In Beaune, life is all about wine. Activities, conversation, the seasons, fétes, they all seem to revolve around wine growing, tasting, drinking.
We moved here for reasons other than wine--we are not amateurs de vin, (wine hobbyists), though we love a good glass, and learning all about the art and science of wine production is great fun. But I've had a bout of long Covid, and though it's mostly better, I've had to give up drinking indefinitely (it's as bad as being a French vegetarian). So until I can tolerate alcohol again, I've entered into the world of Mocktails.
Which has made my unintended sobriety quite a bit more interesting. At happy hour, Ron has his glass of wine, and I get something special too. Mocktails are definitely trending! And if you're lucky enough to be sipping your wine in the evening, then try these mocktails for breakfast or lunch. They are any-time summer drinks, and you can have a second one and still drive home safely.
My main go-to mocktail is easy: good tonic (Fever Tree is a nice gourmet brand), over ice with lime. Here are a few more I've tried, plus a couple from my sister Peggy, stateside. And we would be negligent not to include a French one, so we offer a take on the classic French 75.
By the way, for Mocktails, keep some simple syrup handy. It IS simple. Just mix equal parts sugar and boiling water, and stir until the sugar is well dissolved. Store in the fridge. You can steep your favorite things in it: vanilla bean, cinnamon sticks, jalapeño slices, ginger, etc., to flavor it. I just bought some zero proof rum flavored syrup after having it in a delicious mocktail at one of the famed chef George Blanc's bistros (see recipe below).
(An American aside: my sister told me about the wonderful zero proof spirits called Ritual Alternatives, made from herbs, aromatics, spices and fruits, with zero calories, that taste almost good enough to sip. Can't get them here, but can't wait to try them in the states. With these you can make an approximation of most any cocktail. I'm thinking whiskey sours with our Sunday brunch).
So get yourself some pretty straws, some fresh fruit for garnishing, and get out your best glasses to make your mocktails into a true happy hour treat. Santé to all, whatever your preferred spirits!
RECIPE: Watermelon Nojitos
Pictured above. Makes 4 drinks.
- 3/4 lb. of chopped watermelon
- 1 lime, sliced, plus slices for garnish if desired.
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- a handful of mint leaves
- 1 cup chilled club soda or Perrier
- simple syrup
Add the watermelon and lime juice to a blender and blend until smooth. Blend in some simple syrup to taste.
Put the lime slices and mint leaves (save a few out for garnish) in a bowl and muddle them well. Stir in blended mixture. Stir in the fizzy water, stir, and taste again, adding more sugar syrup if needed. Serve over ice, garnished with mint leaves and lime slices.
Recipe: George Blanc Nojitos
Squeeze half a lime in a glass , and muddle whole mint leaves in a glass with the the lime (put lots of mint). Fill with crushed ice and pour club soda or sparkling water to fill the glass. Add rum-flavored syrup (this will sweeten it) to taste, stirring well.
RECIPE: Frosty Tropical Fruit "Margueritas"
This one hardly needs a recipe. Chop up some fresh pineapple and throw it in a blender; I cut up a whole pineapple. Add some cream of coconut (I put a small can) and a cup or so of crushed ice, plus a dash of simple syrup, to taste, if you like (or rum syrup). I like to add a half of a banana to give it a creamier texture. Thin it down with the juice of a lime or 2, give it another whirl, and you're done. Makes about 4 drinks.
RECIPE: French 75 Mocktail
The classic and potent French 75 cocktail has gin, champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. This mocktail version is by Alejandra Ramos. Makes 2 drinks.
- 2 cups ice
- 3 ounces fresh lemon juice
- 4 dashes lemon or orange bitters (some bitters have a negligible amount of alcohol, like vanilla extract)
- 2 (6-8oz) bottles premium tonic water
- one tablesoon of sugar syrup, or to taste
- lemon zest to garnish
Add fresh lemon juice and bitters to cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until frosty then divide into two champagne flutes.
Top off with chilled tonic water. Garnish with a wedge of lemon, a strawberry, or a couple of raspberries.
RECIPE: Peggy's Pomm Ginger Fizz
Makes 2 drinks
- one clementine, or small orange
- splash of pomegranate juice
- splash of homemade ginger juice (see note below) or ginger simple syrup (see above note)
- splash of fresh lime juice
- Pellegrino
In a shaker, muddle the clementine, add the pomegranate juice, ginger juice, and lime juice, with ice cubes. Pour into martini glass and add Pellegrino.
About that ginger juice: my sister Peggy says, "It has become a staple in my fridge! Chop up to a large mince size (skin and all) a ginger root the size of your hand. Add a pot full of water and boil for an hour. Let cool and sit a few hours and strain. You can add honey after straining when warm if the spicy flavor is too much [making it into a simple syrup]. I put it in everything—our nightly herbal tea, smoothies, drinks, marinates, salad dressing. Keeps in fridge for a couple of weeks."
RECIPE: Bush Basil Cooler
Icey cold and great when you're hot and thirsty! Bush basil is the dwarf, milder variety of basil with small leaves. This makes two drinks.
- 6 sprigs of bush basil, plus a bit more for garnish
- 6 slices of cucumber, and 2 more for garnish
- 2 slices of lime, plus 2 slices for garnish
- 1 shot fresh lime juice
- 4 shots water
- 6 shots fizzy water (or tonic)
Put the basil, 2 lime slices, and 6 cucumber slices in a cocktail shaker. Muddle until well crushed. Add the lime juice and spring water and some ice cubes . Shake vigorously. Pour into collins glasses, over ice. Add fizzy water and garnish with lime and cucumber slices and basil.
In the COMMENTS: I read every comment with great interest, on Macron and the vaccine. Thank you all for your input. Most of us are of a like mind. I am becoming increasingly angry with those who refuse to get vaccinated, which punishes and endangers the rest of us. Laura, exceptions must certainly be made for those with medical reasons for not getting the vaccine. Otherwise I am a believer in absolute coercion. Why should others, who are reading false news, denying science, or have decided they are too healthy to get Covid, have the right to put the rest of our lives in danger, when the vaccine has been clearly proven to be so safe and effective? We could have conquered this vaccine ages ago, if everyone did their civic and humanitarian duty. Okay, that’s my rant for the day, but I think I’m not alone in my frustration.
Favorite European GIFTS: our friends over at European Market (European gifts, curated for Americans) have some new city maps I'm coveting, for major European cities. They are combination compact tour guide and laminated map, because it's just too hard to cruise around just looking at a map on a tiny phone screen, and tour books are too heavy to carry. Perfect solution!
