Who doesn’t love sipping on a guilt-free cocktail over the holidays?
You don’t need the bartending expertise to make the 5 tasty drinks listed below. These easy recipes are low-waste, vegan and sustainable alternatives to your traditional holiday cocktails, saving you a few extra coins while reducing your ecological footprint.
Psst. Here’s the best part: the beverages are just as delicious if you make them alcohol-free!
1. Holiday zero-waste eggnog
Ingredients
- 1½ shots of rum (optional)
- 2 shots of eggnog (or vegan eggnog for a more low-waste option)
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
- Cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Measure 1½ shots of rum and 2 shots of eggnog, pour into a liquor shaker
- Add a pinch of the ground cinnamon and nutmeg into the shaker
- Shake the drink for a few seconds and add ice cubes, then shake it again for another few seconds
- Pour over ice into a cocktail glass
- Garnish with a few cinnamon sticks, then sprinkle some warm spices to your liking
Cheers!
2. Prepare homemade cordial from citrus for various drink combinations
Ingredients
- 2 cups of citrus cut-offs (orange, grapefruit, limes, etc.)
- 2 cups of water
- 1½ cups of sugar
- ¾ teaspoon of citric acid (or lemon juice)
Instructions
- Mix the citrus wedges and water in a bowl
- Slowly add the sugar, tasting as you go to ensure the right level of sweetness
- Refrigerate for 24 hours
- Strain into a container and add the citric acid
Congratulations! You’ve made your own cordial syrup.
3. Concoct a fancy beverage with avocado pits to make orgeat syrup
Ingredients
- 2-3 avocado pits
- 1⅔ cups of sugar
- 1⅔ cups of water
Instructions
- Dry your avocado pits at room temperature overnight or under heat
- Place them in a blender or use a microplane grater to crush them into a grated texture
- Toast the pits dry on a frying pan over medium heat, tossing them occasionally until they turn an orange-brown colour
- Add the toasted pits into the water and sugar, then leave to brew overnight
- Blend the mixture to form a thick syrup consistency
That’s your avocado-based orgeat syrup!
4. Combine the orgeat syrup with cordial for a low-waste Mai Tai
Ingredients
Instructions
- Combine 1½ shots of rum with the shots of orgeat syrup and lime cordial in a liquor shaker, shake well for a few seconds
- Pour over ice in a martini glass and serve with a fruit wedge such as pineapple, mango, coconut, or any other exotic fruit you’ve got leftover
And enjoy!
5. Use your leftover cucumber and mint to make a gin sizzle
Ingredients
- 1½ shots of cucumber mint gin (optional)
- 1 shot of chopping board lime cordial
- Sparkling water
Instructions
- Combine 1½ shots of gin and the shot of cordial syrup in a liquor shaker with ice and shake well for a few seconds
- Add a few ice cubes to your cocktail glass, then pour the liquor from the shaker
- Fill the rest of the glass with soda water
- Garnish with a wedge of cucumber and sprig of mint
Salud!
Top tips
#1: Avoid using plastic straws with your cocktails or mocktails! Invest in reusable ones or get rid of them altogether.
#2: Keep your beverages looking pretty and presentable by using your leftover fruits and veggies to garnish the edge of the glasses.
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