Celebrate the holidays with a twist– enjoy a cranberry ginger kombucha mocktail – a healthy, alcohol-free and refreshing alternative to sugary holiday cocktails. With the perfect blend of tart cranberry juice, festive ginger and rosemary, you’ll sip the night away without a headache or dehydration. Perfect for holiday gatherings with friends and family and anyone looking to avoid alcohol while still having fun. Treat yourself to a healthier option that’s still fun and will have you looking cool.
A mocktail is similar to a cocktail, but without the alcohol. A Kombucha Mocktail features kombucha as a wash in the base of the mocktail.
There are several reasons people choose not to drink such as health, religious, or a personal preference. Kombucha mocktails are great option for those who want to enjoy a satisfying social beverage while abstaining from alcohol. Just because mocktails do not have alcohol doesn’t mean they have to be sweet, boring or unsatisfying.
Kombucha mocktails, in addition to being delicious and satisfying, also contain additional health benefits. Apart from omitting alcohol, additional benefits come from the probiotics and antioxidants in the kombucha, especially in fruit flavored kombuchas.
Click here to read more about how to make great mocktails.
Cocktail Shaker: A cocktail shaker or mixing glass to quickly and thoroughly combine and chill the ingredients. I have a basic 2-tin one, an upgrade to an OXO Insulated one and recently bought an Elevated Craft Shaker during their Kickstarter campaign (affiliate links ↗).
Rocks Glasses: Two rocks glasses for serving your mocktail creation.
Cranberry Kombucha: Cranberry Kombucha forms the base of the drink and provides a delicious, effervescent foundation on which to build your mocktail.
Cranberry Juice: Cranberry juice is the is the liquid juice of the cranberry. Most cranberry juices (or cranberry juice cocktail) typically contain about 28% actual cranberry juice with the rest of the liquid coming from other fruit juice concentrates such as white grape, apple or pear, water, and added sugar to reduce the beverage’s tartness. Seek out 100% cranberry juice for a low-sugar mocktail that’s full of flavor.
Ginger: Fresh ginger, with it’s slightly peppery and sweet taste and pungent-spicy aroma gives non-alcoholic cocktails like this a light, spicy zip that emulates the sensation you get at the back of your throat when drinking alcohol. Ginger is also good for digestion and boosting the immune system.
Look for firm ginger “hands” with a taut peel. It should not look wrinkled or feel soft.
Rosemary: Rosemary is an aromatic shrub with evergreen, needle-like leaves. It has a unique aroma and flavor with notes of evergreen, citrus, lavender, pine, sage, pepper, mint, and sage. The piney/evergreen flavors of rosemary adds a savory yet refreshing layer to the cranberry kombucha mocktails. In this recipe it doubles as a garnish to add an aromatic and festive flair that’s perfect for the holidays.
Garnish: Fresh cranberries, rosemary sprigs, and thinly sliced ginger
Muddle: Muddle the ginger and rosemary
Mix and Chill: Mix all of the main ingredients with ice until thoroughly and chilled.
Fill: Divide the chilled mixture evenly between the glasses.
Garnish and Enjoy: Garnish each glass with fresh cranberries, rosemary sprigs, and thinly sliced ginger.
Yield: 2 mocktails • Active time: 5 minutes • Total time: 5 minutes
1/2 bottle cranberry kombucha
½ cup 100% cranberry juice
1 inch knob of fresh ginger, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
1 large sprig of fresh rosemary, plus more for garnish
Fresh cranberries, rosemary sprigs, and thinly sliced ginger for garnish
Muddle: Slice ginger into thin sliced and place into a cocktail shaker, mixer, pitcher or quart-sized mason jar with 1 inch sprig of rosemary. Muddle ginger and rosemary together using the end of a wooden spoon or a muddler if you have one.
Mix and Chill: Add kombucha and cranberry juice to the muddled ginger and rosemary along with some ice. Stir well until thoroughly combined and chilled.
Fill: Pour the mixture into rocks glasses filled with ice. Strain if preferred.
Garnish: Garnish each glass with sprigs of rosemary, a slice of fresh ginger, and a few cranberries before serving.
Kick it up with Ginger: Swap out the cranberry kombucha with kicking ginger kombucha to add an extra layer of ginger flavor and a subtle kick to your mocktail
Presentation affects taste: The way a drink (or dish) is presented known to affect the way its taste is perceived. Use your best cocktail glassware and don’t skimp on the garnish.
Clean not peel ginger: Due to its uneven size and shape ginger peels can be challenging to remove and are 100% edible. Instead of peeling, gently brush in a bowl of water or under running water.
Helping you learn to brew kombucha, find inspiration for new kombucha flavors and use kombucha to make kombucha mocktails
The materials contained on this website are intended to be used for educational purposes only, and the website’s use is solely at your own risk. It is important to use good judgment when consuming kombucha. Never consume kombucha that looks, tastes, or smells unpleasant. Further, before consuming kombucha or any other fermented or cultured food, you should receive full medical clearance from a licensed physician. Author and publisher claim no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the material on this website.