From the Bar Top: A Ginger Mint Mocktail

Why mocktails? Mocktails are specifically for days when you just don’t want to drink, crave something refreshing, and want to feel included in the crowd without consuming alcohol. Bonus: no hangover and an overall healthy alternative to alcohol. This was a request from the other evening. I took a couple of snaps with my iPhone for continuity—too good not to post!

A Ginger Mint Mocktail

Ingredients

3/4 ginger simple (skin on juiced fresh ginger+ sugar+water)

1 oz fresh lime juice

6-8 mint leaves for the muddling

2 mint with stems bunch ??

1 skin on lime for making the lime garnish

Fever Tree club soda (blue label, if possible)

Method

For the syrup

Juice three knobs of fresh ginger with the skin on. Combine the juice with equal parts water and sugar to create a ginger simple syrup. Store any unused syrup in a sealed container for up to two weeks.

For the drink

In a mixing tin, muddle the mint leaves. Add the ginger syrup, followed by the lime juice. Add ice and shake well. Strain the mixture into the same non-iced mixing tin you just used. Add club soda and stir, then let it sit for a moment to create a nice foam. Pour over ice and garnish with mint and a lime wedge.

Glass: bucket glass

Garnish: a couple of mint leaves stems and a neatly trimmed lime wedge

Bar Chef Notes: For the adult version, you know what to do. Cheers!

Where to buy the goods? Storage jars, mixing tins, Fever Tree club soda and stuffs? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront. Please know I may earn commissions from eligible purchases. Thank you so much!

Candied Blood Oranges

Candied oranges are here, and you know what that means—Aperol Spritz time! Yes, that’s right! Let’s upgrade that Aperol Spritz. How about giving the Lillet sisters a new accessory? Or keep this recipe for an extra special cocktail, mocktail, or boozy smoothie. Halloween drinks, anyone? “Extra special” means you can enjoy them anytime! I dare you not to eat them all first, though. Aren’t they pretty?

Candied Blood Oranges

Ingredients

2 blood oranges

1 cup of white granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups of water

Method

In a pan, add sugar and water over medium heat. Lately, I have been using my non-stick Le Creuset frying pan for everything! Let the mixture come to a boil. Add slices of blood oranges and reduce the heat to a simmer for 45 minutes. The sugar-water mixture will begin to thicken, and the oranges will start to become covered in a shiny sugary syrup. This is how you will know they are ready for drying. Transfer the sticky orange slices to a drying cooling rack. Dry them in the open air overnight. To speed up the drying process, placing them in an oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about 2 hours will do the trick as well.

First batch from the overnight drying.

Where to buy the goods? Measuring tools, pans, knives and stuffs? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course.

Please know I meat earn commission form eligible posts. Thank you!