Order a Summer Delight and the striking red gradient looks like it should carry a real kick — it doesn’t, not a drop of alcohol in this Summer Delight at all. Lime’s crisp acidity meets grenadine’s pomegranate sweetness in the glass, and sugar syrup smooths the edges before soda lifts the whole thing into something light and genuinely fizzy, a mocktail that never feels like it’s missing anything.
Pour one tonight, alcohol or not, and taste exactly what its name promises.
Recipe & Method
Ingredients
Recipe no.094
- Lime juice — 1 oz (30ml)
- Grenadine syrup — 1/2 oz (15ml)
- Sugar syrup — 2 tsp
- Soda — Full
- Lime wheel
- 1 tsp = one bar spoon’s worth.
- “Full” means filling the glass to about 80-90% capacity.
Recommended Grenadine Syrup Brand
Method
Add the lime juice, grenadine syrup, sugar syrup, and ice to a shaker.
Shake thoroughly, then strain into a glass filled with ice.
Fill gently with soda so it doesn’t lose its fizz, then stir lightly and slowly. When mixing in carbonated ingredients, one or two slow rotations while lifting and lowering the ice is all it takes to combine everything.
Drop in a lime wheel, or use it as a garnish, and it’s ready to serve.
・Technique ｜ Shake & Stir
・Glass ｜ Collins Glass / Tumbler Glass
・ABV ｜ 0%
・Best Enjoyed ｜ Daytime / Before dinner
Summer Delight in Detail
Characteristics & Flavor
Summer Delight’s name is refreshingly literal. Its exact origin isn’t documented, but this style of drink genuinely fits a pattern worth knowing: turn-of-the-century America already had a whole category of non-alcoholic “coolers,” including the Saratoga Cooler, built from citrus, sugar, and a fizzy topper. I’d call sweetened, fruit-forward mocktails like this one a direct descendant of that same idea, whatever this particular drink’s own history turns out to be.
Lime juice’s brightness, grenadine’s pomegranate-and-berry sweetness, and sugar syrup’s gentle roundness all meet soda for a genuinely refreshing, alcohol-free pour. The red gradient grenadine creates as it settles in the glass is a real visual treat before the first sip even happens.
Take a sip and lime’s tartness meets grenadine’s sweet aroma right away, with fruity flavor filling the mouth. Sugar syrup keeps the balance in check, and soda’s crispness clears the finish. Sweet, tart, and genuinely cooling, this is a mocktail built for hot weather, and one that works for absolutely anyone at the table.
Jump to the Saratoga Cooler Page
Points, Twists & Best Food Pairings
Food Pairings
- Grilled shrimp skewers — Lime’s acidity cuts through the char and richness, while grenadine’s sweetness echoes the shrimp’s natural sugars.
- Fresh fruit salad — Berry-forward grenadine pulls out the sweetness in melon and citrus, making the whole plate taste brighter.
- Light cheese and crackers — A mild cheese’s creaminess softens the tartness, and the crisp cracker plays well against the drink’s fizz.
Bartender’s Tip
A common mistake is pouring the soda in too fast, which flattens the fizz before the drink even settles. Pour slowly down the side of the glass and stir just once or twice to keep every bubble intact.
Twists
- Berry Summer Delight — Muddle a few fresh raspberries or strawberries into the shaker for extra fruitiness and a deeper red hue.
- Mint Summer Delight — Add a sprig of fresh mint before shaking for a cooling, herbal lift that suits hot afternoons.
- Sparkling Summer Delight — Swap soda for ginger ale for a spicier, more aromatic version of this mocktail.
I’d always shake this one properly before adding soda — skipping the shake step leaves the sugar syrup sitting at the bottom instead of blending into every sip.
Recipe video
- Recipe video ｜ BAR.Channel Channel Home
