Midnight Meadow Elixir

The Midnight Meadow Elixir is a beautifully balanced mocktail designed to delight the senses without alcohol. It combines the cool, vegetal notes of muddled fresh cucumber with the sweet, peppery aroma of basil. A touch of elderflower cordial provides a delicate floral sweetness, which is perfectly offset by the bright acidity of fresh lime juice, all brought to life with a bubbly finish.
Midnight Meadow Elixir

Preparation

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

This drink is classified as a contemporary mocktail. It is a modern, non-alcoholic creation that isn't based on a classic cocktail template, focusing instead on fresh, herbal, and floral flavor combinations suitable for sophisticated palates.

Serving

This alcohol-free drink is served cold in a chilled coupe or wine glass to maintain its crispness and elegance. The serving size is moderate, perfect for savoring.
Serving size
Approximately 200 ml / 6.7 oz
Alcohol content
0.0% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

Inspired by the tranquility of a garden at twilight, the Midnight Meadow Elixir aims to capture the essence of cool evening air and fragrant botanicals. It's a drink crafted for moments of peaceful reflection or quiet celebration. The name evokes a sense of calm and natural elegance, much like a stroll through a meadow under the stars.
Origin
This is a modern mocktail creation without a specific documented origin or history. It reflects the contemporary trend of crafting complex, sophisticated non-alcoholic beverages using fresh, high-quality ingredients, likely emerging in the 2010s.

Midnight Meadow Elixir

The drink is primarily known as the Midnight Meadow Elixir, a name chosen for its evocative and serene qualities. Alternative names like Cucumber Basil Sparkler or Elderflower Garden Fizz are more descriptive, highlighting the key ingredients for those unfamiliar with the original name.
Original name
Midnight Meadow Elixir
Alternative names
  • Cucumber Basil Sparkler
  • Elderflower Garden Fizz

Characteristics overview

It presents a refreshing and herbal flavor profile with a clean, crisp texture and a delicate bubbly finish. The aroma is a fragrant bouquet of fresh cucumber, basil, and floral elderflower, making it an ideal summery beverage.
Flavor
Herbal, Floral, Refreshing, Crisp, Slightly sweet, Vegetal
Aroma
Cucumber, Basil, Elderflower, Lime
Taste balance
Sweet, Sour
Aftertaste
Clean, Herbaceous, Short
Fizziness
Bubbly, Effervescent, Light
Color appearance
Pale green, Translucent, Clear
Texture
Light, Crisp, Bubbly
Seasonality
Refreshing, Summery

Flavor intensity & Experience

This is a non-alcoholic drink with a light flavor intensity, characterized by a refreshing sourness from lime, balanced by a gentle sweetness from elderflower cordial. It is bubbly but not overpowering, with no bitterness, saltiness, or spiciness.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

You will need fresh cucumber slices and basil leaves as the base, complemented by elderflower cordial and fresh lime juice for the sweet and sour balance. The drink is topped with chilled soda water for effervescence.
  • Cucumber3-4 slices (about 1/4 inch thick)
    Fresh, crisp cucumber works best. These slices are for muddling.
  • Fresh Basil Leaves5-6 medium leaves
    Use fresh, vibrant basil for the best aroma and flavor.
  • Elderflower Cordial20 ml / 0.75 oz
    Adjust quantity based on the sweetness of your cordial and personal preference.
  • Fresh Lime Juice20 ml / 0.75 oz
    Freshly squeezed juice is essential for a bright, vibrant taste.
  • Soda Water120 ml / 4 oz (or to top)
    Chilled soda water or sparkling water. For a more luxurious version, use non-alcoholic sparkling wine.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

Preparation requires a cocktail shaker and a muddler to extract flavors from the fresh ingredients. Use a jigger for measurements and a fine-mesh strainer to ensure a smooth, clear final drink.
  • Cocktail shaker for chilling and mixing the ingredients.
  • Muddler for gently pressing the cucumber and basil.
  • Jigger or measuring spoons for accurate liquid measurements.
  • Fine-mesh strainer for double-straining to remove small particles.

Instructions

The process involves gently muddling cucumber and basil, shaking the mixture with lime juice and elderflower cordial, and then double-straining it into a chilled glass. Finish by topping with soda water and adding the final garnishes.
1. Prepare your glass: Chill a coupe or wine glass in the freezer for a few minutes. If using, prepare the cucumber ribbon garnish and place it inside the chilled glass.
2. Muddle the base: Place the cucumber slices and basil leaves into the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Gently muddle them to release their oils and juices without pulverizing them.
3. Add liquids: Pour the fresh lime juice and elderflower cordial into the shaker with the muddled ingredients.
4. Shake with ice: Fill the shaker with cubed ice, secure the lid, and shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is well-chilled.
5. Double strain: Using both the shaker's built-in strainer and a fine-mesh strainer, pour the mixture into your prepared, chilled glass. This ensures no small bits of cucumber or basil end up in the final drink.
6. Top and garnish: Gently top the drink with chilled soda water. Garnish with a fresh basil leaf floated on the surface.

Garnishing

Garnish with a delicate cucumber ribbon lining the inside of the glass and a fresh basil leaf floated on top. This enhances the drink's visual appeal and aromatic experience.
  • Cucumber ribbon: Use a vegetable peeler to create a long, thin ribbon of cucumber and place it inside the glass.
  • Fresh basil leaf: Float a single, fresh basil leaf on top of the drink for aroma.

Dietary Information

This mocktail is suitable for a wide range of dietary preferences as it is naturally vegan, vegetarian, and free from alcohol, caffeine, gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, and soy.
✕ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This is a relatively low-calorie mocktail, with its caloric and sugar content primarily coming from the elderflower cordial. It is low in carbohydrates overall, making it a lighter beverage choice.
Calories
averagely 70 kcal / 293 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
averagely 16g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
averagely 15g
Sugar level

Occasions

Perfect for warm-weather events, this mocktail shines at garden parties, brunches, and elegant summer gatherings. Its sophisticated profile also makes it a wonderful choice for a relaxing evening when you desire a special drink without alcohol.
  • Summer Party
  • Garden Gathering
  • Brunch
  • Baby Shower
  • Relaxing Evening

Pairing suggestions

The drink's fresh, herbal, and floral notes pair beautifully with light and delicate foods. It complements appetizers like seafood or goat cheese canapés, fresh salads, and desserts that aren't overly sweet, such as fruit tarts.
  • Light salads with vinaigrette dressing
  • Goat cheese canapés
  • Smoked salmon blinis
  • Seafood appetizers like shrimp cocktail
  • Fresh fruit tarts

Midnight Meadow Elixir: A Taste of Twilight Serenity

The Midnight Meadow Elixir is a sophisticated and refreshing alcohol-free beverage perfect for any occasion that calls for an elegant drink. Its foundation of fresh cucumber and basil creates a crisp, green base, lifted by the floral sweetness of elderflower and the bright tang of lime. Topped with sparkling water, it's a visually stunning mocktail with a clean, herbaceous character that is both calming and celebratory.

Similar mocktails

Virgin Cucumber Gimlet

This drink simplifies the profile by omitting the basil and elderflower, focusing on the relationship between cucumber, lime, and a simple syrup or non-alcoholic gin.

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