5 Mocktails for Dry January | Mike's Hard Reviews
Channel: Mike's Hard Reviews
Date: 19/01/2024

Mocktails are a classification of drink that gets maligned quite heavily, especially when such saccharinely sweet concoctions as the Shirley Temple come to mind. In truth, mocktails can be as delectable as their alcoholic cousins and remarkably unique in their own way. 

Today, we're diving into the recipe book "Mocktails" by Richard Man for 3 delicious mocktail recipes featuring fruit, tea, herbs, and juices, as well as sharing two original creations of my own for you all to enjoy this Dry January!

Thank you all so much for patiently waiting for this video! Happy Dry January!

NOTE: The recipes listed below that share cocktails from "Mocktails" have been paired down to a single serving, where as they book lists them in two-serving recipes. Wherever necessary, I made slight adjustments to the recipes to make them more accessible or simplify measures into more well-rounded numbers.

Mocktail Recipes:
Peppery Watermelon Agua Fresca - 
- 6 oz (340 gm) Cubed Watermelon
- 1 3/4 oz Water
- 1/2 oz Lime Juice
- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
- Ground Black Pepper, to Taste
- 5 Basil Leaves
- Club Soda, to Top
Method: Combine all ingredients except basil into a cocktail shaker and muddle together. Add basil and ice and shake for 10 seconds. Double strain over ice in a chilled pint glass and top with club soda. Garnish with lime wedge and basil leaves (if available).

Backyard Highball - 
- 1 oz Grilled Lemon Juice
- 1 oz Orange Juice
- 3/4 oz Lavender Syrup (See Below)
- Club Soda, to Top
Method: Prepare halved lemon by coating the cut side in brown sugar and salt. Caramelize over high heat on a grill or in a fry pan and allow to cool completely. Combine all ingredients except soda into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 10 seconds. Double strain into a chilled highball glass filled with ice and top with soda water. Garnish with a lime wedge and sprig of rosemary.

La Fleur De Vie - 
- 3 oz Cold Brew Jasmine Tea with Mace (See Below)
- 1 1/2 oz Orange Juice, Freshly Squeezed
- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
- 1/2 oz Turmeric Juice (Optional, as is listed in "Mocktails")
Method: Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and dry shake for 15-20 seconds to froth ingredients. Alternatively, a milk frother can be employed to complete this step. Double strain shaken mix into a chilled piece of stemware filled with ice. Garnish with a wedge of orange and some freshly ground nutmeg.

Virgin Pina-Cane - 
- 4 oz Pineapple Juice
- Juice of 1 Lime (Approx. 1/2 oz)
- 1/2 oz Passionfruit Syrup (Torani)
- 1 oz Cream of Coconut
- 1/2 oz Grenadine (Optional)
Method: If using grenadine, pour aforementioned measure directly into serving glass and set aside. Combine all other ingredients into cocktail shaker and shake with ice for 10 seconds. Dirty dump the contents of the shaker into a chilled hurricane or highball glass. Garnish with a wedge of lime, Luxardo cherries, and a drink umbrella (if available).

Note: This mocktail can be turned into a cocktail by substituting 2 oz of pineapple juice for a blend of preferred rums. I would recommend a Mauritius/British Virgin Islands rum, a Jamaican rum, and your preferred overproof a blend made to your tastes.

Bombastica - 
- 4 oz Bombastica Cold Brew (See Below)
- 3/4 to 1 oz Simple Syrup

~or~

- 3 oz Cold Brew Concentrate
- 1 oz Cold Black Tea
- 6 to 10 Mint Leaves
- 3/4 oz Simple Syrup
Method: Combine all ingredients into cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 10 seconds. If using fresh mint, double strain into a snifter over fresh ice. Otherwise, dirty dump shaker's contents into a chilled snifter. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Special Ingredient Recipes:
Simplified Lavender Syrup - 
- 2 cups Sugar
- 1 cup Water
- 1/4 cup Lavender Tea
- 2 Sprigs Rosemary
- Peel of 1 Lime
Method: Combine all ingredients into a saucepan and bring to a simmer over low heat. Cover and let cook until sugar has fully dissolved. Strain off solids using a mesh strainer and bottle once cooled. Keeps for at least two weeks.

Cold Brew Jasmine Tea with Mace - 
- 3 cups Cold Water
- 4 tsp Jasmine Tea
-2 tsp Ground Mace
Method: Combine ingredients into sterilized container and let sit in the fridge for 12 hours. Strain off solids and bottle. Keeps for at least one week.

Bombastica Cold Brew - 
- 1 cup Ground Coffee (Cafe du Monde)
- 1/4 cup Black Tea
- 1/8 cup Dried Mint
- 4 cups Water
Method: Combine ingredients into a sterilized container and let sit in the fridge for 24 hours. Strain out solids and bottle. Keeps for at least two weeks.

Relevant Links:
Buy "Mocktails" by Richard Man on Amazon:
https://a.co/d/2TYRHQk

Video Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:59 - What is Dry January?
01:48 - What is a Mocktail, Really?
02:24 - A Bit About the Author, Richard Man
03:39 - How "Mocktails" is Compiled
05:19 - Peppery Watermelon Agua Fresca
09:28 - Backyard Highball
13:40 - La Fleur De Vie
18:17 - Pina-Cane
24:38 - Bombastica
29:33 - Mocktails Recap
30:48 - Reading from Crisp Toasts
31:20 - Outro

#mocktails #dryjanuary #zeroabv