Ginger, Brown Sugar and Verjus Mocktail

This brown sugar mocktail is a great after-dinner drink. Following a large holiday meal, it's normal to crave a little sweet and when you don't have enough room for dessert, a sweet mocktail is the way to go. In addition to brown sugar, this recipe uses ginger ale, vanilla extract and verjus to create a beverage with a deep robust flavor that is sweet with a spicy ginger back (assuming you select a quality ginger ale with a kick). The sugar brings a molasses-like sweetness, the ginger ale is there for a touch of heat and the vanilla extract gives the mocktail a bourbon-like depth. As for verjus, it is the pressed juice of unripened grapes. The juice has a bright acidity sans the distinctive character which allows it to meld seamlessly with other ingredients. This is why it works so well in this recipe. Verjus balances the mocktail by controlling the sweetness and brightening everything up to prevent it from overwhelming the palate.

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

Serves 4

• ¼ cup light brown sugar

• ¼ cup water

• ¼ cup verjus

• 1 cup ginger ale

• 2 tablespoons alcohol-free vanilla extract

• 2 cups crushed ice

Ginger, Brown Sugar and Verjus Mocktail Directions

1. Combine the brown sugar and water into a microwave-safe bowl.

2. Heat for 30 seconds to a minute or until the sugar dissolves to make a quick simple syrup.

3. Add the syrup to a mixing glass with the verjus, ginger ale, and vanilla extract. Stir.

4. Fill four glasses with crushed ice.

5. Divide the mocktail among the four glasses then serve.