InIt’ National Mojito Day. This delicious lime ^[1], mint, rum and sweetness is ranked the country’s favorite summer drink. But what if you don’t want the alcohol? Well fear not!! You can make it just as delicious without the booze!

The mojito was created in Cuba in the 16th century. In 1831 it was put on a drink menu in a Cuban restaurant, then subsequently publish the ‘‘El Floridita Cocktail Book’’ in 1939. And the rest is history!

Here’s how you do it:

First, place mint simple syrup, lime and a few torn mint leaves that have been squeezed in a pitcher and stir to mix well.

Then fill 4 12-oz glasses with ice. Pour 1/4 of the lime and simple syrup mixture into each glass.

Next, pour the lemon-lime soda half way up the glass, then finish it off with the sparkling water.

Garnish with a mint sprig and let the sunshine out!

NOTE: You can buy mint simple syrup or make your own ^[2]. 

© Copyright 2022 The Lazy Gastronome

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Virgin Mojito

A delicious and refreshing drink with lime and mint. Just like the original sans the rum.

Course: appetizers, beverage

Cuisine: Barbecue, cuban, summer

Keyword: lbrown sugar, lime, mint, mixed drink, mocktail, non-alcoholic, virginia

Servings: 4 servings

Author: HelenFern

Ingredients

• 1 cup lime juice, preferably fresh
• 2/3 cup mint simple syrup
• 5-6 fresh mint leaves, torn and crushed
• lemon-lime soda
• lime sparkling water
• mint for garnish

Instructions

1. Place mint simple syrup, lime and mint leaves in a pitcher and stir to blend well.

2. Fill 4 12-oz glasses with ice. Pour 1/4 of the lime and simple syrup mixture into each glass.

3. Pour the lemon-lime soda half way up the glass, then finish it off with the sparkling water. (About equal parts of the two)

4. Garnish with a mint sprig and let the sunshine out!

Recipe Notes

 

© Copyright 2022 The Lazy Gastronome

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As the weather begins to warm up, I love to sit on my deck with a cold drink ^[7]. One of my favorites has always been gin and tonic. Just one problem now, we rarely drink alcohol anymore. We drink a mocktail.

So I set out to try to create those flavors without the booze.

I knew that gin was primarily juniper berries, but there is something else. The traditional gin is distilled with juniper berries (lots of juniper berries),  lemon peel, coriander seed and angelica root. But my quest was how to create that flavor in a base.

After some experimentation I came up with a drink base that had flavors pretty close. It’s a little cloudy, but you don’t notice it once it’s mixed.

Give it a try. Tell me what you think!

Here’s How to Do it:

Crush the junipers in a mortar just enough to crack them.

Place them and all the other spices with the water in a small sauce pan. Bring it all to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Add the agave and continue to simmer until it’s reduced by half.

Strain through a coffee filter and remove as much of the particles as possible.

It will still be a little cloudy.

Store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.

When you’re ready to make the mocktail, put about 1/8 cup in a pint class. Fill with ice and top with tonic water. A slice of lemon to garnish and it’s good to go.

© Copyright 2022 The Lazy Gastronome

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Gin and Tonic Mocktail

The refreshing taste without the alcohol.

Course: Appetizer, beverage

Cuisine: cocktail, mocktail

Keyword: cocktail, gin, mocktail, tonic

Servings: 1 cup

Author: HelenFern

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup juniper berries, slightly cracked
• 1/4 teaspoon coriander seed
• 1/8 teaspoon anise seed
• 1 thin slice lemon peel
• 1/2 teaspoon agave syrup

Instructions

1. Crush the junipers in a mortar just enough to crack them.

2. Place them and all the other spices with the water in a small sauce pan. Bring it all to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.

3. Add the agave and continue to simmer until it's reduced by half.

4. Store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.

5. When you're ready to make the drink, put about 1/8 cup in a pint class. Fill with ice and top with tonic water. A slice of lemon to garnish and it's good to go.

Recipe Notes

 

© Copyright 2022 The Lazy Gastronome

Here are some things that are perfect to use for this recipe!

Disclosure: The items below are affiliate links through Amazon.com. If you purchase any of these products through the links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

#lazygastronome
#ginandtonic
#mocktail

As you sit and wait for all those trick or treaters on Halloween ^[12] night, here’s a terrifying drink to sip, right out of a Sherlock Holmes story!

A delicious drink of grapefruit juice and vodka with a salted rim – and a little “blood” for the occasion. Mix this treat up and turn on a scary movie – then wait for the little ghouls to ring the doorbell!

Mixing this Halloween Drink – 

First you need to color the salt. In a small bowl, mix the salt with the food coloring until it’s well mixed. Spread it out on a piece of parchment paper and dry it in a 250° oven for about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Store in a small jar.

To make the drink, wet the rim of the glass with some lemon. Place the salt in a deep plate and roll the glass rim in it. Set it aside.

Next, in a pitcher, mix the grapefruit juice, vodka and food coloring, stirring until well blended.

Add ice cubes to the glasses and pour the drink in.

Sit back and enjoy the Halloween evening!

© Copyright 2018 The Lazy Gastronome

5 from 3 votes

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Salty Hounds of Baskerville

As you sit and wait for all those trick or treaters on Halloween night, here's a terrifying drink to sip, right out of a Sherlock Holmes story!

Course: beverage

Cuisine: American

Keyword: adult beverage, alcohol, beverage, grapefruit juice, vodka

Servings: 4 drinks

Author: HelenFern

Ingredients

Bloody Salt

• 1/4 cup coarse salt, like margarita salt
• 3-4 drops red food coloring

The Drink

• 24 oz. Pink Grapefruit Juice
• 8 oz. vodka
• 6-8 drops red food coloring

Instructions

Bloody Salt

1. First you need to color the salt. In a small bowl, mix the salt with the food coloring until it's well mixed. Spread it out on a piece of parchment paper and dry it in a 250° oven for about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Store in a small jar. 

The Drink

1. To make the drink, wet the rim of the glass with some lemon. Place the salt in a deep plate and roll the glass rim in it. Set it aside.

2. Next, in a pitcher, mix the grapefruit juice, vodka and food coloring, stirring until well blended.

3. Add ice cubes to the glasses and pour the drink in. Sit back and enjoy the Halloween evening!

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave me a comment –

January 1 was National Bloody Mary day – so I made some Bloody Marys!    We used vodka as well as a couple of other variations (see below).  It’s a great drink for brunch.

What you need:

• 2/3 cup vodka
• 2 cups tomato juice
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon tabasco sauce
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
• ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
• Garnish such as celery, green olives, pepperoncini peppers, bacon

How to Do it:

Place all the ingredients except the garnish in a large pitcher and stir, making sure to mix it all well.  (A wire whisk works great).

Put ice into four 8-10 oz. glasses and pour the mixture over the ice.  Use your choice of garnish (the classic is celery –  I used them all!)

Makes 4 drinks

Here are some variations to make not using vodka:

• Use tequila to make a bloody Maria
• Beer instead of hard alcohol is refreshing – a Beery Mary (my husband’s creation)
• No alcohol at all – a Virgin Mary.  I like to add a splash of lemon infused sparkling water to it.

© Copyright 2017 The Lazy Gastronome