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 cups 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

1. Add 1 cup water and juniper berries to a small pot.
2. Put on medium-high heat and bring to a simmer.
3. Lower heat and infuse for 10 minutes.
4. Add lemon balm and infuse for another 10 minutes.
5. Strain out herbs and stir honey into infusion.
6. Add to cocktail shaker.
7. Pour in remainging 1/4 cup water, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar.
8. Add ice and shake until nice and chilled.
9. Pour into cocktail glass.
10. Garnish with lemon and enjoy!

Pro Tips:

• This recipe is easy to scale up to make in bulk for lager 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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