3 Dry January Mocktails to Quench Your Thirst

Boasting flavours that pack a punch, indulge with these delicious alcohol-free drinks

Whether you’re partaking in Dry January, or are just looking to mix it up a bit (pun intended), here are three cocktails to add a little fun to your glass…

1. Blueberry Sour

If you’re missing your sour/tart beers, this is a fun one to try! The simple syrup was made with frozen B.C. blueberries, but you can use whatever you have on hand. This one will take some planning. Both the syrup and the tea need to cool, so go ahead and get that out of the way the day before you want to make the drink.

INGREDIENTS

Blueberry simple syrup: 

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ cup blueberries
• Blueberry sour
• 2 oz of fresh brewed and chilled, berry-flavored tea (I used Silk Road’s Berry Victoria)
• 1 oz blueberry simple syrup
• 1 oz lemon juice (approximately half a lemon)
• 1 egg white
• Ice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. To make the simple syrup, place water, sugar and blueberries in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil, stirring and turning the heat off when the sugar has dissolved.
2. Let sit for an hour or more until it is cool and has a distinct blueberry taste, then strain the syrup from the berries and cover.
3. Chill in the fridge.
4. To make the cocktail, chill coupe glass ahead of time (Optional).
5. In a shaker, add a handful of ice, the tea, simple syrup, lemon juice and egg white.
6. Shake vigorously to combine everything and froth the egg white.
7. Take a strainer and pour the mixture into a coupe glass, shaking to get the froth out.

2. Virgin Margarita

I was looking at the pile of cold, crisp, clean snow that fell the other day, and wondering if I could make that into a cocktail. While feeling cold and dreaming of summer, inspiration came in the form of a slush-style margarita. If you miss that tequila zing in there, I saw on the internet someone suggested a splash of pickle juice, so maybe give that a try if you’re brave (I wasn’t).

INGREDIENTS

• Juice of 2 limes
• Juice of half a lemon
• Juice of half an orange
• Soda water
• Lime wedge for garnish
• Ice – cubed, crushed or snow
• Salt for rim
• 1 oz simple syrup if you prefer sweeter (Optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Line the glass with salt, if so desired.
2. Mix juice in separate glass together for 30 seconds.
3. Place chosen type of ice in the glass, then pour the juice over, and top with desired amount of soda water.
4. If you find it too tart, add more orange juice.
5. Garnish with lime wedge.

3. Bright Light Passionfruit Mimosa

There are lots of zero-proof substitutes for distilled alcohol on the market these days. They provide the flavours of the originals, but leave out the alcohol. I tried a bottle of Lumette’s Bright Light (and they’re Canadian!) as a sub for the G&Ts I’ve come to love this past year. But I decided to try and make something fun with it, and came up with this combo of a passionfruit-flavoured kombucha, and an ounce of the zero-proof into a very light bubbly drink that pairs well with brunch!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 oz Bright Light Lumette (or other gin substitute)
• Carbonated passionfruit kombucha

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pour one ounce of the gin-substitute into a champagne flute and top with bubbly kombucha.