We are sorry to have to mention it, but it is a fact: this summer is coming to an end. September is just around the corner, that cursed month in which the calendar insists us to get back to the routine and resume all those tasks and obligations that for some days we have completely forgotten, focusing exclusively on disconnecting and recharging batteries. That’s assuming that you have enjoyed your vacation days, since some of us have continued working, in our case to offer you a lot of news for the return to school, of which you will soon have new news.
However, regardless of whether you are still on vacation or like us you are already working, we still have a few weeks left of the warm temperatures typical of this season, as well as all the plans that allow us to make: enjoy family and friends, make getaways to the beach (or mountain, according to taste), terraces, savor a good gastronomy full of seasonal products, accompanied by cold drinks. And one of our favorite options for this time of year are the mocktails.
BUT WHAT IS A MOCKTAIL?
The mocktails are cocktails or mixtures made with non-alcoholic beverages, especially indicated to enjoy outdoors in good company. Its origin comes from the English language, which uses the term ‘mock’ (which could be translated as simulated or pretended) to allude to its innocuous and alcohol-free character, although its preparation and final appearance is very similar to that of such well-known drinks as the Cosmopolitan, mojitos or caipirinha.
Beyond its non-alcoholic character, which is an interesting alternative for a wide public (drivers, pregnant women, athletes, teetotalers, children and a long etcetera), the main attractions offered by mocktails are their succulent flavors and low caloric content, which has made them a rising ‘healthy’ trend in the restaurant sector. In fact, more and more catering establishments are including in their menus a section specifically dedicated to this type of cocktail.
Most of them combine different flavors in the same preparation, although the base is usually fruit juices, with exotic or tropical seasonal varieties being widely used, which combined with other elements guarantee a high refreshing power. Other alternatives can be the introduction of cold infusions in the mixture, bubbles through tonic or soda, some textures playing with different types of sugar, crushed ice, solid elements (vegetables, blueberries, cherries or grapes) or mint or thyme leaves.
Either way, any combination is an option to keep in mind for those who want to maintain healthy habits even in the summer.
HOW TO PREPARE THE PERFECT MOCKTAIL
Regardless of the ingredients chosen to prepare it, one of the key aspects to achieve the perfect mocktail are the utensils to be used in the preparation phase (which is an art in itself) and, above all, in the final presentation of the cocktail.
So that you can surprise your customers or guests at home, our product catalog offers you everything you need for an excellent presentation, conquering both the palate and the eyes. The essential elements that you should count on are:
Cocktail shakers: the container in which to make the mixture can be made of metallic or transparent materials to refine the color in your first creations. There are models with different capacities (aspect to take into account depending on the number of guests) and it is advisable that they are equipped with gauges.
Mixing utensils: essential are strainers for juices with pulp, tongs for handling ice, crushers and specific knives for fruit or chopping ice.
Measurers: they will help you calculate the exact dosage of each ingredient so that the mixture is perfectly balanced.
Juicers: an indispensable element when working with fresh fruit, the basis for a large number of cocktails, with specific utensils for the most common ones, such as lime, lemon or orange.
Specific glassware: after all the love put into our creation, it is of vital importance to choose the right glassware, so that the final result is spectacular, enhancing all the colorfulness of the mixture and enhancing its flavor through the choice of the shape of the container.
Although one of the best ways to learn how to prepare excellent, tasty, colorful and refreshing mocktails is experimentation, it never hurts to have the advice of a professional to guide us in our first steps in this discipline. A good option could be to attend one of the cocktail workshops we have organized in collaboration with Pilsa Educa, such as the masterclass conducted by the bartender Antonio Garrido a few weeks ago, of which you can see a video summary here.
We recommend you not to miss the opportunity to participate in the next one we organize and also to consult our catalog of cocktail products, where you will find everything you need to start your career as an expert bartender.
You’ll see how soon you’ll start surprising with your own mocktails! And if you want, you can share your creations with us on our social media channels.
