Brighten your glass with the Golden Path, a sophisticated marigold and smoked agave mocktail by Scratch and Co. Lead Bartender, Nathan West. Crafted with an earthy marigold tea base, smoked agave, and house-made acid orange juice, this zero-proof recipe captures the complex, vegetal depth of a fine mezcal—no alcohol required. Make this fantastic NA cocktail at home, or, better yet, climb Troy Hill and sip one at the bar at Scratch and Co.

A Note From the Mixologist

“The Golden Path name is inspired by the use of marigold as its main ingredient, a beautiful bright orange flower traditionally placed on ofrendas and believed to help guide spirits during Día de los Muertos. I wanted something in our zero-proof section that had the bright, earthy, and slightly vegetal flavors of agave-based spirits. To accomplish this I used citrus, herbs, marigold, and a touch of smoke (a nod to traditional earth-roasted agave production methods used in mezcal).” – Nathan West. Scratch and Co.

On top of the recipe here, you can also find two other zero-proof recipes on the menu at Scratch and Co pictured above. The red-colored drink in the shorter glass is called Bitter End. It features hibiscus, juniper, and bitter roots. The drink in the tall glass is called New Dawn. That one changes seasonally and now features ginger beer, lemon, and raspberry. All three drinks are zero-proof and even the bitters are NA.

Golden Path Zero-Proof Recipe (Smoked Agave & Marigold Mocktail)

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• Author: Nathan West

Print Recipe

Description

A sophisticated, Mexican-inspired zero-proof cocktail that blends earthy marigold tea, smoked agave, and tart citrus.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2.5 oz marigold base
• ¾ oz oak smoked agave
• ¾ oz acid orange juice
• 1 dash “All the Bitter” NA orange bitters

For the marigold tea base (makes 2 cups):

• 10 g dehydrated marigold flowers
• 1.5 g tarragon
• 6.5 g orange peel (no pith)
• 2 g dandelion root
• 550 g filtered water
• ½ vanilla pod (cut in half and scraped)

For the acid orange juice (makes 1 cup):

• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 7.6 g citric acid
• 4.7 g malic acid

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Instructions

1. Rim half of a rocks glass with a blend of ground dehydrated marigold, salt, and sugar.
2. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until well chilled.
3. Double strain over a large ice cube in the prepared glass. Garnish with a dehydrated orange wheel.

For the marigold tea base (makes 2 cups):

1. Combine all ingredients in a non-reactive container.
2. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours to allow extraction.
3. Strain through a coffee filter and store refrigerated for up to three weeks.

For the acid orange juice (makes 1 cup):

1. Combine all ingredients and whisk until fully incorporated. Store refrigerated for up to two weeks.

Looking for more zero-proof recipes? Check out our best mocktails that you can make at home. Or, visit these Pittsburgh bars to try out their zero-proof menus.

Recipe by Nathan West
Photography by Dave Bryce

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