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ALL THE FUN<br />
without the hangover<br />
Mocktails. Phwa. There’s nothing mock about these. Whether you’re not<br />
drinking for personal or health reasons, or have been designated as the driver<br />
for the night, there’s no reason to hold back on festive cheer.<br />
These non-alcoholic options scream party, without the morning-after woes!<br />
Compiled by: KYM ARGO<br />
From G&T to cocktail, in one easy (garnish) step<br />
If you’re planning a party, add a dozen bottles of The Duchess non-alcoholic gin<br />
& tonic to the bar station, and go mad with the garnishes. For the horticulturist<br />
guest ... a few sprigs of freshly cut rosemary and thyme enhance the gardeninspired<br />
extracts in The Duchess Greenery. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon<br />
juice, loads of ice – ideal for a sunny day in the garden. Romance in the air?<br />
The Berry Burst is simply a few raspberries and a sprig of mint<br />
in The Duchess Floral, garnished with lime zest. For a very<br />
Christmassy drink, pour The Duchess Botanical into an icefilled<br />
glass and add either a sprinkling of star anise seeds and<br />
some thin orange peel, or some cardamom seeds and one or<br />
two cinnamon sticks. Details: drinktheduchess.com<br />
Dress up that drink<br />
Garnishes can make or break a<br />
cocktail ... alcoholic or otherwise.<br />
Some of them are purely for aesthetic<br />
reasons, others add aromatics and<br />
flavour. A glass of soda with a splash<br />
of flavoured syrup goes from ho-hum<br />
to let’s-do-the-salsa with the addition<br />
of a mint sprig and a lime wedge. Set<br />
aside a little spot on the bar, make a<br />
display and let your guests go mad.<br />
Easiest (and most common) is a<br />
citrus peel – orange, lemon, lime or<br />
grapefruit. Make sure you give it a<br />
good twist before dropping it into the<br />
drink, allowing the oils to spray and<br />
add flavour. A bowl of maraschino<br />
cherries is a must, as are fresh berries<br />
– strawberry, blackberry, blueberry,<br />
raspberry. Pomegranates are great,<br />
and very festive. For tutti-frutti<br />
cocktails, have slices of pineapple,<br />
peach, melon balls and coconut<br />
meat. Balance<br />
all the sweet<br />
options<br />
with olives,<br />
cucumber<br />
ribbons, and have<br />
loads of herbs – mint,<br />
rosemary, basil and<br />
thyme all work well.<br />
And don’t forget<br />
the pretties ... rose<br />
petals, pansies,<br />
violas,<br />
lavender,<br />
nasturtiums.
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