Verjus Spritz Mocktail

Before you start

Verjus is the pressed juice of unripe wine grapes. It is not fermented, so it contains no alcohol, but it has the grape aromas and bracing acidity of a dry white wine. That makes it one of the best tools for alcohol-free drinks, which often taste sweet and juicy because they lack the sharp structure wine provides. In a spritz, verjus delivers that structure in a single pour.

Verjus is gentler than lemon juice, so it can make up a large share of the drink without puckering. A small amount of elderflower cordial rounds the edges and adds floral sweetness, and soda water lengthens it into an aperitif. White verjus (verjus blanc) is crisp and green; red verjus (verjus rouge) is fruitier and slightly tannic. Start with white, then try the red variation.

Ingredients

• 60 ml (2 oz) white verjus — chilled
• 15 ml (½ oz) elderflower cordial
• 100 ml (3⅓ oz) soda water — very cold
• 1½ cups (about 220 g) ice cubes
• 1 wide strip grapefruit or lemon peel
• 3 green grapes — halved, optional

Method

1. Fill the wine glass with ice. A big glass full of ice holds the aroma and keeps the spritz cold longer.
2. Pour in the verjus and elderflower cordial, then stir for a few seconds to mix and chill them.
3. Top with the soda water, pouring slowly down the inside of the glass.
4. Lift the bar spoon once through the drink to combine without losing fizz.
5. Twist the citrus peel over the glass to release its oils, rub it around the rim and drop it in with the grape halves.

Tips for success

• Taste your verjus on its own first. Acidity differs between producers, and a softer bottle may need only 10 ml cordial.
• Grape halves frozen ahead double as flavorful ice cubes that will not water down the drink.
• Look for verjus near the vinegars in specialty grocers or online; it is sometimes labeled verjuice.

Substitutions

Elderflower cordial

Honey syrup gives a warmer, rounder sweetness; use 10 ml. A splash of non-alcoholic bitter aperitif makes it more Italian and bittersweet.

Soda water

Tonic water adds quinine bitterness and more sugar; drop the cordial to 7 ml. Non-alcoholic sparkling wine makes a richer, more festive glass.

White verjus

Red verjus makes a pink, fruitier spritz with gentle tannin. If you cannot find either, 30 ml white grape juice plus 15 ml lemon juice is a rough stand-in.

Variations

Rouge spritz

Use red verjus with 15 ml pomegranate juice and 5 ml extra cordial. Garnish with an orange slice.

Herbal verjus

Add a sprig of thyme or a few basil leaves to the glass and press them lightly before adding ice.

Troubleshooting

The drink is too sharp

Your verjus is very acidic. Add 5 ml more cordial or 30 ml more soda.

It tastes flat and stale

The verjus may have oxidized in an opened bottle. Store it in the fridge and use it within the window on the label.

There is not much aroma

Use a wide strip of peel and twist it firmly over the surface; the oils carry much of the scent.

Storage

Keep opened verjus tightly capped in the refrigerator. Like an open bottle of wine, it slowly loses freshness; many producers suggest using it within a few weeks to a few months, so follow the label. Mix the spritz right before drinking.