A Mocktail Happy Hour

Brunch, lunch, happy hour, or dinner – just because you’re abstaining from alcohol (or don’t want the extra calories), it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to order a drink. And mixologists agree.

This days, restaurants have extensive and celebrated bar programs where proud bartenders make their own juices, syrups, spices, and salts to complement the food on the menu. And they’re just as proud to dole out a mocktail as they are a cocktail. In fact, a quick look at the foodiest of food blogs and most serious of gourmand pubs from The Boston Globe to Grub Street to The New York Times, shows the ever-growing popularity of a well designed, delicious, and refreshing non-alcoholic beverage is everywhere. Mixologist Raphael Reyes, behind the bar at Melibea in New York City, couldn’t be happier.

“I feel restaurants don’t put enough attention on kids and pregnant women that come in as customers,” Reyes said. “We want to embrace that and make them feel like they are still drinking a crafted cocktail with herbs, aromas, and textures. We don’t want them to feel they are missing out because they can’t drink alcohol. All our mocktails are also visually appealing so no one would ever know you are not drinking a cocktail. We have about 8 or more different fresh juices and syups in house so this is a great way to use them and keep our drinks as fresh as possible.” 

So here, a round up of some of the best (and most delicious!) non-alcholic drinks across the United States. Salud!

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At Petty Cash Taqueria in Los Angeles, you can have some delicious libations with your tacos. Try out the Jamaichael Jordan hibiscus tea, made with clove, Mexican cinnamon, and local raspberry; the Dirty Horchata made from long grain brown rice, pecans, Chinese cinnamon, and evaporated milk; the Tepache, made from fermented pineapple and piloncillo; or the house-fermented ginger beer made from ginger, galangal, pin pepper, and lemongrass.

At Victor Albisu’s Del Campo, a restaurant dedicated to the grill, sip on a Limonada, made from grilled lemon juice with a swirl of apple wood smoked syrup or try the Chica Fresca, made with chica morada, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice, and carbonated water.

At Richard Sandoval’s Zengo in Washington, D.C., take your pick from three refreshing options: a Strawberry Lemonade made with fresh muddled strawberry, sour mix, and simple syrup; a Lemongrass-Ginger Lemonade with lemongrass, lime, ginger, sour mix, grenadine, and Sprite; and a Lemon Balm Iced Tea made with lemon balm, lime, simple syrup, sour mix, and iced tea.

At Amigos in New York City, turn up the heat and sip on the Hot Tamale, made with mango juice, fresh jalapeno, and lime juice with a chili salt rim, or try the Shark Attack, lemonade with grenadine and pomegranate juice.

At AG Kitchen , also in New York City, cool down with the Naked Moscow Mule, made with fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and ginger beer.

And at chef Jesús Núñez’s Melibea take your pick from three drinks so good, you won’t even miss the alcohol: the Apple, Cucumber, and Thyme mocktail made with fresh apple juice, fresh cucumber juice, cardamom, thyme, and lemongrass; the Bell Pepper and Grapefruit mocktail, made with sage, red bell pepper, grapefruit, and lemon soda; and the Pineapple and Ginger mocktail, made with basil, ginger, African syrup, lime juice, pineapple juice, and ginger ale.

Thirsty? You’re in luck. With these recipes, you’ll be able to drink up…

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Melibea’s Apple, Cucumber, and Thyme Mocktail 

• 1 dash cardamom bitters
• 4 thyme sprigs
• 1/2 lemongrass
• 1 ounce fresh apple juice
• 1 ounce cucumber juice
• 1 splash of tonic soda
• juice of half a lemon

Get the full recipe.

Melibea’s Bell Pepper and Grapefruit Mocktail

• 4 sage leaves
• 1/2 oleo saccharum
• 3/4 ounces lemon juice
• 1 ounce fresh red bell pepper
• 1 ounce fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 lemon
• Fever Three Bitter Lemon Soda

Get the full recipe.

Melibea’s Pineapple Ginger Mocktail

• 4 basil leaves
• 1/2 ounce ginger juice
• 1/2 ounce African syrup
• 3/4 ounce lime juice
• 1 1/2 ounces fresh pineapple juice
• 1 lime
• Fever Three Ginger Ale

Get the full recipe. 

Fresh Paradise Cocktail

• 3 fresh cucumber slices
• 6 fresh mint leaves
• 1 dash of lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 3 ounces mineral water

Get the full recipe.