The bartender's guide to mocktails - Michael Stringer

Non-alcoholic beverages are now burgeoning in restaurants, eateries and drinks establishments. Cocktails have recently catapulted themselves centre stage and mocktails are following hard on their heels - in fact mocktails are billed alongside cocktails in every serious drinks establishment, as those who serve drinks now see that partying with alcohol is not everyone's choice. Furthermore, giving non-drinkers variety and stimulation away from alcohol is crucial to offering excellent customer service. Modern mocktails use fresh, organic ingredients to create exciting, non-alcoholic beverages, along with tinctures and minute drops of bitters. Because mocktails are packed with fresh, natural ingredients, they often have far fewer calories than traditional cocktails and much more nutritional value. Good mocktail recipes do also rely on delicately balanced recipes because the body and kick found in alcohol has to be replaced with strong flavour profiles. The Bartender's Guide to Mocktails features over 90 mocktail recipes, including Virgin Raspberry Cooler, Beetroot Virgin Mary, Sangria Seca, Faux Kir Royale and Mango Lassi. An introduction by master mixologist Michael Stringer looks at mixing techniques and different genres of mocktail, from herb-infused and faux-fizz mocktails to limeades, elderberry infusions and spiced mocktails. Selected pages also offer useful practical information about the art of making a mocktail, including how to recreate the flavour of alcohol in a non-alcoholic drink and suggestions for distinctive flavours and aromas that will give mocktails a non-alcoholic kick.