INTERESTING
Amongst the most popular New Year's resolutions is the sobriety challenge of abstaining from alcohol for the first month of the new year, referred to as “Dry January''. Whether a personal choice for a healthier lifestyle, a competition amongst friends, a detox for the new year, or just a personal test of will power, the challenge can prove harder than we may think. Many of us are accustomed to our daily nightcap, a cocktail at the end of a hard work day, a cold beer at a sporting event, or the social aspect of going out for drinks with friends on the weekend; and with 12 days still remaining in January, February can feel far away.
Similarly, in the weeks leading to and following surgery, patients are recommended to abstain from alcohol due to the harmful effect it has on their response to anesthesia and opioid pain medications as well as the negative influences on their risk of bleeding, rate of healing, and immune systems.
Regardless of the reason, many of us find ourselves abstaining from alcohol at one time or another, however this does not mean our only drink alternative is water. There are plenty of fun and tasty non-alcoholic and mocktail options to satisfy your taste buds.
Beer drinker? No problem! There are a surprising number of options available at your local grocery stores, liquor stores, and most restaurants. Most international and domestic beer companies offer a non-alcoholic alternative including Heineken Zero, Coors Edge, and more. Additionally, many of our local New England breweries offer a craft non-alcoholic option. Some of my local favorites include . . .
- Athletic Brewing Company - a brewery out of Stratford, CT dedicated solely to non-alcoholic beer with 10+ options
- Life IPA by Lordo Hobo Beer of Woburn, MA
- Just the Haze by Samuel Adams of Boston, MA
- Juicy IPA and American IPA by Two Roads of Stafford, CT
If mixed drinks are more your style, there are plenty of options available to you too! Many restaurants feature mocktails on their drinking menus, and you can always ask your server for a virgin version of your favorite beverage. If staying in for the night, creating mocktails from the comforts of your home can be fun and is easier than you think
Before we get into specifics, let’s start with the basics. Simple syrup is a staple ingredient found in many specialty drink recipes. As the name suggests, it is very simple to make and takes less than 5 minutes, but can also be bought at your local grocery or liquor store.
Simple Syrup Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
Directions:
- Combine sugar and water in a small pot. Heat on medium to high heat bringing water to a simmer until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temp. Transfer to a mason jar (or anything similar) for storage.
You can also add 1-2 cups of any fruit such as strawberries, raspberries, etc. to create a flavored simple syrup
Once finished, simple syrup can be used to create any multitude of beverages, but below are some of my favorites. Adjust the amount of simple syrup and mixer to your taste preference and enjoy!
1. Apple Pie
Ingredients:
Cinnamon sticks
3 Apples (recommend sweeter apples such as honey crisp or red delicious)
Brown sugar
Water
Lemon juice
Lemon
Ginger beer
Directions:
1. Make apple simple syrup - Slice 2 apples. Follow simple syrup recipe above, combining 1 cup of water and substitute 1 cup of brown sugar in a small pot, bringing water to a simmer until sugar dissolves. Then add all apple slices and 2 cinnamon sticks and let simmer for 20 min. Remove from heat and let cool to room temp. Transfer to a mason jar. Strain apples and cinnamon sticks out the next day.
2. Fill a 16 oz glass with ice
3. Add 2 oz of apple simple syrup
4. Add 1 oz of lemon juice
5. Top with ginger beer
6. Slice lemon into wedges and extra apple into thin slices then garnish glass with lemon and apple slice
2. Cinnamon Sour
Ingredients:
Cinnamon sticks
Granulated sugar
Water
Lemon juice
Lemon
Cranberry juice
Club soda or ginger beer
Directions:
1. Make cinnamon simple syrup - follow simple syrup recipe above, combining 1 cup of water and 1 cup of granulated sugar in a small pot, bringing water to a simmer until sugar dissolves. Then add 4 cinnamon sticks and let simmer for 20 min. Remove from heat and let cool to room temp. Transfer to a mason jar. Strain cinnamon sticks out the next day.
2. Fill a 16 oz glass with ice
3. Add 1 oz of cinnamon simple syrup
4. Add 1 oz of lemon juice
5. Add 1 oz of cranberry juice
6. Top with soda water or ginger beer
7. Slice lemon and garnish glass with lemon
3. Pear-Sage Ginger Gimlet
Ingredients:
Sage leaves (not packed)
Granulated sugar
Water
Lime juice
Pear juice
Lime
Pear
Ginger beer
Directions:
1. Make sage simple syrup - follow simple syrup recipe above, combining 1 cup of water and 1 cup of granulated sugar in a small pot, bringing water to a simmer until sugar dissolves. Then add 1 cup sage leaves (not packed) and let simmer for 20 min. Remove from heat and let cool to room temp. Transfer to a mason jar. Strain sage leaves out the next day.
2. Fill a 16 oz glass with ice
3. Add 1 oz of sage simple syrup
4. Add 1 oz of lime juice
5. Add 1 oz of pear juice
6. Top with ginger beer
7. Slice lime into wedges and pear into thin slices then garnish glass with lime and pear slice
4. No Pain (killer)
Ingredients:
Coconut cream
Orange juice
Lime juice
Lime
Pineapple juice
Nutmeg
Directions:
1. Fill a 16 oz glass with ice
2. Add 1 oz of coconut cream
3. Add 1 oz of lime juice
4. Add 2 oz of orange juice
5. Add 4 oz of pineapple juice
6. Shake well
7. Garnish with nutmeg
5. Cool as a Cucumber
Ingredients:
Mint leaves
Sliced cucumber
Simple syrup
Lime juice
Lime
Club soda
Directions:
1. Muddle 4-6 mint leaves with, 4-6 slices of cucumber, 1oz of simple syrup and 1 oz of lime juice in a 16 oz glass
2. Fill glass with ice
3. Top with soda water (can substitute sprite for sweeter taste)
4. Stir
5. Slice lime into wedges and garnish glass with lime wedge and cucumber slice
