Paloma Mocktail and Cocktail

Ingredients:

For the rosemary simple syrup: 

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

3 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves removed from stem and coarsely chopped

For each drink:

¼ cup freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice

1 tablespoon rosemary simple syrup

2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

1 ½ oz Tequila (optional)

¼ cup good quality tonic

Rosemary sprig for garnish

Grapefruit slice for garnish

Crushed ice

Cooking instructions:

1.    Add the sugar and water into a small pot and bring to a simmer.

2.    Add chopped rosemary and stir.  Cook for 3 minutes until all sugar is dissolved.

3.    Strain into a small resealable container.  Allow to cool completely, then refrigerate. (This amount makes four drinks.)

4.    To make one drink, pour grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and lime juice into a shaker filled with crushed ice. (If you are making the alcoholic version, add Tequila.)

5.    Shake vigorously and strain into a cocktail glass.

6.    Add a few ice cubes, top off with tonic, and garnish with a rosemary sprig and a slice of pink grapefruit.

Serves: 4

I experimented using Champagne in lieu of tonic. It made for a much lighter drink, but equally delicious. Do not add any additional ice cubes, however, or it will destroy the bubbles. Cheers!