Drink | Spicy Citrus Refresher

  • 4 limes
  • 7 navel oranges, divided
  • 2 small jalapeños, divided
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt
  • 12 oz. white rum (optional)
  • Club soda (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Juice limes and 6 oranges into a large pitcher. (You should have about ¾ cup lime juice and 1¼ cups orange juice.) Discard lime rinds and half of the orange rinds. Cut remaining orange rinds into quarters and place in a large saucepan.

    Step 2

    Coarsely chop 1 jalapeño and add to orange rinds along with sugar and salt. Using a muddler or dowel-style rolling pin, muddle rinds until thoroughly smooshed and much of the sugar and salt is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Stir in 1 cup warm water and let sit at least 10 minutes and up to 1 hour.

    Step 3

    Strain orange mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into pitcher with juice, gently pressing with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible; discard solids. Thinly slice remaining orange and add to pitcher. Remove seeds from remaining jalapeño; thinly slice into rounds and add to pitcher.

    Step 4

    To serve, pour 2 oz. juice mixture and 1 oz. rum, if using, into an ice-filled glass. Top off with club soda; stir to combine.

    Step 5

    Do Ahead: Juice mixture can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.

spicy citrus refresher