Citrusy, herbal, fizzy, and fun, this yuzu pitcher cocktail recipe is supremely refreshing, thanks to the mint, basil, citrus, and cucumber. Some fresh orange juice tints the drink a pinkish-orange, and if you use blood orange juice — wow, will you have a gorgeously hued cocktail!

It starts with a simple syrup made with herbs, which provides a fragrant base for the drink. But the drink is only as sweet as you want it to be — you can play around with the proportions of the syrup, the booze, the juices, and the sparkling water.

Yuzo Cocktail: Citrusy, fizzy, and fun, this herbaceous cocktail is easy to make at home (but tastes like something you would order at a fancy cocktail bar).

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A Modern Pitcher Cocktail

A great cocktail program is a highlight of many restaurants and bars these days. You’ll find a sexy offering of innovative drinks (both mocktails and alcoholic drinks) in places ranging from fancy to casual. The cocktail world stretches way beyond martinis and cosmopolitans (not that there is anything wrong with a good classic drink!).

This is a pitcher drink, which I gravitate towards. I usually make cocktails for a group of people, and mixing up individual drinks takes too much time — time that I could be drinking with my guests! A pitcher drink lets people serve themselves, which is a convivial way to host.

I like making my big-batch drinks in glass pitchers so people can see the various ingredients and colors of the cocktail. And this one is particularly pretty, especially if you use blood oranges in the mix. This is a cocktail that you’ll want to consider making your house drink in the winter when yuzus are in season.

Yuzu Cocktail Ingredients

• Fresh mint and basil – Some of these herbs will be used in the simple syrup, and some will be used in the drink itself. Try to find Thai basil, if possible, which has a bit of spiciness and a hint of anise.
• Water and sugar – The essential ingredients for a homemade simple syrup.
• Fresh orange juice – You can use regular oranges or blood oranges for a deeper color.
• Cucumber – Use the long seedless English type.
• Vodka – For best results, chill the bottle of vodka before making these cocktails.
• Yuzu juice – American-grown yuzu are increasingly available in the states, but they are expensive, and usually only available during their narrow seasonal window. Yuzu juice, on the other hand, is much more readily available. Look for it in bottles in Asian markets, especially Japanese or Korean shops. Yuzu juice is also available online.
• Sparkling water – Again, chilled because you want to ensure these drinks are nice and cold when serving.

Variations and Substitutions

• Use grapefruit juice or pomelo juice instead of the yuzu.
• Try a flavored vodka instead of plain, like mandarin orange or lemon vodka.
• Substitute gin, sake, or tequila for the vodka.
• Use agave nectar or honey instead of the simple syrup; it won’t have the same herbal notes, but it will still be delicious.
• If you want to serve this as a mocktail, try a floral non-alcoholic botanical spirit in place of the vodka.
• To make this a base for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions, mix everything together in the pitcher except the alcohol. Then, provide vodka and a non-alcoholic spirit on the side for people to mix in as they wish.

How to Make Yuzu Cocktails

1. Make the simple syrup: Place the chopped mint basil leaves in a small pot with the water and sugar. Simmer until the sugar dissolves. Cool and chill. Strain out the herbs and store it in the fridge until needed.

2. Make the cocktail base: Combine the sliced cucumber and herb sprigs in a large pitcher and add the orange juice, infused simple syrup, vodka, and yuzu juice.

3. Stir: Use the spoon to crush the cucumbers and mint sprigs a bit.

4. Finish the drink: Add the sparkling water.

5. Serve: Pour over ice in highball glasses, each garnished with a cucumber spear plus a sprig or two of basil and mint, if desired.

Tips

• Use fresh orange juice; it makes a big difference.
• If you can find Thai basil, it adds a different kind of licoricey, minty flavor with a Southeast Asian bent.
• Start with 2 tablespoons of the simple syrup and add more to taste. You can also add more to individual glasses if you want to sweeten some of the servings.
• Make sure all of the ingredients are chilled before mixing your cocktail.

How to Serve Yuzu Cocktails

Serve over ice. Or, if you prefer, straight up in coup or champagne glasses. Don’t forget the garnishes! A spear of cucumber and some fresh herb sprigs make this drink so very pretty. You could also add a slice of orange if you like. Use blood orange slices if you used blood oranges for the juice.

Storage

You can make the herbed simple syrup ahead of time; store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can also combine everything but the sparkling water into a pitcher and keep that in the fridge for up to a day. Add the sparkling water just before serving.

More Cocktail Recipes

Pitcher Pomelo Palomas

Orange White Wine Campari Sangria

Red Pomegranate Pitcher Cocktail for the Holidays