No longer just an option for the designated driver or lone non-drinker among the group, low and no-alcoholic beverages are blowing up! There are so many more options than the old Lemon, Lime and Bitters, and far more sophisticated stylings than a childish Shirley Temple (although, personally, I still love a pink lemonade).
Here are some slick non-alcoholic takes on some classic cocktail recipes to impress your friends and to look out for on the drinks list at your local watering hole.
The Aviation that Flies Free From Alcohol
The Aviation is a classic cocktail made with gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and lemon juice created by Hugo Ensslin, head bartender at the Hotel Wallick in New York, in the early twentieth century. Harry Craddock’s influential Savoy Cocktail Book (1930) omitted the crème de violette and many later bartenders have followed Craddock’s lead, leaving out the difficult-to-find violet liqueur.
Luckily, Terps & Co’s gin-like already has a beautiful light purple hue, making it the perfect non-alcoholic alternative for this classic drink.
Ingredients:
Two shots (60mls) Terps & Co gin-like
A dash (8ml) of Maraschino brine
A dash (8ml) freshly squeezed orange juice
A splash (16ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
Peeled and curled lemon rind.
Method:
Add gin-like, lemon juice, and liqueur to a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake until cold. Strain into a coupe glass, then garnish with a lemon twist. Extra Maraschino cherry brine can always be added for those with a sweeter tooth.
The Green Apple Mockarita
This is a refreshing take on the Margarita, of which the history is one of folklore due to its numerous origin stories. According to Jose Cuervo (the Tequila brand), however, the cocktail was invented in 1938 by a bartender in honor of Mexican showgirl Rita de la Rosa.
Regardless of where it came from, Margarita are very popular, especially for sharing and this recipe is for a jug which will make approximately four servings.
Ingredients:
Salt to serve
1 lime, halved
3 cups sparkling apple juice
2 tsp finely grated lime rind
2 tbsp lime juice
4 cups ice cubes
4 slices green apple
Lime zest to serve
Method:
Place salt on a plate. Run the cut side of the lime around the rims of serving glasses. Dip in the salt to coat.
Place sparkling apple juice, lime rind, lime juice and ice in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour evenly among the glasses.
The CosNOpolitan
While the Cosmopolitan cocktail is widely perceived to be a more modern creation – rising in popularity in the early 2000s as the drink of choice for the ladies in the hugely popular television series, Sex and the City, there is a recipe for a Cosmopolitan Daisy which appears in Pioneers of Mixing at Elite Bars 1903–1933, published in 1934.
Old or new, this cocktail remains a firm favourite and can easily be made into a non-alcoholic alternative with help from Seedlip.
Ingredients:
Two shots (60mls) Seedlip Grove 42
30 mls cranberry juice
15 mls lime juice
15 mls simple syrup
Method:
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker w/ ice. Shake & strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an Orange peel.
Pink Grapefruit Punch
Nothing says ‘Party Time!’ like a bowl of punch and this bowl is pretty in pink!
Ingredients:
Pomegranate Seeds to serve
4 cups chilled lemonade
2 cups ruby red grapefruit juice
½ cup lime juice
¾ cup of orange and mango juice (or flavoured sparkling water)
Method:
Place pomegranate seeds in an ice-cube tray. Cover with water. Place in the freezer for 2 hours or until frozen.
Combine the lemonade, grapefruit juice, lime juice, orange and mango juice in a serving jug. Top with pomegranate ice cubes. Divide among serving glasses and serve immediately.
These recipes are perfect to try out for Dry July, an annual campaign that support Kiwis affect by cancer. Read about it here.
