I was asked to provide some “healthy” cocktails for Prevention Magazine… Here they are:
Recipes for the healthy tippler
Photo credit: Mandy Oaklander
Surprised We’re Not In Reno
Warren Bobrow’s smoky twist on the vodka cola uses natural ingredients. No high fructose corn syrup in sight! “It’s healing and potent,” Bobrow says. “Root dates back to country medicinal curatives.”
Serves 1-2
2 shots vodka (we used Ketel One)
1 shot Root (an organic elixir with birch bark, black tea, spices—similar to sarsaparilla)
1/2 shot sweet Vermouth
Natural cola (we used all-natural Q Drinks cola)
Orange twist
ADD the liquors to your cocktail shaker
SHAKE and top with a splash of cola. Garnish with orange twist.
Photo credit: Mandy Oaklander
Hot Cranberry, Blueberry, and Gin Thoreau
“I prefer the tiny, intensely flavored Maine wild blueberries for this cocktail; they come either frozen or canned during the off-season,” Bobrow says. We skipped the cranberry sauce and maple syrup to save on calories and sugar—and we still wanted a second mug.
Serves 2, strongly
1/4 cup each of crushed cranberries and blueberries
1/3 cup cranberry sauce
4 shots gin (we used Bulldog London Dry Gin)
1/3 cup water
1 cup cranberry juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
Grade B dark amber maple syrup, optional
Several orange slices
2 fresh lemon thyme sprigs
MUDDLE the crushed cranberries with the blueberries to make a slurry, then add the cranberry sauce to the mix
ADD the gin and let sit for a few minutes to combine the flavors
BRING the water to a boil in a small saucepan and add the cranberry and lime juices
ADD the heated cranberry juice mixture to the muddled cranberry mixture and stir together. Pour into 2 preheated mugs (we strained it)
SWEETEN with maple syrup if desired, and garnish with orange slices and a sprig of lemon thyme.
