Many modern dads are looking for beverages that are alcohol-free, delicious, and made with fresh ingredients. We're dedicating this column to the fathers who are doing their best to keep that dad-bod in check and choosing better-for-you booze-free beverages at this year's Father's Day BBQ.
Chef Paul Gerard's Proud Poppa Mocktails
We spoke to our friend and teetotaling proud poppa of two, Chef Paul Gerard, about his take on padre-day mocktails. He gave us the how-to on these three popular drinks, but sans rum, tequila, or vodka.
The Spicy Mango Mule
According to Chef Paul, this one should be aggressive flavorwise on every level and rely on the ingredients below for sweetness with no added sweeteners.
Serves 2
What You'll Need:
- 2 oz of ripe mango, peeled, diced, and pureed in a blender with two shots of water
- 2 to 3 thin slices of fresh Cayenne or Fresno pepper per drink
- 1 7.5 ounce can of ginger beer
- Juice of 1 lime
- 2 highball glasses with ice
- Shaker
How To Make It:
- Put lime, peppers, mango puree, and ice in your shaker.
- Shake it like it's a maraca. Feel free to dance while you do.
- Pour all of this (including shaken ice) 3/4th up your highball glass.
- Top it off with ginger beer
Note: The consistency is up to you. If you like it thick, like mango nectar, use mango as blended. If you like a smoother beverage, add some more water to your shaker to thin the consistency.
The Virgin Mojito AKA The Nojito
We had some fun naming this one. First, Chef Paul suggested the "Bojito" since it has basil. Then we thought of the "Herbito," but that sounded like a little fella named Herb with a comb-over and a pocket protector. "Nojito landed, and we went with it.
Serves 2
What You'll Need:
- 6 leaves of basil - any kind is fine
- 6 mint leaves
- 2 ounces of lime juice
- 1 ounce and a half of fresh squeezed orange juice
- Turbinado sugar - 1/2 teaspoon per drink
- 1 7.5 ounce can of seltzer
- Ice
- Shaker, bar muddler
- Lime wedge and mint sprigs for garnish
How To Make It:
- Muddle herbs, lime juice, ice, and sugar in your glasses carefully.
- Add OJ to the shaker, stir, and pour it with muddled ice into glasses about 3/4ths of the way up.
- Top with seltzer.
- Garnish with lime and mint.
The Peach Pie Mocktail
This one is way fun and seasonal since we are in peak peach season right now.
Serves 2
What You'll Need:
- 2 tsp peach jam
- 2 ounces strong, double steeped black tea - chilled
- 2 ounces Dr. Brown's cream soda
- Juice of one lemon
- A pinch of cinnamon per drink
- Ice
- Shaker
- Peach slices for garnish
How To Make It:
- Add jam, lemon, cinnamon, and chilled tea into a shaker with ice.
- Shake until frothy and the jam is liquified.
- Pour between two high-ball glasses.
- Top off with Dr. Brown's.
- Garnish with a fresh peach slice and enjoy.
These can all be made sweeter, zestier, or tangier by adding more sweetener, spice, or citrus to taste.
So get out that bar set and start mixing, folks. Your dad deserves more than a Pepsi this Father's Day!
