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    Recipes » Beverages » Rosemary Clementine Brunch Cocktail

    Rosemary Clementine Brunch Cocktail

    Published: Sep 1, 2017 · Modified: Jul 16, 2022 by Kate Shungu · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Jump to Recipe
    rosemary clementine cocktail in a glass with a sprig of rosemary and an ice cube.

    This easy Rosemary Clementine Cocktail is a spin on the classic screwdriver. It’s lightly sweet, perfectly balanced, and a delicious addition to your brunch menu.

    rosemary clementine brunch cocktail with a sprig of rosemary and a large ice cube.

    What’s brunch without a good cocktail? When I was dreaming of an Italian-themed brunch, I immediately thought of making a cocktail with the Italian sodas at Trader Joe’s.

    I chose the clementine soda to create a Rosemary Clementine Brunch Cocktail—a fun take on a screwdriver!

    I teamed up with Kelley from Haviland Events for this brunch. She is the queen of #tablesettingtuesday, and she made the cutest tablesetting for this menu. She was also the lucky recipient of the extra cocktails, and she reports that they’re just as tasty later in the day!

    table set for brunch with italian china, caprese bread pudding, muffins, sausage patties, orange cocktails, and espresso in mini cups.

    This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links support Gift of Hospitality at no additional cost to you. I receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase through these links.

    Jump to:
    • Combining citrus and rosemary
    • How to make rosemary simple syrup
    • How to make the brunch cocktail
    • More brunch ideas
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Related recipes
    • 💬 Reviews

    Combining citrus and rosemary

    I’m a huge fan of The Flavor Bible. The entire book is lists of ingredients and what pairs nicely with them.

    For example, almonds pair well with apricots, chocolate, hazelnuts, and honey. Lemons taste nice with basil, blackberries, capers, garlic, and pistachios. Salmon goes well with basil, chives, lime zest, and tarragon—the lists go on and on.

    There are thousands of ingredient pairings in the book. I can’t imagine what the authors had to do to dream up all of these combinations!

    Did they taste them all? How exactly does one figure out that chickpeas pair well with shrimp? Or that sweet potatoes and red onions are a match made in heaven?

    Regardless of how they came up with the pairings, I’m grateful. I’m a better cook as a result of the book.

    I had my eye on clementine soda from Trader Joe’s recently. Since we normally drink orange juice with brunch, I thought it would make a delicious brunch cocktail.

    But I wasn’t quite sure what else to add. I grabbed The Flavor Bible and landed on the combination of oranges and rosemary.

    How to make rosemary simple syrup

    Start by combing equal parts sugar and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then stir and remove from the heat. Add two large rosemary sprigs, and allow them to steep in the simple syrup for 15 minutes.

    rosemary sprigs in simple syrup in a metal pan.

    Remove the rosemary sprigs and allow the simple syrup to cool completely. That’s it! You just made rosemary simple syrup.

    And it tastes like CHRISTMAS! The flavor of the rosemary definitely pointed my taste memories toward December. I think the smell of fresh pine from the Christmas tree and the taste of sweet Christmas cookies jogged my flavor recall!

    How to make the brunch cocktail

    The next step is to grab a large pitcher and start pouring.

    Add vodka, rosemary simple syrup, clementine soda, club soda, and orange bitters. Stir gently to combine. You’ll want to do this right before you serve the cocktail so the bubbles don’t disappear!

    pitcher of rosemary clementine cocktail with rosemary sprigs.

    The orange bitters are an optional but excellent addition—they really balance out the whole beverage nicely.

    Add sprigs of fresh rosemary to the pitcher, and serve the cocktail over ice.

    More brunch ideas

    This Rosemary Clementine Brunch Cocktail is the perfect addition to any brunch menu.

    When I served the cocktail, I had an Italian-themed menu that included Savory Caprese Bread Pudding and Italian Sausage Breakfast Patties.

    table set for brunch with sausage patties, egg casserole, muffins, and clementine cocktails.

    Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or comment below!

    cup of ambrosia and slice of banana cake.

    📖 Recipe

    clementine cocktail in a glass with a large ice cube and a sprig of rosemary.

    Rosemary Clementine Brunch Cocktail

    Published by Kate
    Anyone can make this easy brunch cocktail—no special mixology knowledge required!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
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    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Beverages
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 208 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Rosemary simple syrup

    • ½ cup sugar
    • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary

    Clementine rosemary cocktail

    • ¾ cup rosemary simple syrup
    • ½ cup vodka
    • 3–4 dashes orange bitters
    • 2 (25.4 oz) bottles clementine soda (I used Trader Joe’s; see notes for more options)
    • 2 cups (16 oz) club soda
    • For garnish: fresh rosemary sprigs (one per serving glass, plus a few for the pitcher)

    Instructions
     

    Rosemary simple syrup

    • Place the sugar with ½ cup of water in a small saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil.
    • Remove the pan from the heat and add 2 rosemary sprigs. Allow to steep for 15 minutes. Remove the rosemary sprigs and allow the simple syrup to cool. Refrigerate until ready to use.

    Clementine rosemary cocktail

    • Pour ¾ cup simple syrup and ½ cup vodka into a glass pitcher. Sprinkle in the orange bitters.
    • Add 2 bottles of clementine soda (about 6 cups). Top off with 2 cups of club soda and stir to combine.
    • Pour into glasses with ice. Garnish with additional fresh rosemary sprigs.

    Notes

    If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby, both San Pellegrino and Izze make clementine soda. You can usually find one or the other at your local grocery store. Substitute four 12-ounce cans in place of the bottles. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 208kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 1gSodium: 41mgSugar: 41gCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword brunch cocktail
    Tried this recipe?Follow me at @giftofhospitality and let me know how you liked it!

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    About Kate

    I’m a believer, wife, mom, and big fan of old cookbooks. I live in Chicago with my husband and two young sons. I love discovering old fashioned recipes that will transport you back in time! Read more...

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    Kate from Gift of HospitalityI’m Kate. I love discovering old fashioned recipes that will transport you back in time. Learn more here
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