Nonalcoholic Beer & Wine Replacements + Mocktail Recipes
I am so excited to share these beer & wine replacement recipes with you! If you read my blog post “5 Things to Think about Before Your Next Glass of Wine” you might be on the hunt for some yummy nonalcoholic replacements! I have 4 recipes that will help!
The Ritual
Sometimes the ritual of something is more important than the actual “something”. We will use the obvious example of daily alcohol consumption. You might have a ritual of pouring yourself a glass of wine at dinner time. Maybe you like a beer after dinner while watching the television. How about a nightcap to settle yourself into bed? These are all rituals that you might have. Try replacing one night a week in that ritual with an alternative beverage. One that has healing properties instead of toxic ones. Keep the similarities like timing, taste and even your favorite glass. Let us know how you do!
Easy Ginger Beer
¾ cups fresh ginger
4 tbs date sugar or coconut sugar
2-3 fresh lemons
1 liter bottle of sparkling water
fresh spearmint or sweet mint
In a large bowl grate ginger with a course grater (cheese grater). Peel lemon with a paring knife to remove skin and add to bowl. Add sugar and pound with the blunt end of a rolling pin or mash with a fork. Add sparkling water. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes. Strain through cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer into a sealable bottle or container. If mixture is too sweet add more lemon, if too tart add more sugar. Drink within 24-48 hours. Keep refrigerated. Watch for pressure build up while storing. Serves 6-8
Red Wine Re-Do
2 oz tart cherry juice, unsweetened and chilled
2 oz seltzer water chilled
splash of apple cider vinegar
splash of lemon or lime juice
All ingredients in wine glass and serve. Serves 1.
Grapefruit Basil Mock-tini
1 pink grapefruit, juiced
1 cup sparkling mineral water
3-4 tbs basil simple syrup
ice
1 grapefruit, peeled and sliced
In a cocktail shaker add 2 ounces of grapefruit juice, ice, 3-4 tablespoons of basil simple syrup and fill with sparkling water. Shake and strain into glass. Garnish with extra basil leave and sliced grapefruit.
Basil Simple Syrup
1/2 cup pure cane sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup basil leaves
To make simple syrup heat water, add sugar and dissolve. Add fresh basil and steep for 15- 20 mins.
Lavender Mint Mock-jito
9 oz. lavender syrup (recipe below)
9 oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice
24 oz. tonic water
½ cup fresh mint leaves
a few fresh lavender sprigs
In a large pitcher, combine lavender syrup, lemon juice, and tonic water. Stir. Add a few mint leaves in the bottom of each glass add ice pour in mock-jito mix. Server with a sprig of lavender and lemon slice. Serves 6
Lavender Syrup
1 cup water
¼ cup fresh lavender leaves
1 cup pure cane organic sugar
In a small sauce pan combine water and lavender; bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add sugar and stir until sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Strain and let cool.
