Simple Mocktail Basics For Lazy Weeknights
Plus Learn How I Make a Tropical Tasting Mocktail in Just 2 Minutes! š
Look, I fully understand that it seems much easier to open the fridge and grab a canned cocktail to unwind after work during the week. But, thatās something the old version of you would do. Itās time to level the F up!
In this article, youāll learn how to throw together a super delicious mocktail with depths of flavor in just two minutes so you can have something fun & refreshing to look forward to after a stressful day of work that wonāt wreck your wellness. š āāļø
This recipe takes my simple two-step, A + B formula and brings it to life. If youāve never heard me talk about this formula, you can head to the bottom of this page, enter your email, and have it sent directly to your inbox. OR you can head over to YouTube to watch me explain it in detail. I like to provide options because everyoneās learning style is different. š
When building your mocktail, there are FOUR main parts you want to consider.
1. Glassware
Itās time to ditch that plastic cup youāve been drinking out of that you took home from some dingy restaurant. Youāre a grown up and that means you should be drinking out of a glass. PLUS, this really sets the vibe for enjoying your mocktail. š
Wide Mouth Mason Jar ā Iām a true Midwest lady so this is one of my favorite go-to glasses. The wide mouth allows me to really get in there, muddle things, and see whatās goinā on.
āStandard Alcohol Glassesā ā You can 100% still use glasses that are more traditionally used for alcoholic drinks if you feel comfortable doing so. Maybe you still have someone living in the house that drinks and they have a collection of cool barware, I say utilize it! Some of my favorites are a stemless wine glass, a beer goblet, or lowball rocks glasses. Rocks glasses are especially useful when creating a sweeter drink because you donāt feel pressured to fill a huge glass up if you donāt want too much sweetness. š
Fun Thrifted Glasses ā I really love going to my local thrift store, hittinā up the 50Ā¢ table, and loading my cabinet full of unique glasses. I recently got a green, tropical-themed glass that Iām really enjoying. The great thing with this option, too, is that if the glass happens to break, I wonāt mind because it was a pretty cheap find! š¤
2. Ice
This seems silly to mention, but ice really matters when creating drinks of any kind. Depending on the type of ice, it can melt fairly quickly and really water down your delicious creation. If I make a drink to enjoy during a weeknight, I might find myself on the couch, sitting on my patio, or in the bath and I wonāt want to get up to refill my glass with ice because it melted in 2 seconds. Thatās why Iām so lucky to have a freezer that produces pretty big chunks of ice, but if you donāt, I highly recommend purchasing some silicone molds for big, square ice cubes. These are standard in whiskey drinks, but last time I checked, thereās no rule saying a specific ice mold HAS to be used with booze. This one has great reviews on Amazon & it comes with a sphere and square mold for under $10! š§
3. Citrus
Citrus is super common in both cocktails and mocktails, but let me tell ya. There is a real epidemic going on with people mistreating citrus. Iām not standing for it! š¤¬ If you want to see my tips on how to properly treat citrus and cut the perfect wedge for your drink, you can check it out here. If you only care about the TLC of citrus, jump to minute 3:00.
When building mocktails, itās super important to get those fresh elements to pop in the drink. Thatās why I love using fresh citrus, but if you donāt like to keep fresh ingredients on hand, I recommend buying some Santa Cruz pure citrus bottles. Iām sure there are other brands that are great too, but this is the one I can vet. Itās super concentrated and tastes so much more real, fresh & natural than those 99Ā¢ lemon and lime squeezer bottles that seem to appear inside everyoneās refrigerator door.
4. Base
If you didnāt catch my A + B formulaā¦ Step A is the base. There are so many options to use for your base that you can check out in my last blog. Feel free to stray from my recommendations and let me know what you try in your next mocktail!
5. Optional buttttttā¦ š¤Ŗ
Now, this step is completely optional, but I will tell you that this is the step thatās going to take your super basic mocktail and turn it up to šÆ. In this recipe, I am utilizing essential oils, specifically Kumquat. š If youāre like,
WTF Alana??? You are not supposed to ingest essential oils?!
Iām here to tell you, you can! I choose to partner with a very high-quality brand that undergoes strict third-party testing and never uses fillers or synthetics in their oils. If you want to use some of the pure plant products for yourself, you can get your hands on some here!
Tip: I love using all citrus oils for mocktails. Kumquat doesnāt technically qualify as a citrus but it does mimic citrus flavors. šš Please note: Any oil that has a supplement fact on the bottle is safe to ingest.
š If youāre not into essential oils, I get it. Everyone has their preferences and like I said before, I like to provide options. Another great optional ingredient to use is flavored extracts! Just a few drops of these and you add a whole new layer of flavor to your drink. One thing I would be remiss if I didnāt mention is to beware of alcohol in flavored extracts. Everyone is on their own journey with alcohol so if this isnāt a concern for you, great, but in case it is, now you know! š§
BAM! With just 4 steps you now understand the basics and have a super simple mocktail for lazy weeknights. Iāll link the video below if you want to watch me put it all together, but hereās the recipe I threw together in 2 minutes or less! š
Serving Size: One Mocktail
Ingredients: 3
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Enjoy! š¹
First, I prep my glass. In this recipe, I chose to use a fancy, crystal glass that my husband and I received as a wedding giftā¦ Fancy! š¤Ŗ
I filled my glass about 2/3 with chunky ice. If you have a cube or sphere mold, throw in one piece of ice!
Then, I grabbed my base of choice. Today I used Waterloo pineapple sparkling water. You can fill your glass halfway to two-thirds full!
I added a splash of pure lime juice from Santa Cruz, a splash meaning around a tablespoon. Then for shits and giggles, since I had a lemon cut and prepped, I squeezed one full wedge into my glass. š
Finally, I topped my mocktail off with 3 drops of Kumquat, mixed it up, and started sippinā.
Ahhh! What a refreshing mocktail at home for lazy weeknights that wonāt compromise your health. Let me know if you try this recipe and what you think! š¹
