The St. Louis Cardinal

Name: The St. Louis Cardinal
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1 serving
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 oz strong-brewed hibiscus tea (cooled); 1 oz cranberry juice (unsweetened); 0.75 oz vanilla bean syrup; 1/4 tsp rose water; 2 oz sparkling rosé (non-alcoholic) or sparkling water; Ice; Dried rose petals, for garnish; Lemon twist, for garnish

A floral hibiscus-rose spritzer with a deep cardinal-red hue — elegant, aromatic, and as timeless as Busch Stadium.

Recipe guidanceClear ingredients, preparation steps, serving yield, and optional swaps for home mixing.

Prep time

5 min

Total time

5 min

Serves

Difficulty

Easy

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cardinals mlb hibiscus rose floral st-louis

Bright & refreshing

A balanced alcohol-free drink built around real citrus and fruit flavor.

Simple ingredients

Easy-to-find ingredients and an approachable home-bar method.

Perfect for occasions

Made for an everyday treat, dinner party, or celebratory pour.

Ingredients

Makes 1 serving. Ingredient quantities update with the selected batch size.

3 oz strong-brewed hibiscus tea (cooled)
1 oz cranberry juice (unsweetened)
0.75 oz vanilla bean syrup
1/4 tsp rose water
2 oz sparkling rosé (non-alcoholic) or sparkling water
Ice
Dried rose petals, for garnish
Lemon twist, for garnish

Step-by-Step Instructions

1
Prepare the glass
Brew hibiscus tea strong (3 bags per cup) and cool completely. Can be made ahead and refrigerated.
2
Build the drink
In a wine glass, combine hibiscus tea, cranberry juice, vanilla bean syrup, and rose water.
3
Add the finishing touch
Stir gently to combine.
4
Garnish & serve
Add ice cubes to the glass.
5
Garnish & serve
Top with sparkling rosé or sparkling water.
6
Garnish & serve
Garnish with dried rose petals floating on top and a lemon twist on the rim.

Recipe Tips

Make a batch of hibiscus tea concentrate and keep it in the fridge for up to a week — this drink comes together in 30 seconds with pre-made tea.
Non-alcoholic sparkling rosé (like Fre or Surely) adds a wine-like dryness that elevates this drink significantly.
For a Cardinals game-day batch (serves 8): multiply base ingredients by 8, refrigerate, and add sparkling component per glass.

Make It Your Own

For a crowd: For game day, pre-batch the base in a team-color pitcher and keep any soda in a cooler. Let guests add their own garnish.

Easy swaps: Use a fruit with the same team-color effect when the named fruit is unavailable. Use plain soda water to reduce sweetness without losing the game-day look.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I prepare this before the first pitch?

Yes. Prep the base and garnishes ahead, then add ice and bubbles right before serving.

How do I preserve the team colors?

Use clear or light mixers and layer or garnish just before serving.

Recipe by

Larry Leo

Recipe guidance

Clear ingredients, preparation steps, serving yield, and optional swaps for home mixing. Check the ingredient list, substitution guidance, and dietary labels before serving.

Recipe record updated: August 26, 2026

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