Profile
The Pineapple Cooler belongs to the cooler family, which is a specific old category rather than a loose description. A cooler is wine or spirit, something sweet, and carbonated water in a tall glass, and it dates back to a time when a long drink at low strength was the default afternoon order rather than a compromise.
Two ounces of white wine is all the alcohol in it. What makes this one worth building properly is the method, which adds carbonated water twice. Two ounces go in first with the wine, juice and sugar so the sugar actually dissolves, then the glass is filled with more after the ice. Powdered sugar will not dissolve in a cold full glass, and skipping the first pour leaves you with grit at the bottom and a drink that tastes thinner than it should.
Glass: Collins glass | Strength: Light | Serves: 1 | Prep Time: 3 minutes
Bartender’s tip: The orange spiral is the part people skip and it is the part that makes the drink. Cut one long continuous strip of peel with a channel knife or a sharp paring knife, hang it in the glass, and let the oils sit on the surface. You smell it before every sip, and on a drink this light the aroma is carrying real weight. Use a crisp dry white here, since anything off-dry combined with the powdered sugar will tip it sweet.
Steps
- Pour white wine, pineapple juice, powdered sugar and two-ounces of carbonated water into a collins glass and stir.
- Add ice cubes, fill with carbonated water, and stir again.
- Garnish with a twist of lemon peel and an orange spiral over the rim.
