Cinderella Mocktail

Before you start

The Cinderella is a long-standing staple of alcohol-free drink menus, a simple equal-parts mix of orange, pineapple and lemon juice. Shaking whips the pineapple into a light froth, the lemon keeps the sweetness in check, and a top of soda water or ginger ale turns it into a long, refreshing drink. A touch of grenadine gives it a rosy blush.

Because all three juices share the stage, their quality is the whole story. Fresh lemon is not negotiable; bottled lemon juice makes the drink taste bitter and flat. Fresh orange is ideal, while good canned or cartoned pineapple juice is perfectly fine and froths beautifully. The equal-parts template is easy to scale for a crowd.

Ingredients

• 30 ml (1 oz) fresh orange juice
• 30 ml (1 oz) pineapple juice — unsweetened
• 30 ml (1 oz) fresh lemon juice
• 10 ml (⅓ oz) simple syrup (1:1) — optional, to taste
• 5 ml (1 tsp) grenadine
• 60 ml (2 oz) chilled soda water or ginger ale
• 1 cup (about 150 g) ice cubes — for shaking, plus more for serving
• 1 pineapple wedge or orange wheel — for garnish

Method

1. Squeeze the orange and lemon, and strain both juices to remove seeds and large pulp.
2. Combine the orange, pineapple and lemon juices with the simple syrup and grenadine in the shaker.
3. Fill the shaker two-thirds with ice and shake for 10 seconds, until the outside is frosty and the pineapple has formed a light foam.
4. Strain into the highball glass over fresh ice.
5. Top with the soda water or ginger ale and give it one gentle stir.
6. Garnish with the pineapple wedge or orange wheel and serve while the foam is still on top.

Tips for success

• Taste before adding the syrup. With sweet oranges and pineapple juice, many people prefer it without any extra sugar.
• Ginger ale makes a sweeter, gently spicy drink; soda water keeps it crisp and lets the citrus show.
• To batch for a party, mix equal volumes of the three juices, chill, and shake portions to order for the froth.

Substitutions

Lemon juice

Lime juice makes a sharper, slightly more tropical drink. Use 25 ml, since lime tends to be more acidic.

Pineapple juice

Mango or apricot nectar keeps the body but loses the froth. Reduce the syrup, as nectars are sweeter.

Grenadine

Leave it out for a golden drink, or use raspberry syrup for a pinker color and berry note.

Variations

Cinderella punch

Combine 500 ml each of orange, pineapple and lemon juice with 120 ml simple syrup, chill, and top with 1 liter of soda water at serving. Serves 10.

Midnight Cinderella

Replace the grenadine with 15 ml blackcurrant syrup for a deep purple color.

Troubleshooting

The drink is sharply sour

Lemons vary. Add simple syrup 5 ml at a time, or reduce the lemon to 25 ml.

No foam on top

Shake harder and use pineapple juice that has not been diluted. Pineapple contains proteins that create foam with vigorous shaking.

It tastes bitter

Bottled lemon juice or squeezing too much pith can cause bitterness. Use fresh lemons and a press rather than wringing the peel.

Storage

Serve immediately. Squeezed citrus juice is best within a few hours and should be refrigerated if made ahead; use it the same day.