Island Zero Recipe

Make cordial

Combine chopped fresh pineapple, demerara sugar, and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan. Muddle slightly with a wooden spoon to release juices. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer for 8–10 minutes until pineapple is very soft and liquid is syrupy.

Remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice and 1 teaspoon grated lime zest. Let cool 10 minutes.

Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a bowl, pressing solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard solids. Cool completely, then transfer to a sealed bottle and refrigerate. Yields about 1 to 1 1/4 cups. Keeps 7–10 days refrigerated.

Make almond milk

Toast blanched almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3–4 minutes until fragrant (optional for deeper flavor). Let cool. Place toasted almonds and 1 cup water in a blender and blend on high for 1 minute until almonds are broken down and mixture looks milky.

Strain the almond mixture through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth into a bowl, pressing or squeezing to extract as much almond milk as possible. You should get about 3/4–1 cup almond milk. Reserve the almond pulp (can be used in baking).

Combine the strained almond milk with 3 cups granulated sugar in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Warm gently (do not boil) for 3–4 minutes to fully incorporate sugar; this helps preserve clarity. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Stir in 1 teaspoon orange flower water and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional) to finish. Chill and store in a sealed bottle in the refrigerator. Yields about 1 to 1 1/4 cups. Keeps 2–3 weeks refrigerated.

Fill a highball or Collins glass with cracked ice.

Add 1.5 oz pineapple & demerara cordial, 0.5 oz orgeat, and 0.5 oz fresh lime juice to a mixing tin or small shaker with a little ice. Briefly shake 6–8 seconds to combine and chill.

Strain the shaken mix over the ice-filled glass.

Top with about 3 oz chilled tonic water. Gently stir once or twice to integrate without flattening the tonic.

Garnish with a pineapple leaf or wheel and an optional mint sprig. Serve with a straw.