No more trivializing the poor “mocktail” – the word itself implying a mocking and derisive attitude towards the virgin cocktail. Today, bartenders everywhere are paying attention to the growing trend of the non-alcoholic cocktail that serves up sophisticated flavors for the discerning palette. In my previous post Happy Hours, I focused on a few cocktail recipes and how to keep them to acceptable sodium levels.
What if one wanted something with no-ABV (Alcohol By Volume) to drink? In times past, it’s been a choice between soda or juice. Since the palettes of serious foodies is very well developed, it makes sense to apply the same principles of flavor and balance to drinks. Liquor.com has a handy overview on the principles of creating a delicious mocktail. The best news – its all super low sodium!
The Drinks
The no-ABV Mojito at Refinery Rooftop, NYC. I did make this at home since its the easiest one to craft (with a little planning!). The key: Ginger Simple Syrup. All the elements of the classic mojito without the alcohol!
The Tamarind Ginger Refresher is a must-try! True to its name, it would make a perfect summer drink but really comes through in any season alongside spicy food as well! Thank you Nik Sharma for the recipe!
Tip: I used bottled tamarind concentrate from my local Indian store and homemade ginger simple syrup as shortcuts that really made this a speedy event!
The French 75 Mocktail from Town & Country is so visually stylish and sophisticated, it’s almost a surprise that it’s yummy as well! Most of the work is in slicing the lemon twist!!
Bon Appetit has 25 recipes that look like a lot of fun. For a lunchtime pick-me-up, I tried the Chai Blossom that really hit the spot. Goodbye, long martini lunches!!
Planning and Preparation
As with any decent bar, the key is to stock up with the right ingredients. I keep observing certain flavor profiles that come up repeatedly in recipes. Try a few drinks to see what you like and experiment with the ingredients and proportions. Of course, you always have the option to buy ready-made mixes but I find them to be too sugary and sometimes artificial for my taste and prefer to control my recipe.
Here are a few items that I needed this week as I tried out different drinks:
- Fresh lemons and limes
- Homemade ginger simple syrup (this is a base for many drinks)
- Club soda/ Seltzer water
- San Pellegrino flavored sparkling drinks
- Fresh herbs (Mint, basil, or any other per your recipe)
- Chai tea bags
A new find this holiday season was the Töst Sparkling White Tea, Cranberry and Ginger (at Whole Foods and Amazon). A far cry from the juvenile sparkling apple cider, this drink delivers a tasty not-too-sweet option by itself or you can choose to spike it with some rum or vodka.
This is definitely one happy hour trend that is just not going away! As we focus on healthy alternatives, non-alcoholic drinks are getting their real moment in the spotlight. About time too!!