These cool and refreshing summer drinks are perfect for sitting outside in the shade, enjoying a lazy breeze. Using both traditional and not-so-traditional ingredients, these “mocktails” — cocktails without alcohol — are more interesting than your everyday lemonade or iced tea. We’re providing two recipes to get you started, but you can also mix and match ingredients to create your own signature mocktail. Just combine a base liquid with fresh seasonal fruit and an accent flavor (or two). Share your own favorite summer mocktails in the comments below.
Bases: Seltzer Iced tea (black, green, flavored, etc.) Coconut water Lemonade or limeade
Seasonal fruits: Melon or watermelon Berries (blueberries, blackberries or raspberries) Stone fruit (peaches, apricots, plums, nectarines) Fig Cucumber Tomato
Accent flavors: Citrus (lemon, lime, grapefruit) Balsamic vinegar (a little goes a long way) Herbs or spices (lavender, ginger, basil, rosemary, turmeric, mint, rosemary) Simple syrup or honey syrup (Use one of the herbs or spices to flavor your syrup — see note below. If you want to be adventurous, you can make a spicy syrup by infusing your simple or honey syrup with jalapenos.)
Servings: 4 8-ounce servings (for both recipes)
Late summer iced Earl Grey with fig honey
Blackberry lavender spritzer
Late summer iced Earl Grey with fig honey
Blackberry lavender spritzer
NOTE: To make simple or honey syrup, add equal amounts sweetener and water to a heavy pot or sauce pan on the stove. If making a flavored syrup, add herbs or fruit (citrus zests also work well). Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently until sugar is dissolved or honey has melted and the mixture is just under a boil. Turn the heat to low and simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool before straining to remove anything you’ve added to flavor your syrup.
Iced Earl Grey with fig honey (per cup, using 1 tablespoon of syrup)
Blackberry lavender spritzer (per cup, using 1 tablespoon of syrup)