By Seren Charrington Hollins
If you’ve ever decided to go booze-free – you’ll know that the teetotal options can be a little boring. The good news is that being off the sauce can be absolutely liberating for your palette. I find that when you start experimenting with adult soft drinks then it opens up a new world of flavours and possibilities to make simple home-made mock-tails, infusions’ and cordials.
With the festive period behind us and dry January and the daunting talk of detox upon us the choice of alcohol-free drinks can look a little grim, after-all, there are only so many fruit juices you fancy and as for flavoured syrup based, ice laden drinks they can be rather dull, but when I’m embarking on a teetotal spell, I enjoy the variety of drinks that I consume so rather than opting for the habitual gin and tonic I have to engage my imagination and come up with booze free drinks that look, feel and taste like great alternatives to alcohol.
Now I know that there are a whole host of alcohol-free gins and wines on the market, but I’m not really looking for a substitute, more a change. What I like to create are sophisticated alcohol free drinks, something grown up and lovely looking in my glass at the end of the day, but I also don’t want loads of fuss and faff in making it and I never want to feel like I’m missing out; so for me I like none-alcoholic drinks that kick start my taste buds and promises a less than ordinary evening.
So, what I like to do is get out my best glassware, because I feel that drinking something in a really nice glass that is garnished well just makes it feel special and in my opinion the aesthetics of a drink are as important as its taste.
Once armed with a collection of nice glasses, which include a champagne flute, Martini glass, tumbler and a highball; make sure you have plenty of ice in the freezer and get your taste buds ready for booze-free indulgence as you try some of my all time favourite teetotal tipples.
Coffee Buzz
This is a fabulous alternative to the Espresso Martini and an excellent drink to wake you up ready for a night of partying
1 shot of espresso
Handful ice cubes
Dash of walnut bitters
200ml tonic water
Firstly, get your shot of espresso brewing. Then fill a tall glass with ice cubes pour in the tonic water, dash of bitters and stir. Once the espresso is ready, pour it over the top and give it a stir. Start sipping immediately…before the frothy foam disappears.
Light and Stormy
This makes a nice alternative to the rum based cocktail, Dark and Stormy.
Ice cubes
200 ml Jamaican ginger beer
Sprig of fresh basil leaves
Squeeze of lime juice
Thick slice of fresh lime
Put a handful of ice cubes into a tumbler and fill up with ginger beer. Tear the basil leaves and add to the glass along with a squeeze of lime. Give it a stir , pop in a slice of lime and enjoy.
Truly Virginal Mary
This recipe works every bit as well as its alcoholic counterpart and I promise you will love this flavoursome tipple
Handful ice cubes
200ml tomato juice
Pinch celery salt
Squeeze fresh lemon
Dash of celery bitters
Dash of Worcester sauce
2 drops of chilli sauce
¼ tsp freshly grated horseradish slice of fresh lemon and a celery stick, to garnish.
Pop all the ingredients (except for the garnish & ice) into a blender and give it a quick blitz. Fill a glass with ice and pour the drink mix in. Add a slice of lemon and a celery stick. Enjoy!
Grapefruit fizz
Handful of ice cubes
Dash of grapefruit bitters
Dash of lemon bitters
1 part chilled grapefruit juice
4 parts tonic water
1 slice lemon
Place ice, bitters and juice in a cocktail shaker and give it a good shake. Pour into a flute and top up with tonic water and garnish with a slice of lemon.
With these lovely recipes, teetotal tipples with be a delight not a chore and there is never a reason to be bored by non-alcoholic tipples ever again!
