The older I get, the less often I seem to want alcohol. Over the last couple of years, I have been better at listening to my body, and have leaned into the low-alcohol lifestyle. The biggest conundrum for me was not wanting to miss out on hosting or attending social events that were drink-focused. It was for this reason that I decided to get good at crafting tasty and unique zero-proof cocktails. Giving myself and others the option to skip the booze is a great way to still enjoy the act of sipping and chatting with friends and family without the negative effects of alcohol. Plus, it opens up a new way to bring herbs into everyday life. (Who doesn’t want that?)
One of the earliest mocktails I ever crafted was an herbal “Bees Knees.” Typically, this cocktail includes gin, lemon, and honey. It’s a simple one to make, and I added some fun twists to the alcohol-free version. My first goal was to bring some of the juniper flavor to account for the absence of gin. You can get really in-depth and create an alcohol-free gin infusion with many added botanicals, but I felt this simplified infusion was enough to give it the right bite.
I then called upon one of my favorite herbal allies, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), for its calming effect and delightful flavor. In addition to using ingredients that taste great, I also often include ingredients that help take the edge off, which is a reason many people turn to alcohol to begin with. Lemon balm is a perfect fit for that! Plus Melissa is the name of a nymph in Greek mythology who was thought to have discovered and taught the uses of honey, making it especially suited for a drink called Bee’s Knees. Next, I used some honey from my apiary to bring in some sweetness.
Now that my base was dialed in, I added lemon juice and apple cider vinegar for a pop of flavor. The secret to a good mocktail is flavor balance. Drinks that are too sweet or have soft flavors just feel like iced tea. To recreate the liquor sensation, I like to include a subtle bitter bite. This also helps you to pace your sipping with the pace you’d sip a cocktail versus a tea.
One of the greatest aspects of creating a “from scratch” mocktail is that you can customize the flavor. Want more or less tang? Adjust the apple cider vinegar. Want a little more bite? Add more lemon juice. You can make this drink in whatever way makes you “bee” happy.
Bees Knees Mocktail Recipe
Makes 2 drinks.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water + 1/4 cup, divided
- 10 organic juniper berries
- 1/4 cup organic lemon balm
- 1 tbsp. raw, local honey
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
- 3 tsp. organic apple cider vinegar
Directions
- Add 1 cup water and juniper berries to a small pot.
- Put on medium-high heat and bring to a simmer.
- Lower heat and infuse for 10 minutes.
- Add lemon balm and infuse for another 10 minutes.
- Strain out herbs and stir honey into infusion.
- Add to cocktail shaker.
- Pour in the remaining 1/4 cup water, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar.
- Add ice and shake until nice and chilled.
- Pour into cocktail glass.
- Garnish with lemon and enjoy!
Pro Tips:
- This recipe is easy to scale up to make in bulk for larger gatherings.
- If you are able to tolerate alcohol by way of tinctures, you can also include a few drops of bitters. However, I never include them in drinks I advertise as alcohol-free. This is surprisingly common. It is unethical to serve even a drop of alcohol tincture to those with allergies, religious restrictions, or those who suffer from alcohol addiction. Please remember that alcohol-free should mean 100% alcohol-free!
Looking for More Mocktail Inspiration?
Check Out This Alcohol-Free Gin Fizz Recipe!
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- 3 Mocktail Recipes for Fall
- Nootropic Mocktails: Support Memory and Focus with Summer Sippers
- Holy Basil & Strawberry Agua Fresca Mocktail Recipe
