Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz premium vodka
  • 0.5 oz black raspberry liqueur
  • 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 2 oz lemon-lime soda
  • 1 tbsp black sanding sugar
  • 1 lemon wedge
  • 1 fresh rosemary sprig
  • 2 cocktail cherries

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the sugar rim: Place the black sanding sugar on a small flat plate. Run a lemon wedge around the rim of your chilled glass. Dip the glass firmly into the sugar at a 45-degree angle, rotating slowly to create a thick, dark crust.
  2. In a mixing glass (not a shaker), combine the vodka, black raspberry liqueur, and fresh lemon juice. Stir gently with ice for about 20-30 seconds to chill without excessive dilution or aeration. This maintains the clarity and density needed for layering.
  3. Fill your rimmed glass with fresh ice and strain the chilled mixture into the glass.
  4. Slowly top the drink with lemon-lime soda. Pour it over the back of a bar spoon held just above the liquid's surface to create a misty, swirling effect and preserve the layers. This technique ensures the drink does not become muddy and retains its shimmer.
  5. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and two cocktail cherries.