Botanical Mocktail Recipes for Dry January

A century before January was ordained the month of temperance, mocktails were already part of the bartender's repertoire. Merriam-Webster traces the first use of the word "mocktail" to 1916, just before the start of Prohibition. The Bar-Tenders Guide from 1862 includes a section titled, "Temperance Drinks," with recipes for Orgeat Lemonade, Ginger Wine, and other non-alcoholic adult beverages.

Still, too many mocktail recipes merely mix fruit juice with something sparkling for a saccharine-sweet drink that belongs at the "kids' table". Along with cutting down on the sweetness, our favorite way to make mocktails more sophisticated is to include aromatic botanicals.

Two crisp, aromatic mocktails we're enjoying this winter are Blood Orange & Thyme Fizz and Winter Rose. Following are recipes for each:

BLOOD ORANGE & THYME FIZZ

Juice of a Large or Medium-Sized Blood Orange (Grapefruit also works well.)

1 Egg White

2 oz Seltzer (or Tonic)

1.5 oz Bluestem Botanicals Thyme Syrup

12 drops Aromatic Bitters (We love Bluestem Botanicals Kumquat Bitters or Floral Bitters)

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake for 30 seconds. Add ice cubes and shake again. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an orange slice and/or sprig of thyme.

WINTER ROSE

5 oz Hibiscus Tea (Room temperature or chilled)

2 oz Cranberry Juice (or to taste)

1.5 oz Bluestem Botanicals Blue Spruce Simple Syrup

1 dropper full of Bluestem Botanicals Rose Geranium Extract

12 drops Bluestem Botanicals Kumquat Bitters or Floral Bitters

Combine all ingredients with ice, stir, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with rosehip, juniper, and rose petals or a fresh cranberry and rosemary sprig.