Saul’s Deli Toasted Celery Soda

Illustration by Margo River-Weiss

From What Do You Pair with a Reuben?
Recipe courtesy of Saul’s Deli

Serves 1

4 ounces celery syrup (recipe below)
Seltzer water
Ice
Lemon slice

Add 4 ounces celery syrup to a pint glass. Fill with seltzer water and ice. Stir and then garnish with lemon slice. Serve with a straw.

To make celery syrup for approximately 12 sodas:

2 teaspoons celery seed
2 cups vodka

Simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water)

Place celery seed and vodka in a saucepan and warm over low heat. The idea is to ignite and burn off the alcohol, which will easily happen over a gas burner if you swirl the pan as it heats. Over electric heat, you may need to apply a flame. The flame will die out when the alcohol is gone, which usually takes about 3 to 6 minutes. Set aside until completely cool and then strain out the seeds with a fine strainer, pressing out any remaining moisture with a spoon. Mix this extract 1:3 with simple syrup.