“I’ve been sober for a few years now, and it’s totally changed my life. It’s made me more present, and I can’t believe how much I love being sober.” —Chrissy Teigen
Chrissy Teigen, model, author, and television personality, has been open about her sobriety journey. Her words highlight the transformative power of choosing a sober lifestyle, emphasizing the increased presence and joy it can bring. This challenge is about embracing that presence and joy through the art of mindful mocktail creation and appreciation.
The Rationale Behind the MockTail Challenge
Many people associate social drinking with relaxation, celebration, and culinary enjoyment. This challenge aims to prove that you can have all of these experiences—and more—without alcohol. By mastering the art of mocktail creation, you’ll not only provide yourself with delicious alternatives to alcoholic drinks but also develop a new skill that can enhance your social life and even benefit your health.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Completing the Challenge
1. Stock Your Bar: Gather alcohol-free essentials like various juices, sodas, bitters, herbs, and syrups.
2. Learn the Basics: Study mocktail-making techniques like muddling, layering, and garnishing.
3. Create a Mocktail Journal: Document your creations, including recipes, tasting notes, and pairing suggestions.
4. Master Three Classic Mocktails:
◦ Virgin Mojito
◦ alcohol-free Sangria
◦ Alcohol-Free Moscow Mule
5. Invent Your Signature Mocktail: Create an original recipe that reflects your personality.
6. Host a Mocktail Party: Invite friends to taste your creations and share in the sober fun.
7. Explore Mindful Drinking: Practice mindfulness while preparing and enjoying your mocktails.
8. Pair with Food: Experiment with food pairings to enhance your culinary experiences.
9. Visit Mocktail Bars: If available in your area, visit establishments specializing in alcohol-free drinks for inspiration.
10. Share Your Journey: Post your creations on social media or share with the BASE community.
Recipes to Get You Started
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The Virgin Mindful Mojito
Ingredients:
• 10 fresh mint leaves
• 1/2 lime, cut into wedges
• 2 tablespoons simple syrup
• 1/2 cup club soda
• Ice
Instructions:
1. Muddle mint leaves and lime wedges in a glass.
2. Add simple syrup and fill the glass with ice.
3. Top with club soda and stir gently.
4. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a lime wheel.
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Sober Starlight Sangria
The Container:
First, you need a high-quality beverage Dispenser to create the perfect Sangria.
Link to Suggested Dispenser
The Glass:
For me, the hurricane glass is the only way to go. Here’s a link:
But my wife Mary love, love, loves her Hand blown Mexican drinking glasses. Here’s a link
Ingredients:
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 black tea bags
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 cups pomegranate juice
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 lime, sliced
• 1 apple, cored and chopped
• 1 cup fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
• 2 cups carbonated water
Instructions:
1 Steep tea bags and cinnamon sticks in boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and stir in sugar until dissolved. Let cool.
2 In a large pitcher, combine tea mixture, pomegranate juice, and all the fruit.
3 Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight to let flavors meld.
4 Just before serving, add carbonated water and stir gently.
5 Serve over ice, ensuring each glass gets a variety of the soaked fruit.
* * *
Master Class Moscow Mule
The Container:
A high-quality copper mug. For added pizzazz, get funky ones or have them engraved with your quit date.
Link to Suggested Containers
Ingredients:
• 1/2 lime
• 2 oz ginger beer
• 4 oz club soda
• 1 tsp simple syrup or honey
• Ice
• Mint sprig and lime wheel for garnish
Instructions:
1 Squeeze lime juice into a copper mug or glass.
2 Fill the mug with ice.
3 Pour in ginger beer and club soda.
4 Add simple syrup if desired and stir gently.
5 Garnish with a sprig of mint and a lime wheel.
* * *
The Experiment Elixir (Your Signature Mocktail)
Create your own signature mocktail.
Here’s a template to start:
Pick the Perfect Glass:
This is an area where you can get as funky or as creative as you like. I love shopping for strange and unusual glasses. For example, I have a pair of upside down Star Trek glasses that were shown in the original Star Trek movie. They’re hilarious because they’re hard to hold so they could never contain alcohol. Simple searches for “Funky Drinking Glasses” produce some interesting examples of your Signature Mocktail Glass, Try This for example:
Now Lets Play With Ingredients.
1 Choose a base (e.g., fruit juice, tea, coconut water)
2 Add a flavor enhancer (e.g., herbs, spices, bitters)
3 Include a textural element (e.g., muddled fruit, flavored foam)
4 Top with a bubbly element (e.g., sparkling water, kombucha)
5 Garnish creatively
Potential Obstacles and How to Overcome Them
1 Lack of Variety: Overcome by: Experimenting with unique ingredients like butterfly pea flower tea or smoked rosemary.
2 Missing the “Burn” of Alcohol: Overcome by: Incorporating spicy elements like ginger or chili, or using alcohol-free spirits designed to mimic the burn.
3 Feeling Left Out at Bars: Overcome by: Asking bartenders to create custom mocktails or bringing your own mixers to add to club soda.
4 Cost of Ingredients: Overcome by: Starting with a basic set and expanding gradually. Many ingredients can be homemade cheaply.
5 Lack of Confidence in Skills: Overcome by: Practicing regularly and remembering that even “failures” are learning experiences.
Real-Life Success Story
Mark, a 35-year-old former bartender, worried that getting sober would mean the end of his love for mixology. “I took on this mocktail challenge, and it reignited my passion,” he says. “I’ve created a whole menu of alcohol-free drinks for my local club, and customers love them. I feel like I’m contributing to making sobriety cool and accessible. Plus, I enjoy the creativity without the downside of alcohol. It’s the best of both worlds.”
How to apply a BASE. Boost
Mastering mindful mocktails will significantly enhance your Badass and Sober lifestyle:
• Badass: You’ll become the go-to person for amazing drinks at any gathering, showcasing your creativity and skills.
• And Sober: You’ll have a repertoire of delicious alternatives to alcohol, making it easier and more enjoyable to maintain your sobriety. You’ll take control of your drinking experiences, crafting beverages that truly serve your health and happiness.
Each mocktail you craft is a celebration of your choice to live the Badass and Sober Experiment. Cheers to your health, your creativity, and your journey!
