Ryland Peters - Mocktails, Cordials, Syrups, Infusions and more

MOCKTAILS

cordials, syrups, infusions and more

MOCKTAILS

cordials, syrups, infusions and more

Over 80 delicious recipes for alcohol-free drinks

First published in 2016 by Dog n Bone Books, an imprint of Ryland Peters & Small Ltd. This revised edition published by Ryland Peters & Small in 2023.

www.rylandpeters.com

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Text copyright Maxine Clark, Nicola Graimes, Tonia George, Beshlie Grimes, Carol Hilker, Lottie Muir, Fifi ONeill, Louise Pickford, Ben Reed, Ryland Peters & Small 2016, 2023. Design and photography copyright Ryland Peters & Small 2016, 2023.

The authors moral rights have been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

A CIP catalog record for this book is available from both the Library of Congress and the British Library.

ISBN: 978-1-78879-507-4

E-ISBN: 978-1-78879-529-6

Printed in China

Editor: Pete Jorgensen

Designer: Eoghan OBrien

Photography credits: Martin Brigdale

Contents

Introduction

Do you have anything without alcohol?

For such a simple question its amazing to see the worried looks on peoples faces as they struggle to think beyond offerings of fizzy drinks or an orange juice. Or the look of bemusement as they attempt to comprehend a night in a bar without booze. Luckily things are changing for the better, and not only are there more options available to non-drinkers, but also the questioning attitude toward people who choose a teetotal lifestyle is finally improving.

The reasons for staying away from the strong stuff are manywhether its dedication to a healthier lifestyle or simply being the designated driver for the eveningbut it never seemed right that by choosing to abstain from alcohol, drinkers had to sacrifice on taste. To cater for this ever-growing market, the following pages contain over 75 recipes packed with new and exciting flavor combinations, such as lemon and lavender, raspberry and rose, or apple and fennel. There are also drinks for all occasions, whether thats punches for parties and celebrations, mocktails to relax with at home, cordials and syrups that can be kept in the store cupboard throughout the year, delicious lemonades that are ideal for sunny days.

Many of the drinks featured also put an emphasis on using fresh produce that can be grown in the garden or easily found during a country walk. Ingredients such as elderflowers, mint, blackberries, and rhubarb can quickly be put to use in the Autumn Harvest syrup on .

Its hoped that by trying a few of these fantastic drinks, teetotallers and abstainers will never have to feel like theyre being overlooked in the flavor department again.

General techniques

Here are some good tips for finding fruit, sterilizing, and storing your produce.

Sources of fruits

You can find fruit and herbs for drinks in many places, from your own garden to the supermarket.

Garden Planting and harvesting your own fruit and preserving its flavor in syrups and cordials is very satisfying and you will be able to grow lots of different varieties no matter where you live.

If you dont have a garden, see if a friendly neighbor or relative can offer you some; many people find themselves with a glut of a fruit they are happy to share. You can then offer them a bottle of the delicious end product in return.

Countryside Plenty of fruit is to be had free from the countryside in late summer and early fall, such as elderberries, blackberries, and raspberries. A warning: avoid picking fruit alongside a busy road, where exhaust fumes will damage it, or at a low level where dogs might target it.

Farmers markets These are a fabulous source of locally grown ingredients. If you have difficulty finding a particular fruit or herb that you need, always ask; producers can source most things.

Pick Your Own PYO farms are a fun day out, but the main attraction is the relative cheapness and quality of the fruit. Maybe not all the fruit will be uniform and beautiful, but it will most definitely have the fullest flavor.

Supermarkets Many people depend on supermarkets for citrus fruits and other hot-climate produce. There is no harm in this, but some fruits can be bland compared to locally grown produce. On the other hand, most supermarket fruit is fairly inexpensive so useful for making large batches.

Sterilizing

The job of sterilizing your equipment is the most important one when making syrups, cordials, and lemonades, and one cannot place enough importance on this part of the process. Sterilizing bottles The sterilizing powder used in wine making can also be used for bottles you are using for syrups, cordials, and lemonades. Just mix the solution with water in a large bucket, using the proportions specified by the manufacturer, and use a pitcher (jug) and funnel to fill each bottle completely to the top. Pour away the solution after the required time and rinse as usual.

Alternatively, if using preserving jars, you can sterilize these in the oven, shortly before you need them. Wash them in hot, soapy water, then rinse in clean hot water and leave on a dish towel to air-dry. Lay the jars on their sides on the top shelf of the oven. Heat the oven to 225F (110C, gas mark ) for 2030 minutes.

Straining

Some drinks must be strained to remove material from the liquid. For this you will need a sieve or fabric and a suitable container to collect the liquid.

Muslin A large square of fine muslin or cheesecloth is great for straining, as it can be folded for a fine strain or just left as a single thickness piece for a quick strain. You can use this by itself, tied up around the edges and suspended over a bowl, or use it to line a sieve.

Jelly bag This is a shaped bag, with three or four loops to hang it by, and sometimes comes with a framework of legs, for suspending it over a bowl while the juice drains out. The fabric is a little thicker than muslin and so can give a finer strain. Also, the bag can be washed many times. The only disadvantage is that these bags can be rather expensive.

Sieve A sieve, or strainer, is essential, as it can be used either by itself, for an initial strain, or lined with muslin to produce a clearer end product.