Storage
Unopened bottles have a 12-month shelf life. After opening, refrigerate and use within about two months for best flavor.
Premium Zero-Sugar Lime Cordial
How to Use Cordial Craft
Zero sugar. Full cocktail structure. One simple ratio.
Cordial Craft Zero-Sugar Lime Cordial is a complete lime cocktail base that replaces lime juice and simple syrup in one measured pour. Use it for margaritas, gimlets, daiquiris, highballs, mocktails, and cocktail batches.
Margaritas
Gimlets
Daiquiris
Highballs
Mocktails
Jump To
Quick Start
The easiest way to use Cordial Craft
Cordial Craft handles the lime, sweetness, acidity, and body in one measured pour. Start with the ratios below, then choose whether to shake, top with soda, or batch.
- For shaken cocktails: use 2 oz spirit plus 1 oz Cordial Craft.
- For sparkling drinks: use 2 oz spirit plus 0.75 oz Cordial Craft, then top with soda water.
- For mocktails: use 0.75 oz Cordial Craft, then top with sparkling water or unsweetened tea.
- For batching: combine spirit, Cordial Craft, and water first, mix well, chill, then shake or agitate the batch before serving.
2:1
Spirit to Cordial
Built without guesswork
Measure the base, choose the finish, then fine-tune only when the drink asks for it.
Build Method
Start with one ratio. Finish by method.
The ratio gets the drink close. The method makes it feel finished. Shake when you want texture and aeration, add soda when you want length and lift, and adjust only when fruit, liqueurs, or flavored spirits change the balance.
1
Measure the base.
Use the Quick Start ratio as the baseline and measure it the same way every time.
2
Choose the finish.
Shake hard with ice for texture, aeration, and dilution, or build over ice and top with soda for a lighter sparkling highball.
3
Adjust only when needed.
Fruit, purées, liqueurs, and sweetened or flavored spirits can shift the balance. Taste, then adjust so the drink stays bright.
Measure
Aerate
Chill & Dilute
Adjust
Working with juice or purée?
Pineapple, passion fruit, citrus, cranberry, and fruit purées bring their own sweetness and acidity. Start slightly lighter on Cordial Craft, taste, then add more only if the drink needs more lime structure.
Less prep
Faster service
Repeatable balance
Cocktail Possibilities
One bottle. Four very different drinks.
For shaken cocktails, start at 2:1: two parts spirit to one part Cordial Craft. Then adjust for the other ingredients in the glass. Fruit, liqueurs, herbs, and bubbles can all change the balance. The examples below show how the same zero-sugar lime cordial works in margaritas, daiquiris, tropical drinks, swizzles, and sparkling highballs.
Tequila Build
Skinny Hibiscus Margarita
Hibiscus gives the tequila a floral edge while Cordial Craft keeps the drink bright and balanced.
2 oz hibiscus-infused tequila + 1 oz Cordial Craft + optional 3 dashes orange bitters
Fresh and Bright
Skinny Pineapple Margarita
Pineapple softens the lime and gives the drink a rounder tropical profile.
2 oz tequila + 1.5 oz pineapple juice + 0.5 oz Cordial Craft + optional 3 dashes orange bitters
Tropical Build
The Hibiscus Hurricane
A bold rum drink with hibiscus, passion fruit, and optional pomegranate depth.
2 oz hibiscus-infused Jamaican rum + 0.75 oz Cordial Craft + 0.75 oz unsweetened passion fruit purée + optional 1 tsp or barspoon sour pomegranate molasses
Bar-Style Serve
Queen's Park Remix
A mint-forward rum build with dark rum, Cordial Craft, and an aromatic bitters float.
2 oz dark rum, preferably Demerara rum + 1 oz Cordial Craft + about 10 mint leaves + Angostura bitters float Method Matters
Three ways to build better lime cocktails
Cordial Craft replaces the usual lime-and-syrup build. Shake it for sours, stretch it with soda for tall drinks, or add water up front when you batch.
1 Shake with ice
Best for margaritas, gimlets, daiquiris, whiskey sours, Pisco Sour riffs, and cocktails where texture matters.
- Use 2 oz spirit and 1 oz Cordial Craft.
- Shake hard with ice for chilling, dilution, and aeration.
- Strain over fresh ice or into a chilled glass.
2 Build with soda
Best for vodka soda upgrades, ranch-water-style tequila highballs, zero-sugar Tom Collins-style highballs, spritzes, and light sparkling cocktails.
- Use 2 oz spirit and 0.75 oz Cordial Craft.
- Add ice, then top with 3 to 6 oz soda water.
- Stir gently to preserve bubbles and aroma.
3 Batch for service
Best for events, parties, hotel service, draft-style cocktails, and faster bar programs.
- For a one-bottle batch, combine one 750 mL spirit bottle with one full 375 mL Cordial Craft bottle.
- Refill the empty Cordial Craft bottle with water, add it to the batch, and mix well.
- Chill, then shake or agitate the non-carbonated batch before serving to aerate well.
Safety note: A cocktail shaker is best. If you use a mason jar or water bottle, make sure it is safe, sealable, and not thin glass. Never shake anything carbonated in a sealed container.
Why the Shake Matters
Shaking is not theater. It is cocktail engineering.
Cold and dilution matter, but they are not the whole reason we shake. Shaking whips air into the drink while bringing everything together, which softens the texture, opens the aroma, and gives a sour its lighter, finished feel.
Dilution
Brings the spirit, lime, sweetness, and aroma into balance so the drink does not taste sharp or hot.
Aeration
The reason to shake. It whips air into the cocktail, giving citrus and fruit drinks a lighter texture and a softer finish.
Chilling
Cools the alcohol, sharpens the lime, and makes the drink feel cleaner and more refreshing.
Structure
Gives the drink enough body to feel complete rather than thin.
Ratio Guide
Choose the pour that fits your drink
The 2:1 formula is the starting point for shaken cocktails. For lighter, taller, or sparkling drinks, use the highball build.
| Drink Style | Recommended Build | Best For | Service Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic shaken cocktail | 2 oz spirit + 1 oz Cordial Craft | Margaritas, gimlets, daiquiris | Shake hard with ice, then strain. |
| Sparkling highball | 2 oz spirit + 0.75 oz Cordial Craft + 3 to 6 oz soda | Vodka soda upgrades, ranch-water-style tequila highballs, zero-sugar Tom Collins-style highballs, spritzes | Build over ice and stir gently. |
| Mocktail or refresher | 0.75 oz Cordial Craft + 5 to 7 oz sparkling water or unsweetened tea | Zero-proof lime refreshers and unsweetened non-alcoholic builds | Add herbs, cucumber, mint, or jalapeño. Fruit can contribute natural sugar. |
| Batch for ~14 drinks | 20 oz spirit + 10 oz Cordial Craft + 10 oz water | Parties, service, events, and bottle batches | Mix well, chill, then shake or agitate before serving to aerate well. |
| One-bottle batch | One full 750 mL spirit bottle + one full 375 mL bottle of Cordial Craft + the empty 375 mL Cordial Craft bottle refilled with water | Simple party batching and hospitality prep | Mix, chill, then shake or agitate the non-carbonated batch before serving to aerate well. |
Starter Recipes
Six easy ways to start
These are starting points, not rules. Pick the style that sounds good, make it once as written, then adjust it to your glass, ice, and ingredients.
Zero-Sugar Tequila Build
Zero-Sugar Margarita
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz Cordial Craft
- Optional: soda water
- Optional: salt rim
Shake with ice and serve over fresh ice, or build tall with soda water for a zero-sugar margarita-style highball.
Shaken Classic
Modern Gimlet
- 2 oz gin or vodka
- 1 oz Cordial Craft
Shake with ice and strain into a coupe, or serve over ice for a simple lime cocktail.
Zero-Sugar Rum Build
Skinny Daiquiri
- 2 oz white rum
- 1 oz Cordial Craft
Shake hard with ice and strain into a chilled coupe, or serve over fresh ice for a brighter zero-sugar rum-lime cocktail.
Sparkling Highball
Vodka Soda Upgrade
- 2 oz vodka
- 0.75 oz Cordial Craft
- Top with soda water
Build over ice and stir gently. Add mint, cucumber, or lime zest if desired.
Zero-Proof
Sparkling Lime Mocktail
- 0.75 oz Cordial Craft
- Top with sparkling water or unsweetened iced tea
- Add mint, cucumber, berries, or jalapeño
Build over ice for a bright lime refresher. To keep the finished drink zero sugar, use unsweetened mixers and remember that fruit can contribute natural sugar.
Party Batch
Batch for ~14 Drinks
- 20 oz spirit
- 10 oz Cordial Craft
- 10 oz filtered water
- One-bottle shortcut: 750 mL spirit + one 375 mL Cordial Craft + one 375 mL bottle of water
Mix well and chill. Before serving, shake or agitate the non-carbonated batch to aerate well, then pour over ice or top with bubbles.
Fine-Tuning / Troubleshooting
Balance the drink in seconds
If the drink tastes too sharp, sweet, or intense, check the method before rewriting the recipe. More chill, more dilution, fresh ice, soda, or a slightly smaller pour will usually bring it back into balance.
1
If it tastes too tart or acidic
First, adjust dilution or reduce the Cordial Craft slightly. For shaken cocktails, start with the core build at 2 oz spirit plus 1 oz Cordial Craft, then shake hard with plenty of ice so the drink chills, softens, and opens up properly.
- Shake longer and harder with plenty of ice.
- Try 0.75 oz Cordial Craft instead of 1 oz when another ingredient already brings acidity.
- Serve over fresh ice for a softer finish.
- For sparkling highballs, use 2 oz spirit, 0.75 oz Cordial Craft, then top with soda water.
- Add fresh fruit, herbs, or a small touch of sweet liqueur when the drink style calls for it.
2
If it tastes too sweet or heavy
This usually means the drink is under-diluted, too warm, or was not shaken enough. A properly chilled and diluted cocktail will taste brighter, cleaner, and more balanced.
- Shake longer with more ice.
- Add fresh ice before serving.
- Lengthen with soda water for a lighter finish.
- Add a squeeze of fresh lime if you want extra brightness.
3
If you are using dense freezer ice
Freezer ice is often colder and denser than bar ice, so it melts more slowly. The same recipe can taste stronger at home than it does at a bar.
- Shake longer and harder than you think you need to.
- Let very cold ice sit out for a minute before shaking.
- Add 0.5 to 1 oz water to the shaker before shaking if the drink still tastes too powerful.
Bartender note: Cordial Craft simplifies the build, but dilution still matters. The right amount of ice, shaking, soda water, or added water is what turns the measured ingredients into a balanced drink.
For Bars, Hotels, and Events
Built for busy bars, hotels, and events.
For bars and hotels, the value is simple: fewer bottles in the build, fewer measurements to miss, and the same balance from bartender to bartender. It works especially well for banquets, pool bars, lobby programs, room service, golf clubs, and high-volume events.
Fewer Steps
One pour replaces lime juice and simple syrup.
Consistency
The same ratio works across shifts and locations.
Zero-Sugar Demand
Makes it easier to offer a clearly identified zero-sugar option when the remaining ingredients are unsweetened.
Menu Flexibility
Use with tequila, vodka, gin, rum, mezcal, bubbles, and zero-proof builds.
Storage & Yield
Keep every bottle at its best
Two practical details matter after the pour: how to store the bottle and how many cocktails to expect from it.
Bottle yield
The current 375 mL bottle yields about 17 sparkling highballs or about 12 shaken cocktails, based on the starting pours used throughout this guide.
FAQ
Common questions
What is the best ratio for Cordial Craft?
For shaken cocktails, use 2 oz spirit plus 1 oz Cordial Craft. For sparkling highballs, use 2 oz spirit plus 0.75 oz Cordial Craft and top with soda water.
Do I have to shake it with ice?
Shaking is best for sour-style cocktails because aeration changes the texture. It also chills, dilutes, and integrates the drink. If you are not shaking, lengthen the drink with soda water or sparkling water to supply lift and dilution.
Can I use Cordial Craft without alcohol?
Yes. Use 0.75 oz Cordial Craft with sparkling water or unsweetened iced tea. Coconut water, tonic, fruit, and some non-alcoholic spirits can contain sugar, so check each label if the finished drink must remain zero sugar.
Can Cordial Craft replace lime juice and simple syrup?
Yes. Cordial Craft is designed to replace fresh lime juice and simple syrup in one balanced zero-sugar pour.
What if my drink tastes too strong, too sweet, or too tart?
Adjust dilution first. Shake harder with more ice, pour over fresh ice, lengthen with soda water, or add 0.5 to 1 oz water to the shaker if dense freezer ice is not diluting the drink enough.
Should I add salt or saline to shaken cocktails?
For citrus and fruit cocktails, a very small pinch of salt or a few drops of saline can improve the final drink. It should enhance brightness and integration without making the cocktail taste salty.
Can I use a milk frother for egg-white cocktails?
Yes. For egg-white or foam-topped sours, a small coffee-style milk frother can replace the dry shake. Froth the egg white or foamer with the cocktail first, then shake with ice to chill and dilute.
How do I batch Cordial Craft with a full spirit bottle?
Combine one full 750 mL spirit bottle with one full 375 mL bottle of Cordial Craft. Refill the empty Cordial Craft bottle with water, add that water to the batch, mix well, and chill. Before serving, shake or agitate the non-carbonated batch to aerate well.
Do spirits contain sugar?
Plain distilled spirits such as vodka, gin, tequila, mezcal, whiskey, and unflavored rum are generally not where sugar enters a cocktail. The spirit may begin with fermentable carbohydrates, such as grain starches, agave sugars, fruit sugars, or molasses, but those sugars are used to create alcohol during fermentation. Distillation then separates the alcohol and volatile flavor compounds from the non-volatile mash, so the base-material sugar is not what you are pouring into the drink. Sugar usually appears when it is added after distillation, including in liqueurs, sweetened or flavored spirits, syrups, juices, and mixers.
Keep Exploring
Choose your next pour
Ready to make one? Browse the recipes, order a bottle, or see how Cordial Craft can fit into a bar or hotel program.
Skip the unnecessary sugar. Keep the cocktail.
Cordial Craft handles the lime, sweetness, acidity, and body in one pour. Use 2:1 for a shaken cocktail, or lighten the build with 0.75 oz Cordial Craft and soda.