Lightstrike Orange

Lightstrike Orange is an orange-flavored mixer from Esplanda, made to sit alongside spirits rather than stand in for them. The product details don't list a sweetener, carbonation level, juice content or ingredient breakdown. Check the label for those before you plan a recipe around it. Orange mixers in general lean on citrus-peel brightness and a rounded sweetness, and that is what to expect here. Orange pairs most naturally with vodka, where it makes a simple highball: about two ounces of spirit in an ice-filled glass, topped with four to five ounces of mixer and finished with an orange wheel. Bourbon and blended whiskey also take well to orange, as do aged rum and tequila blanco, which turns the mix into a loose screwdriver- or paloma-style tall drink. If the bottle turns out to be sparkling, it will also work in a spritz-type build with a bitter aperitif or a splash of sparkling wine. A still version suits shaken drinks, where it can replace part of the juice or orange liqueur. In that case, start with less sugar than the recipe calls for and adjust to taste. Serve it cold, straight from the fridge, over plenty of large ice cubes so the drink doesn't dilute too fast. A highball or collins glass suits tall mixed drinks, and a double old-fashioned glass suits spirit-forward builds with a smaller pour of mixer. For food, orange-based long drinks usually go well with salty, fried or spiced dishes such as grilled chicken, tacos or roasted nuts, because the citrus cuts through the richness.