The summer non-alcoholic cocktail is a delicious and refreshing beverage with a light and pleasant bitter aftertaste, given by the tonic water, which balances the sweetness of cranberry juice. Additionally, the ever-fresh scent of lemon gives our summer non-alcoholic cocktail a fantastic citrus note. Let’s serve it at aperitifs, accompanying it with many inviting snacks; or we can offer it to our guests simply as a fresh and refreshing drink instead of coffee. I dedicated this cocktail to all those who, like me, do not like to drink alcohol and to our children who, on the other hand, cannot. It’s just an idea, actually, to suggest a different way of toasting that can be customized according to guests and occasions.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Medium
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 1 quart and 1 cup
- Cooking methods: No cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Summer
Ingredients
- 1 quart cranberry juice
- 1 cup tonic water
- 1 Lemons
Preparation
The proportion I used is 4:1; that is, four parts of cranberry juice and one of tonic water.
Keep both the cranberry juice (whether black or red) and the tonic water in the fridge; instead, keep the glasses in the freezer until we prepare the cocktails.
1st version-
In a very large pitcher, pour the cranberry juice, lemon slices, and tonic water, mix well and pour into glasses that we will have taken out just moments before from the freezer. To decorate the cocktails, we can add fresh mint, thin lemon slices, or we can dip the rims of the already cold glasses in brown sugar.
2nd version-
To give a more pronounced citrus note, I pour the cranberry juice into the pitcher, add a small lemon cut into pieces (already washed and dried), cover the pitcher with plastic wrap, and place it in the fridge for a couple of hours so that the lemon scent marries with the other ingredients. Just before serving, I add the tonic water, mix, and serve.
I leave it to you to customize this delicious and colorful cocktail as you like.
I assure you that even classic cocktail lovers will enjoy them.
