Berry Lemonade Sparkler

Ingredients

• 4 cups well-chilled prepared lemonade (960 g)
• 2 cups well-chilled cranberry juice cocktail (480 g)
• 2 cups well-chilled lemon-lime sparkling water (480 g)
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced (150 g)
• 1 cup fresh, firm blueberries (150 g)
• 4 cups large ice cubes, plus extra ice for glasses (600 g)
• 1 medium lemon, thinly sliced into rounds (120 g)
• 8 small fresh mint sprigs, optional, for garnish (8 g)

Instructions

1. Chill ingredients. Refrigerate the lemonade, cranberry juice cocktail, sparkling water, strawberries, and blueberries until thoroughly cold, at least two hours. Set out a clear two-quart pitcher, eight glasses, a long spoon, and a separate bowl of ice.
2. Prepare berries. Hull strawberries and cut them into thin, even slices. Reserve several slices and a handful of blueberries for glasses. Add remaining berries and lemon rounds to pitcher; thin slices disperse through pours without clogging a spout.
3. Mix base. Pour lemonade and cranberry juice over the fruit. Stir gently until the pitcher looks evenly rosy. For make-ahead service, cover and refrigerate the juice base up to four hours; leave out the ice and sparkling water.
4. Add ice. Add the large ice cubes immediately before serving, keeping extra ice for glasses. Large cubes chill the drink with less dilution. Do not pack the pitcher tightly; berries and bubbles need room to move.
5. Finish fizz. Slowly pour sparkling water down the pitcher’s inside edge. Give the mixture one or two gentle turns with the long spoon, then stop. Vigorous stirring releases carbonation; the surface should remain bubbly, not foamy.
6. Pour and garnish. Fill glasses with ice, pour the sparkler over it, and spoon berries into each serving so glasses do not take all the fruit. Garnish with reserved strawberries, blueberries, and mint if using. Serve immediately.

Notes

• For the clearest color and best bubbles, make the lemonade-cranberry base ahead but wait to add sparkling water until serving. (5 minutes; $)
• Frozen blueberries are useful when fresh berries are expensive, but add them at the last minute because their color can bleed into the pitcher. (2 minutes; $)
• To scale for sixteen servings, double all ingredients and use a punch bowl or two separate pitchers rather than one crowded container. (10 minutes; $$)

Nutrition Facts