Sparkling Lime Mint Cooler
Fresh lime juice and muddled mint sweetened lightly and topped with sparkling water, a crisp alcohol-free cooler built for hot afternoons on the porch.
This cooler borrows the muddling trick from a mojito but skips the rum entirely, so it works just as well before noon as it does at sunset. Mint and lime juice get pressed together first to build flavor, then sparkling water lengthens the drink and keeps it light. Ice it heavily and it stays refreshing to the very last sip.
Ingredients
Method
Tap a number to mark a step donePlace the mint leaves in the bottom of a pitcher or large glass, ready for muddling with the lime juice and syrup.
Add the lime juice and simple syrup, then muddle gently for about 15 seconds to release the mint's oil into the liquid.
Fill two tall glasses with the ice cubes, packing them in fairly close together before adding the liquid.
Divide the lime and mint mixture evenly between the two prepared glasses before adding the sparkling water on top of each one.
Top each glass with sparkling water and stir gently to combine without losing too much of the fizz in the process.
Garnish each glass with lime slices and a fresh mint sprig before serving right away while it is still cold.
Kitchen note
Muddle the mint gently and briefly; over-muddling bruises the leaves and releases bitter compounds instead of the bright oils you actually want.
