Make your own non-alcoholic cocktail

For a few years now, no one is surprised when you order an alcohol-free beer. And non-alcoholic wines and cocktails are also becoming more and more normal. That is great for anyone who wants to drink less alcohol and does not always want to sit with a glass of water or cola. Take advantage of it and enjoy virgin drinks this summer.
For a few years now, no one is surprised when you order an alcohol-free beer. And non-alcoholic wines and cocktails are also becoming more and more normal. That is great for anyone who wants to drink less alcohol and does not always want to sit with a glass of water or cola. Take advantage of it and enjoy virgin drinks this summer too.

Why alcohol-free?

Alcohol-free is healthy and hip. The Health Council's advice is to avoid drinking alcohol and - if you do - a maximum of 1 glass per day. So it's a good thing that nowadays every renowned beer brand has one or more non-alcoholic varieties on its shelves. And following that alcohol-free beer trend, there are more and more alcohol-free wines for sale. You also often see other, more spicy, non-alcoholic drinks such as ginger beer, elderflower wine and kombucha. And the trend is to make cocktails alcohol-free: there is a wide choice of so-called mocktails or virgin cocktails. That is a real summer pleasure.
Alcohol-free is healthy and hip. The Health Council's advice is to avoid drinking alcohol and - if you do - a maximum of 1 glass per day. So it's a good thing that nowadays every renowned beer brand has one or more non-alcoholic varieties on its shelves. And following this alcohol-free beer trend, there are more and more alcohol-free wines for sale. You also often see other, more spicy, non-alcoholic drinks such as ginger beer, elderflower wine and kombucha. And the trend is to make cocktails alcohol-free: there is a wide choice of so-called mocktails or virgin cocktails. That is really enjoyable in the summer.

Cocktails are festive drinks that usually contain a number of different ingredients. So do that with the virgin varieties too. You make them with four ingredients. The preparation is simple: put numbers 1 and 2 together, along with some ice cubes. Shake this together in a cocktail shaker (or just a lidded jar). You put this base in a glass and finally add ingredient 3 and 4.

Instead of the alcohol, take a dash of juice as the basis for the virgin cocktail. Orange, lemon, lime juice gives a lot of freshness and flavor. But also think of apple, pomegranate, pineapple or peach juice. Vegetable juices can also be an excellent basis: tomato juice, carrot juice or beet juice for example. Or take a splash of lemonade syrup as a base. Elderflower syrup or black currant syrup are very tasty and fresh.

Add something spicy or flavoursome to make up for the â € liftâ € ™ of alcohol. For example, slices or grated ginger, a few rings of red pepper, some juniper berries, a few sprigs of mint. Also consider a dash of rose water, ginger syrup, balsamic vinegar or a few drops of Tabasco.

Bubbles are festive, so add this one. This can be just sparkling mineral water, but tonic, sprite or ginger beer are also very suitable for making a mocktail. More luxurious are the Italian non-alcoholic herbal drinks such as Crodino or take one of the sparkling non-alcoholic white wines. If you prefer not to use sugar, take the sugar-free variants. Pure and sparkling mineral water is always sugar free of course.

Top it off with a nice addition such as a slice of orange, a wedge of lime, a few berries (on a twig) or strawberries, some sliced cucumber or carrot ribbons. And of course serve in a nice glass, with a cocktail pestle and possibly a (paper) straw.
Top it all off with a nice addition such as a slice of orange, a wedge of lime, some berries (on a twig) or strawberries, some sliced cucumber or carrot ribbons. And of course serve in a nice glass, with a cocktail pestle and possibly a (paper) straw.

Virgin Gin tonic: 20 ml lime juice, some juniper berries, 100 ml (sugar-free) tonic and strings of sliced cucumber Virgin Hugo: 20 ml elderflower syrup, 50 ml non-alcoholic white wine, 50 ml sparkling mineral water and wedges lime Virgin Bellini: a mashed and sifted wild peach, some shaved ginger root, 100 ml sparkling non-alcoholic white wine, pomegranate seeds Virgin Bloody Mary (non-carbonated): 20 ml lime juice, 3 drops Worcestershire sauce and 3 drops Tabasco, 150 ml tomato juice, celery stick Ginger mojito: 50 ml melon juice, grated lime zest, 100 ml ginger beer, mint leaves and cucumber pieces Virgin pina colada: 50 ml pineapple juice, 50 ml coconut milk, 100 ml sparkling coconut water, pineapple slice Ginger-Kombucha long drink: 20 ml ginger syrup, ginger slices, 100 ml kombucha, 50 ml mineral water, sprig of mint