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Cocktail History
The Mountaintop Meadow is a Sips From Scripts original cocktail that was created for a Christmas cocktail challenge. Instead of going the traditional Christmas cocktail route, we took inspiration directly from posts by our assigned Instagram’s account, many of which feature photos of summer cocktails and scaling mountainsides. In homage to the user’s two hobbies, we went with a refreshing mix of vodka, bubbly, fruit, and floral flavors that together taste like the moment you first smell a beautiful mountaintop wildflower field after climbing up a cliff on a warm summer day.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Sparkling Wine: This is a carbonated wine made with white or red grapes. We used Villa Bellezza Winery Brillante because it has a light and airy flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Prosecco in place of the sparkling wine.
Vodka: This is a spirit made with grains, vegetables or fruits, and alcohol. We used Russian Standard Gold Vodka because it’s smooth and easy to sip. For a mocktail version of this drink, try STRYKK Not V*dka in place of the vodka.
Elderflower Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with elderflowers, citrus, herbs, sugar, and alcohol. We used Edinburgh Gin Distillery Elderflower Gin Liqueur because it’s high quality and has a fresh, floral aroma and flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Premium Elderflower Syrup in place of the elderflower liqueur.
Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water. We made ours at home using Alex’s stovetop recipe.
Lavender Bitters: This is a food product made with lavender buds, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Scrappy’s Bitters Lavender Bitters.
Pineapple Slice: This is pineapple flesh that has been cut into a wedge shape.
Mint Sprig: This is an herb. We used fresh Mojito mint.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. We used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Pineapple Corer: This is used to remove the core of the pineapple before it’s juiced. We used the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pineapple Corer.
Chef’s Knife: This is used to cut larger fruits and vegetables into slices for the garnish. We used the OXO Good Grips 8-Inch Chef’s Knife.
Tasting Notes
The Mountaintop Meadow features delightful floral, mint, and pineapple aromas and the taste of dry wine with notes of lavender and elderflower.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We both really enjoyed this drink! It’s refreshing, light and delicious, and it would be a fabulous reward after a long climb. Just a warning: Although almost colorless and light, this cocktail is as dangerous as mountain climbing. We recommend waiting at least an hour or more before attempting to descend any cliffs if you do enjoy a Mountaintop Meadow in an actual meadow.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“I first came up with this drink as part of a challenge we were in a long time ago. We didn’t have much to go on except that the person who ran the Instagram account we were assigned fairly regularly featured vodka and enjoyed tiki drinks. I had just picked up my first bottle of elderflower liqueur, so naturally the Mountaintop Meadow was born. A few years later, we’re revisiting it, and I now find it to be a little too floral for my palate. I also found the amount of vodka used on top of sparkling wine and elderflower liqueur to be a bit too much alcohol for one drink, although I believe we may have done that on purpose since he seemed to be an enjoyer of strong drinks. It’s good but not my favorite of our originals anymore.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This is probably the most floral cocktail I’ve ever tried outside of maybe an Aviation, but the more my palate develops, the more that recipe becomes too cloyingly sweet for me. The Mountaintop Meadow, on the hand, has a dry and earthy flavor that still manages to be very refreshing despite featuring very little sweetness. In my opinion, this drink really does encapsulate what I imagine a flower field would taste like in drink form.”
Recipe
Add vodka, elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, lavender bitters, and cubed ice to a lowball glass.
Stir for 30-45 seconds.
Top with sparkling wine.
Garnish with pineapple wedge and mint sprig.
Ingredients
Directions
Add vodka, elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, lavender bitters, and cubed ice to a lowball glass.
Stir for 30-45 seconds.
Top with sparkling wine.
Garnish with pineapple wedge and mint sprig.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Prosecco in place of the sparkling wine, STRYKK Not V*dka in place of the vodka, and Monin Premium Elderflower Syrup in place of the elderflower liqueur to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Sparkling Wine Cocktails
If you like this sparkling wine-based cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Nucleus Mimosa: A sparkling wine cocktail made with orange juice, cranberry juice, and a lime slice
Pomegranate Gin Fizz: A gin cocktail made with grenadine, sparkling wine, pomegranate seeds, and a Demerara sugar cube
Minute To Midnight: A brandy cocktail made with pear liqueur, Angostura aromatic bitters, dry sparkling wine, and a lemon twist
British 75: A gin cocktail made with lemon juice, simple syrup, sparkling wine, and a lemon wedge
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