Ingredients:
- 1 cup (200g) granulated cane sugar
- 1 cup (240ml) water
- 1/2 cup (120ml) fresh squeezed orange juice
- 1/4 cup (60ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup (60ml) fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp (5ml) vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp (2.5g) citric acid powder
- 1 drop neon yellow or green food coloring
- 10 cups (2.4L) chilled sparkling mineral water
Instructions:
- In a small saucepan, whisk together the sugar and water over medium heat.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved and the liquid is clear.
- Turn the heat to low and stir in the fresh orange, lemon, and lime juices.
- Stir in the vanilla extract and citric acid, then remove from heat immediately to prevent citrus flavors from becoming bitter.
- Stir in the food coloring if desired.
- Pour the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into a glass bottle to remove pulp.
- Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature, then seal and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Pour 2 tbsp (30ml) of the chilled syrup into a glass filled with ice.
- Top with 8 oz (240ml) of ice-cold sparkling mineral water.
- Gently stir from the bottom up to incorporate the syrup without losing carbonation.