Some of the most memorable American holiday traditions revolve around food. When we think of the holidays, we conjure up visions of turkey and gravy, roasted ham and mashed potatoes, or even sugarplums that dance in our heads.
The most wonderful time of year just wouldn’t be the same without our favorite heavy foods… but that doesn’t mean we can’t lighten things up. We were inspired to create a lighter cocktail, something that won’t weigh us down before we chow down this season. And we came up with the perfect festive concoction.
The Rose"merry" Grapefruit Spritzer has the holiday flavors we want with a refreshing lightness that is a welcome guest at any table. This is one libation that won’t drag you down, and for those of us trying to maintain healthy goodness in our diet this winter, this cocktail is THE go-to.
We experimented with champagne, but Prosecco came out the winner. Its lighter and less-acidic profile is a better match for the tang of grapefruit. And the bubbles don’t stop there. Our Mountain Valley Sparkling Water puts the effervescence factor over the top.
It just tastes healthy. And we mean that in a good way. The flavor combination of rosemary and grapefruit is earthy and tangy but doesn’t overpower the palate. Plus, we wanted something delicious that included healthy ingredients. Both rosemary and grapefruit happen to have powerful detox properties. In fact, you can add them to our Mountain Valley Spring Water for a delicious spa water treat.
But for now, it’s time to imbibe. This particular recipe makes four cocktails. We used a pitcher to easily mix all the ingredients and because it looks amazing on the table. Make sure your pitcher can handle up to 4 cups or 32 ounces. You’ll need fresh rosemary, our sparkling water, a bottle of Prosecco, 2-3 large grapefruits, and Stevia drops (optional).
First and foremost, fresh rosemary is an absolute must. Dried rosemary in the spice aisle simply won’t do. Be sure to get your hands on those beautiful rosemary sprigs not only for their amazing flavor but the festive and rustic aesthetic they bring. Grab about 1 or 2 large bunches of sprigs. Don’t worry about buying too many. Any leftovers can be used for spa water or other cocktails. Keep the rosemary in the fridge until ready to use to preserve freshness.
Put aside 4 to 8 rosemary sprigs for garnish (or more depending on how many guests) and drop the rest of the rosemary into the pitcher. Then add Mountain Valley Sparkling Water, your grapefruit juice, and the bottle of chilled Prosecco. For the juice, we squeezed it fresh from about 1 ½ grapefruit for superb freshness.
Put ice into 4 cocktail glasses and fill each almost to the top. As an option, add three drops liquid Stevia to each glass for added sweetness. Then splash with a bit more sparkling water. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and rosemary sprig. Now it’s time to eat, drink and Rose"merry"!
Rose"merry" Grapefruit Spritzer
Ingredients (makes 4 servings)
- 1-2 large bunches fresh rosemary
- 1 bottle chilled Prosecco (750 ml)
- 2-3 large grapefruits (12 ounces juice plus garnish)
- 24 ounces chilled Mountain Valley Sparkling Water
- 12 drops Stevia (optional)
- Ice
Instructions
- Set aside 4-8 rosemary sprigs, depending on how many guests, and drop the rest in a 4 cup-sized pitcher (or larger).
- Pour in chilled Mountain Valley Sparkling Water, chilled Prosecco, and 12 ounces of grapefruit juice.
- Fill 4 cocktail glasses with ice.
- Pour mixture into each glass, leaving room for a splash of sparkling water on top.
- Add 3 drops liquid Stevia to each glass for added sweetness if desired.
- Garnish each with sliced grapefruit and rosemary spring.
- Serve immediately.
