The Best Kombucha Mocktail

You don’t need an excuse to substitute a mocktail for a cocktail when it tastes this good. Something about the fermented effervescence of Kombucha makes you feel like you’re imbibing a real spirit. 

This drink is a crowd-pleaser because it has everything you want in a special occasion beverage. It is sweet, tart, fizzy, and fresh. This drink is for sipping.

Ingredients:

• 3 oz. ginger kombucha (Synergy brand is my favorite, found at most major grocery retailers)

• 3 oz. of a fruit-forward kombucha like pomegranate or peach

• 1 oz. maple syrup

• 1 flamed orange peel

• 1 sprig of fresh rosemary

• Ice

• Rocks glass or stemless wine glass recommended 

Instructions:

Total time: 2 minutes.

• Add maple syrup to the bottom of the glass. Pour in a splash of kombucha to help mix in the heavy maple syrup so it does not stick to the bottom of the glass. Give it a swirl or stir with a spoon until the maple syrup is incorporated. 

• For my late creation at my Mocktails & Momentum presentation on 1/3/2023, I used Gingeraid and Trilogy (flavors of lemon and raspberry) types of Synergy kombucha.

• Add 3 oz of each kind of kombucha. Stir again.

• Stick in your rosemary sprig for an aromatic treat - be sure to whack it on the counter before putting it in the glass to wake up the oils in the plant. 

• Swirl the drink with a flamed orange, the oils in the orange peel add depth of flavor. 

• How to flame an orange: Take a sharp knife and shave off a slice of peel from a fresh orange. Ignite a flame with a match or a lighter, squeeze the peel over the flame and a spark will ignite! Be sure to do over your glass to catch any extracted oils. Watch this video for a visual.

• Add lots of ice as a final step. 

Recipe Notes:

• I recommend using 3 oz of 2 kinds of Kombucha. I  usually like to start with ginger kombucha as the base because it is familiar in cocktails such as a Moscow Mule. But you could certainly just use one kind of kombucha. 

• Think about seasonality when selecting your kombucha flavors. Consider a pomegranate or cranberry kombucha for a more wintery vibe, or something more fruity for summers like mango or peach. 

• Flaming an orange peel can be a fun party trick, but If you don’t want to flame your orange, no biggie. Use the peel anyway. It will still add depth of flavor. Crumple, roll, or massage it to release oils. You could sub a lemon peel.

• You can sub local raw honey for the maple syrup for a sweet drink. Or, opt out for a “dryer” drink.

• Option: Add bitters for a deeper, more earthy flavor. Tones down the sweetness. Adds another flavor layer. 

• I like to wait until the end to add ice. It helps keep the rosemary and orange peel from floating to the top and getting in your way when trying to drink by pushing them to the bottom.

• Party guests often ask me if they can mix these up ahead of time. I do not recommend doing so. Kombucha is naturally carbonated like beer, so if you mix it too early it will go “flat.” It will still taste good, but you will lose the fizzy effect. Bubbles are fun, keep um. The drink only takes minutes to put together. If I’m serving a large crowd, I will assemble and pour the drinks 20-30 minutes before guests arrive and add ice last minute (to keep them from getting watered down).

Make your mocktail next level, make it an experience. 

Why do we enjoy cocktails? I think it goes deeper than just flavor. They deliver an experience. They make us feel special. You can do that with mocktails, too. Here’s how:

See — Take a moment and appreciate your beautiful creation. It has all the makings of art. Texture, stunning color, and dimension. 

Sip — Ever been to a wine tasting? Slurp that drink across your tongue so it hits the different flavor receptors on your palette. Do you notice the bitter, sweet, and tart notes?

Smell — What does it remind you of? The smell is one of our strongest senses, frequently tied to pleasure and deep memories. 

Savor — Take your time! Use this as a brief moment where you pause for a bit and reflect on your day. Maybe think of 3 things you’re grateful for. 

Sensations — When creating an experience, consider adding multiple items that appeal to different senses. Here we have cold, fizzy, and smell. 

Get creative, make mocktails your own!