Mocktails for Your Dry January
Mocktails are non-alcoholic variations of traditional cocktails, sometimes called virgin cocktails. The exact origin for these drinks is not 100% certain, but the word was first recorded in the Merriam – Webster dictionary in 1916 (1). It did not reach widespread use until the 1970s where it was populated by a British journalist and publicist John Doxat (2). One of the first early examples of a mocktail is the Shirley Temple, which is made up of ginger ale, grenadine, and sometimes orange juice. (2).
Today, mocktails are beginning to rise in popularity again with events such as Dry January taking place. Others are making the switch to these alternatives for many health-related reasons. Alcohol has been linked to many long-term and short-term health effects including alcohol poisoning, birth defects and cancer (3). As athletes, alcohol has additional effects that can negatively impact your ability to perform and participate in your sport or training. This is because alcohol impairs one’s motor skills, aerobic performance, and effects your hydration status by making you more dehydrated, which will impact your recovery time as well (4). Finally, these effects have been known to also impact athletic performance for up to 3 days after consumption (5).
If you would like to give some mocktails a try, here are some easy recipes that you can make!
Mocktail #1) Sunshine in a Cup
Ingredients
· 1 orange, peeled
· 1 ginger knob, sliced
· A few sprigs of thyme
· 1-3 tbsp of water
· ½ tbsp honey
· 1 tbsp hot water
· 0.5 oz of lemon juice
Instructions
1. Add the orange, ginger, and sprigs of thyme to a blender and blend until a puree is formed. Add the water one tbsp at a time so not to water down the mixture.
2. Combine warmed honey and hot water together to create a hot honey syrup.
3. Combine the hot honey syrup with the puree mixture, then strain to remove pulp, and add lemon juice.
4. Add ice, serve and enjoy!
Mocktail #2) Liquid Melon
Ingredients
· 1 cup tart cherry juice
· 0.5 oz lime juice
· 0.5 oz lemon juice
· ginger root, sliced
· 1-2 rosemary sprigs
Ice Cube Instructions
1. Mix the tart cherry juice, lime juice and lemon juice.
2. Add this mixture to an ice cube try.
3. Add a slice of ginger and a small rosemary sprig to each of the cubes.
4. Freeze the ice cube for at least 24 hours.
5. When ready to serve combine 1-3 cubes to a mug and add hot water over.
6. Allow the drink to cool to the desired temperature and then enjoy!
Mocktail #3) Chocolate Protein Mocktail
Ingredients
· Chocolate syrup (for garnish)
· ½ cup ice (added to shaker)
· ⅓ cup milk or dairy substitute
· 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
· Cocoa powder (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Drizzles chocolate syrup along the inside of the serving cup.
2. Add ice cubes, milk (or dairy substitute) and chocolate protein powder into a shaker and vigorously shake the drink for about 30 seconds.
3. Pour the chocolate mixture into the serving cup.
4. Sprinkle some cocoa powder on top to garnish and enjoy!
Mocktail #4) Cranberry Winter Sparkler
Ingredients
· 1 oz of orange juice
· 2 oz cranberry juice
· ½ tbsp grenadine syrup
· 3 oz ginger ale
· A sprig of rosemary (for garnish)
· Cranberries (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Mix orange juice, cranberry juice, grenadine syrup and ginger ale.
2. Pour over ice in a serving cup and garnish with rosemary and cranberries.
3. Enjoy!
References
1) Roland [Internet]. New York: Roland Foods.2024[updated July 11, 2022; cited January 20, 2024 ]. What is a Mocktail, The Non-Alcoholic Trend Shaking Up What We Sip ON [about 32 screens]. Available from: https://rolandfoods.com/blog/what-is-a-mocktail-the-non-alcoholic-trend-shaking-up-what-we-sip-on#:~:text=The%20History%20of%20the%20Mocktail&text=There%20is%20not%20100%25%20certainty,ban%20that%20began%20in%201920.
2) Wondrich D. The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails. UK: Oxford University Press; 2021. 960 p.
3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Internet]. Washington DC: U.S Department of Health and Human Services; 2024 [updated April 14, 2022; cited January 20, 2024]. Alcohol Use and Your Health[About 10 screens]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm
4) National Strength and Conditioning Association [Internet]. Colorado Spring CO: Sponsor/ National Strength and Conditioning Association; 2024 [updated June 15, 2017; cited January 20, 2024].The Effects of Alcohol on Athletic Performance; [About 18 screens]. Available from: https://www.nsca.com/education/articles/nsca-coach/the-effects-of-alcohol-on-athletic-performance2/
5) Canadian Centre for Addictions [Internet]. Port Hope ON: Canadian Centre for Addictions; Copyright 2022 [updated August 11, 2022; cited January 20, 2024]. How Does Alcohol; [About 16 screens]. Available from: https://canadiancentreforaddictions.org/how-does-alcohol-affect-athletic-performance/
Post By: Cheyenne Sawchuk