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    Recipes » Drinks » Cocktail Recipes

    Rhubarb Cocktail

    Published: May 6, 2021 by Marissa Stevens · 16 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    Rhubarb Cocktail served over ice with rhubarb ribbon and rosemary sprig garnish

    At the first sight of fresh spring rhubarb, I start craving this Rhubarb Cocktail. It's gently spiked with rum, a little bit tart, a little bit sweet and herbaceous, and entirely refreshing.

    Rhubarb Cocktail over ice in a clear glass with rhubarb and rosemary garnish

    As a rule, we're red wine people. But it's fun to have an occasional cocktail, usually of the gin variety in our house: a good martini with olives or a gin and tonic (with homemade tonic water). So I'm not sure why this drink caught my eye in a long ago issue of Bon Appétit magazine. Maybe it was that pretty sprig of rosemary poking out of the top. Whatever it was, I made it, and we've had it every year since when the scarlet stalks of rhubarb appear at the grocery store or farmer's market.

    Ingredients You Need for this Rhubarb Cocktail

    rhubarb cocktail ingredients on a white marble board
    • Fresh Rhubarb: Look for the reddest stalks you can find.
    • Fresh Rosemary: Dried rosemary is not a good substitute here.
    • Lemons: Look for brightly colored, firm lemons that are heavy for their size.
    • Sugar: Granulated white sugar, superfine if you have it.
    • Water: Ideally filtered for making rosemary infused simple syrup.
    • Rum: White rum for its mild (not spiced) flavor profile and clear color. Vodka or a London dry gin or Plymouth gin would also be excellent.

    It's not just the raw rhubarb with its floral notes and pleasantly sour flavor or the perky, earthy hint of rosemary that I love in this delicious cocktail. It's also lively, not too sweet, and one recipe makes the perfect amount for a party. Fill a pitcher to share with friends. Serve it over ice or stir in cocktail shaker with ice to serve up in a martini glass.

    Look for the reddest stalks of rhubarb you can find so you'll end up with cocktails that are a pretty pink color instead of murky green ones (though they'd still be tasty). And make sure to start this recipe at least 4 hours or up to a day before you plan to serve.

    How to Make this Rhubarb Cocktail

    Step 1: Dissolve ¼ cup of sugar in 1 cup of water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and add rosemary leaves to steep for 5 minutes. Strain out rosemary and let syrup cool.

    • simple syrup simmering
    • infusing fresh rosemary leaves in simple syrup
    • pressing fresh rosemary with a spoon in a strainer

    Step 2: Blend diced rhubarb, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 ¼ cups water, and ¼ cup sugar to a into a coarse puree. Strain liquid into a medium bowl through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Cover and refrigerate rhubarb juice and rosemary syrup separately for at least 4 hours and up to 2 days.

    • fresh rhubarb sugar and water in a blender pitcher
    • blended fresh rhubarb sugar and water in a blender pitcher
    • pressing blended rhubarb mixture with a spoon in a strainer set over a clear glass bowl

    Step 3: When you're ready to make cocktails, mix rhubarb juice, rosemary simple syrup, remaining lemon juice, and rum in a pitcher. Stir to combine. Serve in glasses filled with ice. Garnish with shaved rhubarb ribbon and fresh rosemary sprig if desired.

    More of My Favorite Cocktail Recipes

    • Peach Bellini (The classic cocktail that started at Harry's Bar in Venice, Italy!)
    • French 75 Cocktail (One of my all-time favorite bubbly cocktails!)
    • The Last Word Cocktail (Made with the herbaceous French liqueur, Chartreuse!)
    Rhubarb Cocktail over ice in a clear glass with rhubarb and rosemary garnish

    Rhubarb Cocktail with Rosemary

    Marissa Stevens
    This is slightly less sweet than the original recipe that appeared in Bon Appétit magazine.
    5 from 4 votes
    Save Recipe Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Chilling Time 4 hrs
    Total Time 4 hrs 15 mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 cocktails
    Calories 161 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 ¼ cups water divided
    • ½ cup sugar divided
    • ½ cup fresh rosemary leaves
    • 3 stalks fresh rhubarb diced
    • 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice divided
    • 1 ½ cups white rum
    • 8 sprigs fresh rosemary for garnish

    Instructions
     

    • Heat 1 cup water and ¼ cup sugar to simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat; add ½ cup rosemary leaves. Steep for 5 minutes then strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on rosemary. Discard rosemary and let syrup cool.
    • Add diced rhubarb, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 ¼ cups water, and ¼ cup sugar to a blender. Blend into a coarse puree. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium bowl, using a spoon to coax liquid through mesh. (You may need to do this in batches depending on the size of your sieve.) Squeeze pulp with your hands to release as much liquid as possible. Discard pulp.
    • Cover and refrigerate rhubarb juice and rosemary syrup separately for at least 4 hours and up to 2 days.
    • When you're ready to make cocktails, mix rhubarb juice, rosemary syrup, remaining lemon juice, and rum in a pitcher. Stir to combine.
    • Serve Rhubarb Cocktails in glasses filled with ice. Or pour into an ice filled cocktail shaker and stir until very cold to serve up in martini glasses. Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig and/or a fresh rhubarb ribbon threaded onto a cocktail pick.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 161kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 5mgPotassium: 80mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 72IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Mother's Day
    Tried this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @pinchandswirl or leave me a comment and rating below.

    More Cocktail Recipes

    • Peach Bellini Recipe
    • The Last Word Cocktail Recipe
    • Boulevardier Cocktail Recipe
    • French 75 Cocktail

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Krista Wolf says

      May 07, 2022 at 5:04 pm

      5 stars
      Fantastic! Lively and not too sweet, just as described. A pitcher of these will be part of our Mothers Day celebration from now on.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        May 08, 2022 at 8:47 am

        aww...I love to hear that, Krista! Thank you for coming back to let me know.

        Reply
    2. Valentina says

      May 11, 2021 at 12:54 pm

      5 stars
      Marissa, this might just be the prettiest cocktail I've seen! That rhubarb "ribbon" is stunning! I just sent this to my friend who loves all things rhubarb. She'll flip for it. 🙂 ~Valenitna

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        May 14, 2021 at 8:45 am

        aww, thank you Valentina!

        Reply
    3. David @ Spiced says

      May 07, 2021 at 4:14 am

      5 stars
      What an interesting cocktail! I've seen rhubarb used in all sorts of ways, but this is the first time I've seen a cocktail with it. I like it! Laura loves cocktails with an herby twist, so I feel like this is right up her alley. I also feel like gin could work here, although the flavor might overpower the other ingredients. Guess there's one way to find out!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        May 07, 2021 at 11:05 am

        You've got to make this one for Laura, David! I think she'll love it. And yes to the gin!

        Reply
    4. Ben | Havocinthekitchen says

      May 06, 2021 at 2:52 pm

      5 stars
      Ooo I've made once rhubarb lemonade, and it was so good. Certainly this fancy and elegant cocktail so much better that any lemonade! I love how you also Infused it with fresh rosemary.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        May 07, 2021 at 11:06 am

        Thanks so much, Ben!

        Reply
    5. SHelley Slator says

      July 13, 2020 at 4:09 am

      I have made this cocktail and love it. I like to cook the rhubarb, sugar and water together creating a base syrup. I then freeze it in small containers. I do the same with the rosemary simple syrup. When you want a cocktail, just thaw slightly, blend or put it in a shaker with the rum and lemon juice and voila! Beautiful cocktail!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        July 14, 2020 at 8:36 am

        Glad you're enjoying this recipe, Shelley!

        Reply
    6. swayam says

      May 06, 2015 at 12:37 pm

      Hi Marissa.Remember me from BFC?..I love love love the drink. Finally did the round up on my blog.. Thanks so much! Can't wait to make it 🙂 although I might have to really look for rhubarb...any alternative??

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        May 07, 2015 at 9:14 am

        Hi there, I've seen fresh cranberries suggested as a substitute. Thanks so much for including me in your cocktail roundup!

        Reply
    7. Sophie-Lee says

      December 12, 2013 at 12:44 pm

      Wow, this looks amazing! Have you tried storing the syrup for a longer time, or does it pretty much need to consumed within 2 days? Seems to have enough sugar that it would preserve well.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        December 12, 2013 at 2:14 pm

        Honestly, I've wondered the same thing. I see no reason why it wouldn't last a bit longer - maybe a week?

        Reply
    8. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says

      June 22, 2013 at 6:13 pm

      What a gorgeous looking cocktail! Love the little sprig of rosemary and also a nice idea to use pink rhubarb if you're doing a pink themed party too 🙂

      Reply
    9. Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes says

      June 22, 2013 at 5:49 pm

      I really hate that I don´t find rhubarb here, not even in the asian market that has every thing needed for every type of cuisine. Maybe next spring luck will be on my side.
      I love daiquiris, even though the frozen version gave them a bad rep. Not for me! And I never used rosemary in one. Very interesting flavors Marissa! No wonder you love it.

      Reply

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