Category: mocktail

mocktail

Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer | An Excellent 5 Ingredient Non-Alcoholic Cocktail

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This Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer is an easy non-alcoholic cocktail that can be served any time of year. It's also easily made into an alcoholic cocktail by simply adding your favorite spirit.

This Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer is an easy non-alcoholic cocktail that can be served any time of year. It’s also easily made into an alcoholic cocktail by simply adding your favorite spirit.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

I love cocktails (obvs) but every now and then, I ditch the alcohol and enjoy a good ol’ mocktail. Actually, I frequently drink mocktails during the day but those are typically super easy (fresh juice + sparkling water). But when I make a mocktail at night, I want it to ~feel~ like a cocktail. Just a non-alcoholic cocktail.

There’s actually a bit of a push these days in the beverage world to stop saying “mocktail” and use the term “alcohol-free cocktail” or “non-alcoholic cocktail” instead. People claim that the word mocktail has negative connotations, that it makes a drink sound inferior and even childish. I can see where they’re coming from. A non-alcoholic cocktail does sound a bit more upscale, I suppose. But regardless of which term you like to use, this Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer is a dang one.

This Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer is an easy non-alcoholic cocktail that can be served any time of year. It's also easily made into an alcoholic cocktail by simply adding your favorite spirit.

This booze-free beverage was actually inspired by my young daughter. You see… she loves sparkling water. I mean loves. Actually, obsessed may be a more fitting term. I can’t crack open a can of anything without her running from the other room to ask for some. Now, she’s totally content with just sparkling water. But I wanted to make it a little more fun for her. Then I remembered I had some Paloma mix that a company had sent me in the fridge.

I poured some sparkling water into my toddler’s glass and then added a splash of the Paloma mix, turning it a pretty pale pink color. She oohed and ahhed and had seriously chugged it by the time I had put the Paloma mix back into the fridge. She immediately asked for “more peas” (more please) so I poured in some more sparkling water. Well… That was met with a sharp “No” and an enthusiastic gesture towards the fridge. I pulled the Paloma mix back out and she squealed–squealed!— with glee. Oh boy.

If you’re familiar with my cocktails preferences or if you’ve read this post, you know I always say to use fresh citrus when you can. This Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer does use fresh grapefruit juice; however, when making mocktails or non-alcoholic cocktails, it’s often a challenge to find ingredients to attribute to the overall volume of the drink. Mixers help fill up the glass and are a great way to introduce more flavor to a recipe.

This recipe is actually the perfect one to serve a crowd because it can easily be made into a cocktail by adding your liquor of choice. You could even display a few and let people choose which spirit they’d like to add to their Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer. It tastes amazing with tequila, vodka, rum, and gin! I’ve never tried it with whiskey, but that could be good, too.

And if rosemary’s not your thing, you could serve it with thyme or even mint or basil. It really is a versatile drink that’s sure to please just about anyone.

If you try the boozy version or the non-alcoholic cocktail version of this Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer, be sure to tag me on Instagram and let me know how you liked it in a comment below. Cheers!

Ingredients for a Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer

How to Make a Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer

Add the grapefruit juice, lime juice, and rosemary to a cocktail shaker. Muddle the rosemary with a muddler to release the flavor of the herb. Then add the Paloma mixer, rosemary sage simple syrup, and ice. Shake well. Strain into a lowball glass filled with ice. Top off the glass with the grapefruit sparkling water. Garnish with a grapefruit slice and a sprig of rosemary.

Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer

This Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer is an easy non-alcoholic cocktail that can be served any time of year. It's also easily made into an alcoholic cocktail by simply adding your favorite spirit.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker
  • muddler

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ oz grapefruit juice
  • 2 oz Paloma mixer
  • ½ oz lime juice
  • ½ oz rosemary simple syrup*
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 2+ oz grapefruit sparkling water, unsweetened

Instructions
 

  • Add the grapefruit juice, lime juice, and rosemary to a cocktail shaker.
  • Muddle the rosemary with a muddler to release the flavor of the herb.
  • Add the Paloma mixer, rosemary simple syrup*, and ice. Shake well.
  • Strain into a lowball glass filled with ice.
  • Top off the glass with the grapefruit sparkling water.
  • Garnish with a grapefruit slice and a sprig of rosemary.

Notes

*To make the rosemary simple syrup (it’s SUPER easy & takes only 5ish minutes), follow the directions on this post but just leave out the sage. 
Keyword cherry limeade, grapefruit, grapefruit juice, grapefruit rosemary spritzer, grapefruit sparkling water, lime juice, Paloma mixer, rosemary, rosemary simple syrup
vodka

Mother Mule | A Healthy Moscow Mule Variation with Ginger Honey Shrub

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The Mother Mule is a healthy ginger Moscow Mule variation made with Other Mother Vinegar Ginger Honey Shrub. It's easy to create at home and good for you, too, thanks to the gut-boosting bacteria found in the shrub.

The Mother Mule is a spicy ginger Moscow Mule variation made with Other Mother Vinegar Ginger Honey Shrub. It’s easy to create at home and good for you, too, thanks to the gut-boosting bacteria found in the shrub.

Chances are if you like cocktails, you’ve ordered or made a Moscow Mule. It’s a true classic cocktail recipe that’s inspired many other drinks. Moscow Mule variations are common these days and I’m not complaining. Vodka, lime, and ginger beer are a perfect foundation for building more flavors on top of. I’ve posted a few Moscow Mule variations here on Girl & Tonic: the Irish Mule (made with whiskey), a Dark & Stormy (my forever go-to drink), and an Orange Cassidy (my own AEW-inspired riff on a Moscow Mule).

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

I’m really excited about today’s Moscow Mule variation for two reasons: 1) it’s good for you, and 2) it can be easily made into a mocktail or alcohol-free cocktail.

Okay, okay. I can practically hear you rolling your eyes at me when I say that this Mother Mule cocktail recipe is good for you. Hear me out. I know vodka isn’t necessarily an elixir of health. BUT one of the main ingredients in this drink is pure health in liquid form. It pretty much counterbalances the whole alcohol & sugar thing.

Okay. Maybe I’m exaggerating a bit when I say it’s bottled-up health. But Other Mother Vinegar is really good for you. Allow me to inform you.

The Mother Mule is a spicy ginger Moscow Mule variation made with Other Mother Vinegar Ginger Honey Shrub. It's easy to create at home and good for you, too, thanks to the gut-boosting bacteria found in the shrub.

Other Mother Vinegar is a “live vinegar”, meaning each bottle contains millions of healthy bacteria that will give the microbiome in your intestines a boost. Live vinegar is packed with other benefits, too: can lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels, helps with indigestion and acid reflux, and is chock-full of antioxidants. You can read more about the benefits of drinking vinegar here.

I’ve actually made another cocktail and mocktail recipe using the raspberry OMV shrub shot. It’s called the Rowdy Mother (are you sensing a theme in the names yet). If you’re not down for a ginger honey shrub, their raspberry shrub or the turmeric one would also work really well in this recipe!

(If you’re looking for some 100% or 90% healthy cocktail/mocktail options, check out my Mother’s Garden recipe or this Cucumber Basil Refresher.)

I mentioned early that one reason I’m excited about this recipe is that it can be easily made into a mocktail or alcohol-free cocktail. I love easy, 3-ingredient cocktails like the Moscow Mule. But when 1/3 of those ingredients is alcohol, the drink becomes rather empty if you’re going alcohol-free that night. When you use a vinegar shrub as one of your ingredients, your drink will be anything but bland.

Another perk of using shrubs as a drink ingredient is that you don’t need to use citrus. While you definitely can use a fresh lime (like I did), you don’t need to. After all, shrubs were originally used as a substitute for fresh citrus back in the colonial days.

The Mother Mule is a spicy ginger Moscow Mule variation made with Other Mother Vinegar Ginger Honey Shrub. It's easy to create at home and good for you, too, thanks to the gut-boosting bacteria found in the shrub.

I lied earlier when I said I was excited about this recipe for two reasons. I actually have a third. As of yesterday, those of you living in the grand state of Texas can find Other Mother Vinegar at H-E-B!!! *cue the Hallelujah chorus & start thanking Jesus for the gift that is H-E-B* Over 85 locations are stocking their shelves with OMV shrub shots– check your Healthy Living Department to see if you’re one of the lucky several.

Oh… you don’t live in Texas? That sucks- for many reasons- but thankfully you can order Other Mother Vinegar online.

Do you love Moscow Mules? Let me know what your favorite Moscow Mule variation is down below and, as always, tag me if you make this one! (@girlandtonic_).

The Mother Mule is a spicy ginger Moscow Mule variation made with Other Mother Vinegar Ginger Honey Shrub. It's easy to create at home and good for you, too, thanks to the gut-boosting bacteria found in the shrub.

Ingredients for a Mother Mule

  • 1 1/2 oz vodka (leave out for mocktail version)
  • 1/2 oz ginger honey shrub (check out OMV’s sample size here)
  • 1 lime wedge
  • 4+ oz ginger beer (Bundaberg is my favorite!)

How to Make a Mother Mule (a Moscow Mule Variation)

Add ice to a copper mug or a lowball glass. Pour in the vodka (skip if going alcohol-free), ginger honey shrub, and squeeze the lime wedge into the mug. Top off the rest of the mug with your ginger beer. Stir to combine. Garnish with an extra lime wedge.

Mother Mule

A spicy and healthy Moscow Mule variation made with a ginger honey vinegar shrub.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz vodka (omit for mocktail)
  • ½ oz ginger honey shrub*
  • 1 lime wedge
  • 4+ oz ginger beer

Instructions
 

  • Add ice to a copper mug or a lowball glass.
  • Pour in the vodka (skip if going alcohol-free), ginger honey shrub, and squeeze the lime wedge into the mug.
  • Top off the rest of the mug with your ginger beer. Stir to combine.
  • Garnish with an extra lime wedge.

Notes

*You can buy a sample size of Other Mother Vinegar’s ginger honey shrub here.
Keyword ginger beer, ginger honey shrub, lime, lime juice, shrub, vodka
mocktail

Rowdy Mother | A Refreshing Cocktail or Mocktail Made with a Raspberry Shrub

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The Rowdy Mother is a rejuvenating and healthy cocktail or mocktail made with a raspberry shrub. It's a drink with a bite, thanks to the red wine vinegar in the raspberry shrub; and yet, it's refreshing, too, thanks to the fresh raspberries and sparkling raspberry water.

The Rowdy Mother is a rejuvenating drink made with a raspberry shrub. It can be made as a cocktail by adding booze or kept alcohol-free by leaving it out. It’s a drink with a bite, thanks to the red wine vinegar in the raspberry shrub; and yet, it’s refreshing, too, thanks to the fresh raspberries and sparkling raspberry water.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

Have you ever heard of a shrub before? And no, I’m not talking about the shabby little bushes you should’ve pulled outta your overgrown flower bed three years ago. I’m talking about the shrubs used in drinks.

Shrubs have been around for millennia but the term has only recently resurfaced in the cocktail world, thanks to the resurgence of craft cocktails. A shrub is a non-alcoholic syrup made from vinegar, sugar, and fruit, and sometimes other spices or aromatics.

They can be used in cocktail recipes, alcohol-free drinks, or drunk on their own. They’re an easy way to impart a lot of bite and flavor to a drink with little effort.

The Rowdy Mother is a rejuvenating and healthy cocktail or mocktail made with a raspberry shrub. It's a drink with a bite, thanks to the red wine vinegar in the raspberry shrub; and yet, it's refreshing, too, thanks to the fresh raspberries and sparkling raspberry water.

Shrubs have long been dubbed as restorative drinks. If you’ve got a few spare minutes, I highly suggest you check out The Ultimate History Project’s article about the history of shrubs and switchels (a fruit-less shrub) in America.

Today, shrubs do provide health benefits. Vinegar is known for its ability to support good digestion and immune health. It also has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and can lower blood sugar levels. However, not all shrubs are created equal. Some contain “the mother”, or the colony of good bacteria, which means even more of the health benefits are delivered to you.

The Rowdy Mother is a rejuvenating and healthy cocktail or mocktail made with a raspberry shrub. It's a drink with a bite, thanks to the red wine vinegar in the raspberry shrub; and yet, it's refreshing, too, thanks to the fresh raspberries and sparkling raspberry water.

Other Mother Vinegar is one such shrub. Several weeks back, my husband and I took a socially-distanced vacation to our favorite spot– Fredericksburg, Texas. One of the things we like to do if we’re there on a Thursday is check out their farmer’s market. Lisa from Other Mother was there and we got to chat for a second about her product. I had been wanting to try shrubs in cocktail recipes for a while and OM’s shot-sized bottles would make it easy. I bought the ginger and honey shrub and Lisa was kind enough to throw in raspberry shrub, too, and boy am I glad she did!

Other Mother Vinegar is unique amongst other shrub companies because they use red wine vinegar. This makes it taste smoother than shrubs with apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. OMV is also made using Texas wine, which is pretty cool seeing as how I’m a Texan and all. You can read more about Other Mother Vinegar here.

(By the way, this is not a sponsored post. I just love spreading the word about local businesses!)

If you’re looking to up your cocktail or mocktail game, consider buying some shrubs or even making your own. Here’s a recipe my friend Mark sent me. He’s a great mixologist & a good (Insta) friend, too!

Strawberry-Rhubarb Shrub
– 6 oz. rhubarb, cut into 1/4 inch pieces
– 2 oz. fresh strawberries, cut into quarters
– 8 oz sugar
– 8 oz white vinegar
Add all ingredients to a small saucepan and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rhubarb has completely broken down. Take off heat and pour through a fine-mesh strainer. Let the strained shrub cool before storing it. It can be refrigerated for 3-5 days.

Now on to today’s recipe. The Rowdy Mother recipe is a perfect way to enjoy a shrub. It’s easy, fresh, and can be made boozy or kept clean. Your choice. You can certainly sub the raspberry shrub for whatever flavor you have on hand, but if you can find it (or make your own using Mark’s recipe) I think tart raspberry pairs beautifully with the acidic vinegar.

I’ve also gotta point at that the Rowdy Mother is not named after my mom. (Unlike my other vinegar-based drink, Mother’s Garden!) The Mother part comes from the fact that Other Mother Vinegar shrubs contain “the mother”. Although… my mom can be kinda rowdy sometimes. But those are stories for future posts. (JK, mom.)

If you make the Rowdy Mother, be sure to tag me on Instagram!

The Rowdy Mother is a rejuvenating and healthy cocktail or mocktail made with a raspberry shrub. It's a drink with a bite, thanks to the red wine vinegar in the raspberry shrub; and yet, it's refreshing, too, thanks to the fresh raspberries and sparkling raspberry water.

Ingredients for the Rowdy Mother

  • 1 1/2 oz vodka or gin (optional)
  • 1 oz raspberry shrub
  • 3 raspberries
  • 1/4 oz lemon juice
  • 1-3 oz raspberry sparkling water (I used La Croix’s cran-raspberry flavor)

How to Make a Rowdy Mother – A Healthy Cocktail or Mocktail with Raspberry Shrub

Add alcohol (optional), raspberry shrub, raspberries, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker. Gently (very gently!) muddle the raspberries with a muddler or the back of a spoon. Double-strain* over a lowball glass filled with ice. Top off the glass with the sparkling water.

*Hold a fine mesh strainer over the glass while you pour. This will catch any raspberry seeds and flesh from getting in your glass. Totally an optional step.

Rowdy Mother

A revitalizing cocktail or mocktail made with fresh raspberries, raspberry shrub, and sparkling raspberry water.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker
  • fine mesh strainer (optional)

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz vodka or gin (optional)
  • 1 oz raspberry shrub*
  • 3 raspberries, plus more for garnish
  • ¼ oz lemon juice
  • 1-3 oz unsweetened raspberry sparkling water**

Instructions
 

  • Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker, except for the sparkling water.
  • Gently (very gently!) muddle the raspberries with a muddler or the back of a spoon.
  • Double-strain using a fine mesh strainer over a lowball glass filled with ice.
  • Top off the glass with the sparkling water.
  • Garnish with additional raspberries.

Notes

*I used Other Mother Vinegar’s raspberry shrub- it’s made with red wine vinegar!
**I used La Croix’s cran-raspberry flavor
Keyword gin, lemon juice, raspberry, rasperry shrub, shrub, vodka
mocktail

Mother’s Garden | A Healthy Cocktail or Alcohol-Free Drink Made with Brighter Tonic

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Mother's Garden is a healthy cocktail or alcohol-free drink made with sparkling apple cider vinegar tonic water, fresh lime juice, cucumber slices, honey, and basil. This bright & refreshing beverage can be made into a cocktail or kept alcohol-free. Click for the recipe and to read about Brighter Tonic, the star ingredient of this drink. #mocktail #healthydrink #applecidervinegar Brighter tonic cocktail recipe | cocktail recipes made with Brighter tonic | sparkling apple cider vinegar drink

The Mother’s Garden is a drink chockfull of fresh, healthy ingredients. It can be made into a healthy cocktail with the addition of vodka or gin, or it can be enjoyed as an alcohol-free drink that’s sure to boost your spirits.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

There are a lot of cocktails out there that have fresh, healthy ingredients. Gone are the days of heavily-processed syrups and mixes– the American imbiber’s become wiser. We’ve been enlightened to the dangers of trans fat, artificial sweeteners, and pesticides, and we eschew ingredients like artificial coloring and high-fructose corn syrup in favor of those found in nature. Research done by the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2019 shows that Americans are slowly getting better at eating healthy, although this article written by Men’s Health reveals that there’s still a lot of room for improvement.

I think the majority of people do want to eat healthier. So what’s a cocktail-lover to do? Drinking less alcohol is always a good idea. But instead of removing alcohol altogether, there’s another alternative: mix your alcohol with fresh, healthy ingredients.

Mother's Garden is a healthy cocktail or alcohol-free drink made with sparkling apple cider vinegar tonic water, fresh lime juice, cucumber slices, honey, and basil. This bright & refreshing beverage can be made into a cocktail or kept alcohol-free. Click for the recipe and to read about Brighter Tonic, the star ingredient of this drink. #mocktail #healthydrink #applecidervinegar Brighter tonic cocktail recipe | cocktail recipes made with Brighter tonic | sparkling apple cider vinegar drink

This is becoming a lot easier for the American consumer thanks to conscientious companies. There are several that forgo artificial coloring, GMO ingredients, and high-fructose corn syrup like my favorite grenadine company, Bar Smith. Having these kinds of syrup and mixer alternatives is a huge step in the direction of a healthier cocktail. But it doesn’t make a cocktail healthy. You’re spared from consuming fake junk, but you aren’t consuming ingredients with any health benefits.

Enter Brighter Tonic. A beverage that actually delivers the good stuff.

Mother's Garden is a healthy cocktail or alcohol-free drink made with sparkling apple cider vinegar tonic water, fresh lime juice, cucumber slices, honey, and basil. This bright & refreshing beverage can be made into a cocktail or kept alcohol-free. Click for the recipe and to read about Brighter Tonic, the star ingredient of this drink. #mocktail #healthydrink #applecidervinegar Brighter tonic cocktail recipe | cocktail recipes made with Brighter tonic | sparkling apple cider vinegar drink

Brighter Tonic reached out to me a few months ago to see if I’d be interested in trying their product. A quick Google search of the company led me to a speedy reply: YES, PLEASE!

Brighter Tonic is a sparkling apple cider vinegar beverage. Apple cider vinegar is known for its acetic acid which promotes healthy digestion and improves mineral absorption. It’s made with raw organic apple cider vinegar, oils from plants, and maple syrup.

With Brighter Tonic accounting for 50% of the volume in the Mother’s Garden recipe, you can see why I can truthfully call this a healthy cocktail.

Mother's Garden is a healthy cocktail or alcohol-free drink made with sparkling apple cider vinegar tonic water, fresh lime juice, cucumber slices, honey, and basil. This bright & refreshing beverage can be made into a cocktail or kept alcohol-free. Click for the recipe and to read about Brighter Tonic, the star ingredient of this drink. #mocktail #healthydrink #applecidervinegar Brighter tonic cocktail recipe | cocktail recipes made with Brighter tonic | sparkling apple cider vinegar drink

When I took my first sip of Bright (which I captured on an Instagram story), I was really surprised. The word “tonic” in the name made me think it’d taste like tonic water. But it actually tastes similar to kombucha. Ahh. Tonic as in the true definition of the word: a restorative drink that invigorates or strengthens.

I’m a kombucha fanatic and instantly fell in love with this new, healthy elixir.

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably seen me posting about this company. I actually posted a recipe quite similar to Mother’s Garden on an Instagram story. But I’ve been waiting for the day that Brighter Tonic launched their online sales because it didn’t feel right to rave about a fantastic recipe when the general populous had no means to buy the star ingredient.

Friends, that day has come! *cue Hallelujah chorus* You can now get Brighter Tonic shipped right to your door! They have three flavors: lemon lime, blood orange, and lemon ginger turmeric. I suggest getting the sampler pack so you can try them all. I can’t decide which one I like the most so it’s a good thing I’ve got another sampler on the way.

Mother's Garden is a healthy cocktail or alcohol-free drink made with sparkling apple cider vinegar tonic water, fresh lime juice, cucumber slices, honey, and basil. This bright & refreshing beverage can be made into a cocktail or kept alcohol-free. Click for the recipe and to read about Brighter Tonic, the star ingredient of this drink. #mocktail #healthydrink #applecidervinegar Brighter tonic cocktail recipe | cocktail recipes made with Brighter tonic | sparkling apple cider vinegar drink

The point of this post has kinda been to talk about making a healthy cocktail, but you can certainly leave the alcohol out and make it a truly healthy beverage. I’ve made several alcohol-free drinks with Brighter. There are many days when I want something fun but I don’t want a cocktail. The bright (no pun intended) taste of Brighter means you won’t be left with a flavorless mocktail. And all of my alcohol-free friends said THANK YOU.

Perhaps the BEST news in this article is that if you use the code GIRL&TONIC20 between Monday 8-3-20 and Friday 8-7-20, you’ll get 20% off your online order of Brighter Tonic. How awesome is that?! Now you really do have to try it. I mean, it’s discounted. Who doesn’t love saving money?

The reason I’m calling this healthy cocktail or alcohol-free drink Mother’s Garden is two-fold:

1) I first made this recipe at my mom’s house using ingredients from her garden. (She’s actually got a great garden blog, with helpful articles about two of the ingredients in Mother Garden’s: cucumber & basil)

2) This is an alcohol-free drink that my mom is actually able to enjoy. You see, my mom is on a strict AIP (auto-immune protocol) diet due to some autoimmune health issues. This means that a lot of commercial products are off-limits to her, making it tricky to find mixers that agree with her body. However, since Brighter Tonic uses maple syrup as a sweetener, it falls on her “good list”! Big thank you to Brighter for using real, high-quality ingredients. You really stand out.

If you try the Mother’s Garden, or even just Brighter, let me know what you think in the comments below!

Ingredients for a Mother’s Garden Healthy Cocktail or Alcohol-Free Drink

  • 1 1/2 oz gin or vodka (omit for alcohol-free or to be AIP-compliant*)
  • 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 oz honey simple syrup or pure maple syrup
  • 1-2 slices of cucumber
  • 6-8 fresh basil leaves
  • 4 oz lemon-lime Brighter Tonic

*Read this article if you’re curious to see if and when alcohol can be consumed on an AIP diet. Before imbibing, be sure to check with your physician, too.

How to Make a Mother’s Garden Healthy Cocktail or Alcohol-Free Drink

Add the cucumber slices and lime juice to a cocktail shaker. Muddle well, using a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon. Then, add the basil and gently muddle. Add the alcohol (or not), honey simple syrup, and ice. Shake well. Strain into a glass filled with ice. Top the rest of the glass off with the Brighter Tonic. Stir to incorporate. Garnish with a basil spring and a couple slices of lime and cucumber.

Mother’s Garden

A bright, refreshing, & healthy cocktail or alcohol-free drink made with lemon lime Brighter Tonic
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker (or other bottle with lid)

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz gin or vodka (optional – omit to be AIP-friendly*)
  • ½ oz fresh lime juice
  • ½ oz honey simple syrup** or maple syrup
  • 1-2 slices cucumber
  • 6-8 basil leaves
  • ~4 oz lemon-lime Brighter Tonic***

Instructions
 

  • Add the cucumber slices and lime juice to a cocktail shaker. Muddle well. Don't be afraid to put some muscle into it.
  • Then, add the basil and gently muddle.
  • Add the alcohol (or not), honey simple syrup, and ice. Shake well.
  • Strain into a glass filled with ice.
  • Top the rest of the glass off with the Brighter Tonic. Stir to incorporate.
  • Garnish with a basil spring and a couple slices of lime and cucumber.

Notes

*To learn about if and when alcohol can be consumed while following an AIP diet, you can talk to your physician and read this article.
**Honey simple syrup takes 1 minute to make. Here’s how to do it.
***Here’s the link to order Brighter Tonic online. You can try subbing a lemon-lime kombucha, too.
Keyword basil, Brighter Tonic, cucumber, gin, honey, honey simple syrup, lime, vodka
Mother's Garden is a healthy cocktail or alcohol-free drink made with sparkling apple cider vinegar tonic water, fresh lime juice, cucumber slices, honey, and basil. This bright & refreshing beverage can be made into a cocktail or kept alcohol-free. Click for the recipe and to read about Brighter Tonic, the star ingredient of this drink. #mocktail #healthydrink #applecidervinegar Brighter tonic cocktail recipe | cocktail recipes made with Brighter tonic | sparkling apple cider vinegar drink
tequila

Passionfruit Paloma w/ Beet Syrup

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– Easily make this cocktail a mocktail by skipping the tequila. –

Passionfruit Paloma made with tequila reposado, grapefruit juice, sparkling passionfruit water, and beet simple syrup.

I’ve never been a big fan of a Paloma but this Passionfruit Paloma may have redeemed them. I like tequila and I like grapefruit soda, but putting together in a cocktail leaves me… grossed out. The last time I had one was in a casino in Reno. I lived in The Biggest Little City for a span (absolutely loved it) and had been raving to my friend about being able to get free drinks in the casinos. She came in town & off we went with $40 in hand.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

Turns out, drinks aren’t free when you order them from the bar. I ordered us both a Paloma, because what was I thinking?, and they were awful. We hunkered down at the Blackjack table to drink our disgusting drinks because we paid for those dang things. But not all was lost. I mean that both figuratively & literally– we each hung on to twenty-five cents.

Passionfruit Paloma made with tequila reposado, grapefruit juice, sparkling passionfruit water, and beet simple syrup.

A traditional Paloma has tequila, grapefruit soda (like Fresca or Jarritos), and lime juice. I opted for grapefruit juice to bring that flavor upfront. I still needed to get that fizz from somewhere and I found it in the perfect form of unsweetened passionfruit sparkling water. The beet syrup brings a hint of earthy sweetness to the drink and imparts the stunning color.

Don’t be intimidated by the beet syrup. I got a huge bag of beet powder from Walmart for under $10. Beet powder is great for upping the antioxidant power of smoothies and for dying baked goods a range of pink shades. I recently used it to dye the icing of my daughter’s vanilla birthday cake. Only one party guest asked what the icing was flavored with, and he guessed cinnamon, so I’d say that it won’t make your recipes too beet-y. I’m not entirely health & wellness conscious but if I have the option to use something artificial or natural, I’m gonna opt for natural.

If you’re looking to make a *small* investment in your barware, consider buying a giant ice cube mold. A bigger ice cube is going to melt slower and make your drink a little colder. Plus they look cool & profesh.

Passionfruit Paloma made with tequila reposado, grapefruit juice, sparkling passionfruit water, and beet simple syrup.

The Ingredients for a Passionfruit Paloma

  • 1 1/2 oz. tequila reposado (skip this & make a great mocktail)
  • 1 oz. grapefruit juice
  • 1/2 oz. beet simple syrup
  • unsweetened passionfruit sparkling water (Aldi’s PurAqua Belle Vie brand is fantastic)
  • slice of grapefruit of lemon to garnish

How to Make a Passionfruit Paloma

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, tequila, grapefruit juice, & beet syrup. Shake well to combine. Pour into a low-ball glass with ice. Top off with your passionfruit sparkling water. Alternatively, you can “float” the syrup for a more layered effect but honestly, the taste is more uniform if you shake it with the other ingredients.

Passionfruit Paloma with Beet Syrup

A unique twist on the Paloma, this Passionfruit Paloma uses passionfruit sparkling water in place of grapefruit soda and beet simple syrup to sweeten it up.
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Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz tequila (skip this to make a mocktail)
  • 1 oz grapefruit juice
  • ½ oz beet simple syrup (see note for recipe)
  • 2+ oz passionfruit sparkling water (unsweetened)

Instructions
 

  • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, tequila, grapefruit juice, & beet syrup.
  • Shake well to combine.
  • Pour into a lowball glass with ice.
  • Top off with your passionfruit sparkling water.

Notes

Check out the easy recipe for beet simple syrup here.
Keyword beet, grapefruit juice, paloma, sparkling water
Passionfruit Paloma made with tequila reposado, grapefruit juice, sparkling passionfruit water, and beet simple syrup.