Alcohol Free Drinking: Mocktail Recipes for 2020

Alcohol Free Drinking: Mocktail Recipes for 2020

It’s that time of year again when thoughts of alcoholic drinks can take over. But fear not because these days there are plenty of alcohol-free beers, wines and spirits, or botanical alternatives available. Then there are the mocktails recipes for 2020!

Normally, I drink tonic and have many variations of fruits & syrups as you probably know if you take an interest in this site. But what about when it comes to showing off, or that drink for a special occasion or after-dinner drink or even just messing around in the kitchen. This is where the mocktails come in, so I have adapted a few of my own based on trial and error and also made some others to prove just how simple they can be without much effort. All with the aim of leaving the lucky recipient with a big festive smile on their face because you have just made them feel special!

This year, I will mainly be using the purposeful botanicals from Xachoh Spirits. This is born from my love of adding tonic to this drink on any occasion, so I thought ‘Why not branch out and check out its diversity’? Xachoh offer the Xachoh Blend No. 5 and the Xachoh Blend No.7 and ripped straight from their website I can explain them as follows:

Xachoh Blend Number 5 is a clear non-alcoholic spirit, artfully distilled using purposeful Silk Road botanicals: Star Anise, Ginger, Camomile, Long Pepper, Turmeric, Barberry and Rosemary.

Their signature serve is simply 50ml of Xachoh Blend No. 5 topped with 150ml tonic water and ice. Garnish with lime and mint.

Xachoh Blend Number 7 is a dark non-alcoholic spirit, artfully distilled using purposeful Silk Road botanicals: Ginger, Mace, Cinnamon, Crystal Dark Malt, Star Anise, Saffron and Sumac.

Their signature serve is simply 50ml of Xachoh Blend No. 7 topped with 150ml ginger ale and ice. Garnish with an orange twist.

Let’s start with my take on one of their signatures first then:

Quick note: All these drinks were made in my kitchen and the photographs were taken in there too. Why am I telling you this? Because it makes it real and I wanted you to know that I really did make these.

Espresso MartiNo

Ingredients:

50ml Xachoh Blend No. 5 (you can use 7 too for a different twist)

50ml Espresso coffee (fresh from the machine if you can)

Coffee, vanilla or sugar syrup, depending on your sweetness (I prefer vanilla)

Crushed ice

Coffee beans, chocolate chips and crystal sugar for coating the glass, if you feel like it.

Method:

Chrushed ice in the cocktail shaker, pour in the coffee & listen it crack as it cools, add the Xachoh blend of choice and the syrup and give it a good old shake. Pour into a Martini glass and top with coffee beans or chocolate chips.

Click here for the ‘Real Deal’ Xachoh Espresso MartiNo

The CosNOpolitan

A somewhat sultry beauty this and a favourite of mine.

You will need:

50ml Xachoh Blend No. 5

50ml Fresh orange (freshly squeezed is best but not essential)

100ml Cranberry Juice

5ml Sugar syrup

Lime & mint to garnish or a few cheeky cranberries

To make, all you need do is put all but the garnish into the shaker with ice, give it a blitz and pour into a martini glass. Apply the garnish.

Click here for the Xachoh CosNopolitan

Raspberry & Passion MartiNO

4 or 5 Fresh Raspberries (or even 5ml raspberry syrup)

1 Passion fruit (1/2 for mixing and ½ for garnish)

50 ml Xachoh No. 5 or No.7

50ml Apple Juice

15ml Lime juice (fresh is best)

To make:

Add crushed ice to a shaker along with the seeds and pulp of half the passion fruit and the raspberries. Add the Xachoh, apple juice and lime juice and shake, before pouring into a martini glass. Add the other passion fruit half as garnish and if you are feeling frisky, add a shot of ginger ale, tonic or AF sparkling wine (Nosecco or such like) on the side.

Cucumber Collins

This is a refreshing take on the Tom Collins and a simple one at that. The secret to a great looking drink is the tall glass and the cucumber in strips, layered spirally on the inside.

You will need:

50m Xachoh No. 5

25ml Freshly squeezed lime juice

20ml Elderflower Syrup or cordial (Syrup is best)

10ml Sugar syrup

Soda water to top and mint or lime to garnish

To make:

Using a peeler, slice the cucumber longways (you can just slice it of course if you wish) and layer at least 3 strips around the inside of the glass.

Add the other ingredients with some ice (not too much), give a stir, add the garnish and salute old Tom!

Ginger & Cinnamon No.5

I love ginger ale, I love Cinnamon and I have called it No. 5 because I have used the Xachoh Blend No.5 (well thought out I know). This is one easy but very satisfying drink to make so here goes:

Add 50ml Xachoh Blend No. 5 into a glass filled with ice and top with approx. 125ml of ginger ale and the juice from a ¼ fresh orange. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, orange peel, and if you really like the flavour, a slice of ginger.