 1 cup of ice per glass).

Divide the Phony SPIRIT FREE mixture between the glasses. Make sure each glass receives some muddled herb and cucumber for aroma and texture.

Garnish each glass with an orange wheel and a sprig of mint. Optionally, slap the mint sprig between your palms once and tuck it into the glass to amplify the aroma.

Serve immediately to enjoy the fresh effervescence and herbal aromatics.