Summer will be here nearly in a month, but it seems like the summer heat has already arrived. Now is a great time to set up the lounge chair in your front lawn and get a good helping of Vitamin D. What better to accompany that than some refreshing mocktails? Here are some of my personal recipes for you to try!
Equipment
First off, you will need some tools to make the drinks:
- Shaker tin or Boston Shaker
- Strainer (if using Boston Shaker)
- Jigger or measuring cups that show fluid ounces
- Muddler or ice cream scoop with a thick, blunt handle
- Rocks glass or moscow mule tin
- Highball glass or tall glass cup
- Ice
Mint and Basil Mule
Ingredients
- 5 leaves of mint
- 3 leaves of basil
- 2oz of Lime juice
- 1/2oz of agave nectar
- Ginger beer for topping off
Method
- Chill rocks glass or moscow mule tin in freezer before beginning assembly
- Add 3 mint leaves and 2 basil leaves to the tin and muddle them
- Add lime juice and agave nectar
- Fill 2/3 of the tin with ice
- Shake for 15 seconds
- Fill chosen drink-ware 1/2 way with ice
- Strain drink over ice
- Top off with ginger beer
- Garnish with the remaining mint and basil leaves
Lychee/Guava Green Tea Highball
Ingredients
- 1oz lychee or guava juice
- Either store-bought or you can juice the fruits in a juicer or by blending the flesh and straining through a cheese cloth
- 1 1/2oz of cooled, strongly brewed green tea (I really like jasmine tea with this drink)
- 1/2oz of simple syrup (1 part sugar, 1 part water)
- Club soda to top off
Method
- Chill highball glass or tall glass cup in freezer before assembly
- Combine lychee/guava juice, cooled green tea, and simple syrup in shaker tin
- Fill shaker 2/3 with ice
- Shake for 15 seconds
- Fill chosen glassware 1/2 way with ice
- Strain drink over ice
- Top off with Club Soda and add a nice long straw
