Name: Celery–Sumac Sensation
Total time: PLACEHOLDER
Ingredients: 6 tablespoons sugar; ¼ cup water; 1½ tablespoons ground sumac , plus extra for garnish; 2 (¼-inch-thick) slices lemon; 12 ounces celery; 1 cup seltzer , chilled, divided

Why This Recipe Works

Most cocktails are all about the balance of sweet and sour versus bitter and aromatic. We had the naturally bittersweet celery in good order, so we offset that with a slice of lemon for a little spritz of acidity as well as the rich citrus oils contained in the zest. Sumac adds a peppery, berry like kick to many salads, which makes it a great counter to a vegetable drink. Simply sprinkling it in didn't provide sufficient strength without turning the drink unpalatably gritty, but infusing sumac into a syrup gave us the richly flavored, garnet-hued zing we were after. It layered cleanly into the taste of celery, and a small sprinkle on top lifted the whole drink.

Before You Begin

This recipe will yield about ½ cup sumac syrup (enough for 6 drinks). Extra syrup can be refrigerated for up to 1 month.

Instructions

for the sumac syrup

Heat sugar, water, and sumac in small saucepan over medium heat, whisking often, until sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes; do not boil. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.

for the cocktail

On high speed, process lemon and celery (in that order) through juicer into 1-cup measuring cup.

Fill 2 glasses with ice. Add ½ cup juice, ½ cup seltzer, and 1 tablespoon sumac syrup to each. Using spoon, gently lift juice mixture from bottom of glass to top to combine. Top with additional ice and sprinkle with sumac. Serve.