If you participate in dry January or set an intention to decrease your alcohol intake this year but found yourself sick of ordering Diet Coke or iced tea as you watch your friends sip fancy Martinis and craft cocktails, you might be begging for some more creative beverage options. Some of South Florida’s top bartenders and mixologists have shared their favorite mocktail recipes for your delight. Or, pop into one of these local restaurants to savor one prepared by the masters themselves.
For a Refreshing Palate Cleanser, try the Agua Fresca
Bartender Marla White of Lona Cocina & Tequileria — the chic, oceanside Mexican restaurant fronting Fort Lauderdale Beach — recommends an Agua Fresca. Combine 2 oz. Seedlip Garden 108, 1 oz. hibiscus concentrate and 1 oz. lime juice in a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain over fresh ice into a lab glass. Garnish with a beautiful micro-orchid.
For a Vitamin C Boost with a Bite, try the Sober Rabbit
Corporate Beverage Director Federico Llauro for the R House — a funky and vibrant gallery-meets-restaurant in Wynwood — shared his recipe for the Sober Rabbit. Combine 4 oz. freshly juiced carrot juice, 1 oz. raw ginger beer and ¾ oz. simple syrup in a dry shaker. Shake, then add ice. Shake again. Pour in a tall glass. Garnish with an orange carnation and peeled clementine wedges.
For a Balanced Sweet and Sour Delight, try the Alpha
Mixologists Moe Aljaff and Juliette Larrouy from Adrift Mare — a sophisticated Mediterranean urban retreat overlooking Biscayne Bay on the 25th floor of Hotel AKA Brickell in Miami –recommend the Alpha. First, prepare some “Apple Shrubs.” Combine ¼ teaspoon citric acid, ½ teaspoon ascorbic acid, ½ teaspoon malic acid, 700 ml of simple syrup, 600 ml of freshly juiced granny smith apples, 600 ml of freshly juiced celery, and 80 ml of freshly juiced ginger. Once the shrub is complete, add 3 oz. of it into a mixer with ½ oz of lemon juice and a dash of saline. Throw your shaker three times gently to aerate the mixture. Pour over a large ice cube in a specialty glass and garnish with an edible white flower.
For a Simple, Asian-Inspired Potion, try the Bees Japanese
Sushi by Scratch — the modern and non-traditional Omakase speakeasy in Coconut Grove — features the Bees Japanese. Combine ¾ oz. yuzu, ¾ oz. honey and 2 oz. Seedlip in a short shaker. Shake and serve without ice in a Nick & Nora glass.
For a Fruit-Forward Refreshment, try the Don’t Be Suspicious
Corsair Kitchen & Bar — the contemporary Mediterranean restaurant serving farmhouse fare in Aventura — features the Don’t Be Suspicious. Combine 1 oz. pineapple juice, ½ oz. lemon juice, 1 oz. orange juice, ½ oz. grenadine and 2 oz. ginger ale into a glass. Stir gently. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.
For a Glass of Peruvian Purple Passion, try the Chicha & Tonic
Toro Toro, thetrendy andrefined Pan-Latin chophouse in the InterContinental in Miami — features a Peruvian inspired purple drink, the Chicha & Tonic. Combine 1 oz. Chicha Morada, 1 oz. elderflower tonic and ½ oz. agave in a shaker with ice. Shake, then pour over fresh ice into a tall glass. Garnish with a colorful flower.
For a Sweet & Salty Tonic, try the Salt Scrub
Sommelier and beverage connoisseur Allegra Angelo at Vinya Table – a zen, Mediterranean-inspired bistro on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables – recommends the Salt Scrub. Combine 2 oz. green guava juice, 1 oz. fresh lemon juice and ½ oz. filthy olive brine in a highball glass. Add ice. Top with some fever tree light tonic water. Garnish with a Tajin-dusted, filthy pickle-stuffed olive.
