5 Mocktails to Try this Summer

Summer is the perfect time to sit back, read a book, and sip on a nice cold drink. I really love making smoothies and "mocktails," and when I ran across this book at Anthropologie, I knew I would be getting to try quite a few. I found it in the back in their clearance room for $7! Score! You may still be able to find it in stores, but it's not on their website. You can, however, get it here (it just has a different cover).

Not everyone is keen on alcohol, and these drinks really are delicious alternatives. Here are 5 different drinks that range from classics to very unique drinks that you should try this summer and perfect your lazy day.

Nojito

This twist on the classic mojito is very refreshing with a bit of a zing from club soda. With the mix of sweet sugar syrup, mint, and lime, you will quickly become obsessed like me and make this easy drink all the time!

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

6 fresh mint sprigs, plus 1 to garnish

1 barspoon superfine sugar

2 lime wedges

soda water, to top

a dash of sugar syrup

Directions:

Muddle the mint, sugar, and lime in a highball glass. Fill with ice and top with soda and stir gently.

Add sugar syrup to taste, garnish with a spring of mint, and serve.

Sugar Syrup: Combine equal parts of boiling water and sugar. Stir until dissolved and store in an air-tight container refrigerated.

Bando Rip

I love this drink because it's more of a smoothie kind of consistency, but has a different flavor from the syrup. I usually use grenadine instead of the raspberry syrup because I already had it on hand and I am to lazy to make an extra syrup. Try it both ways and let me know which way you like it best!

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

1 large mango, peeled, stoned, and diced

1 banana, peeled and sliced

1 cup pineapple juice

1/4 cup raspberry syrup (I use grenadine)

6 ice cubes

Directions: Put the mango, banana, and pineapple juice in a blender. Add the ice cubes and whizz until smooth. I usually pop the fruit in the fridge the day before so it's colder.

To serve, drizzle a little raspberry syrup down the sides of 2 tall glasses, pour in the blended fruit and ice mixture and stir well. Serve immediately.

Virgin Mary

While I'm not a huge fan of Bloody Mary's, I know many are so I am including this drink for you special snowflakes.

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups tomato juice

2 grinds of black pepper

2 dashes of Tobasco sauce

2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce

2 dashes of fresh lemon juice

1 barspoon horseradish sauce

a celery stick, to garnish (optional)

Directions:

Add all the ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with a celery stick.

Kiwi Orchard

Not only is this drink refreshing, but you really feel like you are healthier just looking at it. There's something about a green drink that really makes you feel proud of yourself. Am i the only who feels this way? I also love kiwis, and it's a perfect match with the apple and pear.

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

1 pear (not too ripe)

1 apple

2 kiwis (not too ripe)

1 inch piece fresh ginger root, peeled

Directions:

Peel and core the pear and apple and cut them into 6 wedges each. Peel and quarter the kiwi.

Put the pear through the juicer first, followed by the ginger, kiwi, and apple. Stir well before serving, because it can separate.

You can also try blending all of the ingredients with 2/3 cup plain yogurt. Blend until smooth, adding a squeeze of lemon juice or a little salt to taste.

Fenapple

This drink may not be for everyone if you are not a lover of licorice. Fennel has a hint of anise to it but works wonderfully with fruit. Don't be scared of the combination - give it a try and let me know what you think!

Serves: 1-2

Ingredients:

1 fennel bulb

2 apples, cored but not peeled

juice of 1/2 lemon (optional)

Directions:

Trim the feather green leaves from the fennel bulb (reserve a few sprigs), trim off the root end, then slice the bulb into long wedges and cut out and remove the cores from each wedge.

Cut the apples into wedges. Put the apples and fennel through a juicer.

Stir in the lemon juice to stop discoloration, then serve immediately, topped with the reserved fennel sprigs for extra scent.

If you don't have a juicer, chop up the fennel and puree it in the blender with apple juice, then strain.

I hope you enjoy these drinks and do tell me if you try them and which is your favorite. The Bando Rip is my personal favorite, followed by the Nojito.

Do you have a classic mocktail or summer drink? I would love to try it out! I hope you all are having a wonderful summer - stay cool and refreshed!

#drinks #beverages #mocktails