On "mocktails". (A contest of sorts)

[Chan790]

I was inspired by the "What are you drinking" thread and always love a good interactive thread and the Lounge is full of foodies and fellow libertines so I thought I'd give this a shot.

As I mentioned before, I quit drinking in March. (In summary: explicitly not an alcoholic, outgrew that aspect of my party-boy lifestyle and prefer to remember whose lingerie is on my head, why I have a new tattoo and where my pants went.) So I don't miss alcohol and my friends have finally accepted that I'm the same fun reprobate sober as drunk. (Also don't miss the daily hangover and the flavor upon waking over rum and vomit.) What I do miss is my constant companion, a cocktail; I love cocktails, I love the glasses, the clink of the ice, the mixing and the flavors and the cold ice-clear glass in my hand. I hate Shirley Temples though, have no desire to drink any more club soda with lime or cranberry juice cocktail and think Coca-cola needs a pick-me-up.

So...a request. Hit me with your best mocktail (or if you prefer the terminology "alcohol-free cocktail"). Something classic, something new, something you've just made up. Just give me your libation recipe. If I get enough of them I might even assemble a judging panel of my mates in a few days and hand out awards for the best: fruity mocktail, sophisticated mocktail, sipping mocktail, mocktail shot, tall cool mocktail for a warm summer day, mocktail recreation of a classic cocktail and of course, mocktail best in show. (1st prize is bragging rights and I'll order enough of your recipe in local watering-holes to make you famous in Silver Spring, MD.)

So, one rule: No Booze. (I'll allow the use of bitters as the alcohol content they'd add is negligible and they're key in classic cocktail making.)

[JBoy]

1. Here's my Virgin Bloody Mary recipe:

Rim the glass with a lime wedge, dip rim in Bloody Mary rim mix, or seasoned salt (this step can be skipped).

Juice of 1/2 lime
Several dashes Worcestershire Sauce
Several dashes Frank's Red Hot sauce (chili & lime version) - can substitute a couple dashes of Tabasco sauce
1/2 teaspoon horseradish
pinch of salt (or the rim mix)
tomato juice

stir well, add a few ice cubes.

Can substitute Clamato juice for the tomato juice to make it a virgin caesar.

[Chan790]

2. It'd make a great cure for the hangovers I no longer have.

That's a clear nominee for "recreation of a classic cocktail".

[jmowreader]

3. This is the best mocktail you can ever drink

Add in this order:

Half a glass of apple juice
Half a glass of 7-up
Twist of lemon

[Lyric]

4. Non-alcoholic mojito

I love love LOVE mojitos, but I can't have alcohol very often because of my medications. So I make these instead, and I don't miss the rum one bit. I use spearmint grown right out on my porch, but I'm sure that the store-bought stuff is just as good. :)

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons cane sugar
About half of a lime (cut into thin slices)
5 big mint leaves (or more, if you like more mint)
Club soda
Ice

Directions:

Add the first 3 ingredients to a 12-ounce glass and muddle (squish them together well)
Add ice until the cup is a little over half-full
Fill the rest of the way with club soda
Stir well until the sugar has dissolved
Serve with a sugar-cane swizzle stick if you can find it

[Chan790]

5. Kick 'cause I'm thirsty, yo!

I got new glassware for the occasion too and right now I'm just using them for iced tea.

[nolabear]

6. This is delicious, I swear!

1/2 ginger ale
1/2 plain fizzy water
2 medium thick slices peeled, seeded cucumber (per drink), pureed

It's amazingly light and tasty.