Name: Traverse City
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 9 ounces boiling water; 1½ teaspoons Lapsang Souchong tea leaves; 1 fresh rosemary sprig; 2 ounces tea concentrate; 1 ounce tart cherry juice; ¼ ounce vegetable glycerin; ⅛ teaspoon nonalcoholic old-fashioned aromatic bitters; Cocktail cherries for garnishing

Why This Recipe Works

To capture the rich, dark fruit notes typically found in sweet vermouth, we use tart cherry juice as a flavorful substitute. For the base, we brew a concentrated tea using smoky Lapsang souchong and fresh rosemary, which adds subtle piney, herbal notes. A touch of vegetable glycerin brings the sweetness of simple syrup to balance the bold flavors, while providing extra body in this nonalcoholic drink. Finally, aromatic bitters provide the classic Manhattan complexity. Through layers of smoky, herbal, and fruity flavors, we’ve delivered a sophisticated, spirit-free sipper.

Before You Begin

The smoky flavor of Lapsang souchong tea is important to the success of this drink; you can try other black teas, but you will get very different results. If vegetable glycerin is unavailable, an equal amount of Simple Syrup can be used. You can use traditional old-fashioned aromatic bitters in this recipe. You will have leftover simple syrup; the rest can be refrigerated for up to 1 month for use in other cocktails; shake well before using.

Instructions

for the tea concentrate

Combine 9 ounces boiling water, 1½ teaspoons Lapsang souchong tea leaves, and 1 fresh rosemary sprig in 2-cup liquid measuring cup. Cover and let steep for 5 minutes. Strain tea through fine-mesh strainer into liquid measuring cup or storage container, gently pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible; discard solids. Let tea cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes. (You should have about 8 ounces tea concentrate, enough for 4 cocktails. Tea concentrate can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.)

for the cocktail

Add 2 ounces tea concentrate, 1 ounce tart cherry juice, ¼ ounce vegetable glycerin, and ⅛ teaspoon nonalcoholic old-fashioned aromatic bitters to mixing glass, then fill three-quarters with ice. Using bar spoon, stir until mixture is just combined and chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain cocktail into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with cherries and serve.