Illumination Recipe

Name: Sandbars Illumination Recipe
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 1 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cups Sauvignon Blanc (chilled); 0.5 cups Club soda (chilled); 0.5 tbs Elderflower liqueur (e.g., St-Germain); 0.5 tbs Lemon juice (freshly squeezed); 0.5 tsp Simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water) or honey syrup; 4 to taste Ice (cubes); 1 to taste Cucumber ribbon; 1 to taste Fresh mint sprig; 1 to taste Lemon twist

Inspired by Sandbar

Time10m

Serves1

Make Illumination Recipe in just 10m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Wine Ingredients

1 cups Sauvignon Blanc (chilled)1/2 cups Club soda (chilled)1/2 tbs Elderflower liqueur (e.g., St-Germain)1/2 tbs Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)1/2 tsp Simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water) or honey syrup4 to taste Ice (cubes)

Garnish & Aromatics

1 to taste Cucumber ribbon1 to taste Fresh mint sprig1 to taste Lemon twist

Method

Prepare Glass & Garnish

Chill and prepare

Chill a white wine glass or large stemmed glass in the freezer for 5–10 minutes or fill it with ice water while you prepare the drink. Using a vegetable peeler, slice a thin long ribbon of cucumber and set aside. Twist a lemon peel into a curl and pick a fresh mint sprig. Remove the glass from the freezer or empty the ice water and pat dry.

Optional: Run the lemon twist around the rim and drop it into the glass for bright citrus aroma.

Mixing the Cocktail

Combine base flavors

In a mixing glass or small pitcher, add 1 cup chilled Sauvignon Blanc, 1/2 tablespoon elderflower liqueur, 1/2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon simple syrup. Stir gently with a bar spoon or small spoon for 8–10 seconds to combine. This balances the wine’s acidity with a floral-sweet lift.

Add effervescence

Add 1/2 cup chilled club soda to the mixture and stir once gently to preserve bubbles. Adjust club soda slightly to preference for more or less fizz.

Ice and pour

Place 3–4 ice cubes into the chilled glass. Pour the mixed wine and soda over the ice, stopping to hold back herbs if you prefer them not fully submerged.

Garnish & Finish

Add the cucumber ribbon by draping it along the inside of the glass or threading it onto a cocktail pick to rest on the rim. Nestle the mint sprig against the glass so the aroma rises as you sip. Place the lemon twist on the rim or drop it in. Give the surface one gentle stir to marry the garnish aromatics with the drink.

Serve immediately while chilled and effervescent. Provide a straw or sip from the rim to experience the layered aromatics (cucumber, mint, lemon) with the bright Sauvignon Blanc and floral elderflower notes.