Fête 00 0% Abv Recipe

Make syrup

Combine 1 cup water and 1 cup granulated sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar fully dissolves and mixture comes to a gentle simmer.

Add 2 tablespoons dried elderflowers (or lightly bruised fresh elderflower heads) to the simmering syrup. Reduce heat to low and steep for 8 minutes, keeping the temperature below a boil to preserve delicate floral aromatics.

Remove from heat and let steep for an additional 10 minutes off the heat to concentrate flavor.

Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean container, pressing gently on the solids to extract liquid. Discard solids.

Stir in 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice to brighten the syrup. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled. Makes approximately 1 cup syrup; keeps covered in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

Prepare cucumber

Thinly slice half an English cucumber. Reserve one long, unbroken slice for garnish (a ribbon). Place the remaining slices in a blender and pulse 6–8 times until roughly puréed but not completely liquefied.

Place the puréed cucumber into a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl or jug and press with the back of a spoon to extract juice. You should obtain roughly 2–3 tablespoons of cucumber juice. Alternatively, use a juicer to extract cucumber juice.

Fill a highball or Collins glass with 1 cup of ice cubes (or equivalent). Add the extracted cucumber juice to the glass, then pour in 12 fl oz cold sparkling water slowly to preserve carbonation.

Add 3/4 to 1 ounce (roughly 1.5 to 2 tablespoons) of the chilled elderflower syrup to the glass with cucumber soda. Taste and adjust: for a sweeter, more floral drink use 1 oz (2 tbsp); for a lighter touch use 3/4 oz (1.5 tbsp). Note: 1 tbsp ≈ 0.5 fl oz.

Add 1/2 tablespoon (about 7–8 ml) fresh lemon juice to the glass to brighten flavors. Gently stir twice with a bar spoon to combine without flattening the soda.

Garnish by twisting the reserved cucumber slice into a ribbon and placing it along the inside of the glass, top with an edible flower or a small mint sprig if using.

Serve immediately while sparkling and cold.