New Years Eve is imminent and, for many, festive, bubbly drinks are indispensable to the celebration. Count me in on that, sans alcohol. I’ve celebrated New Years Eve with and without alcohol and I prefer waking to the first day of the year in good health and spirits, with no regrets. That being said, there is not much on the supermarket shelves that piques my interest or tickles my taste buds. Sparkling fruit beverages are cloyingly sweet and predictable. But with a little preparation and some simple ingredients, you can whip up something a bit more interesting and fun to drink like a Mad Earl Mocktail!
What I love best about the Mad Earl Mocktail:
The sweetness is easily adjusted to taste.
When the ice in the drink melts, the flavor is undiluted.
The caffeine boost helps to keep me up past my bedtime!
Mad Earl Mocktail
INGREDIENTS
To make 2 to 4 mocktails (depending on how big your glassware is)
3) Earl Grey tea bags (or 3 TBSPs loose tea)
1) TBSP culinary lavender bud
2) TBSPs fresh squeezed lemon juice
Lavender Simple Syrup to taste
Seltzer water
DIRECTIONS
Leave plenty of time for prep to make the Lavender Simple Syrup and to freeze the Earl Grey tea into ice cubes. Click on the link above to make the Lavender Simple Syrup.
Brew a pot of tea (approximately 1 pint) with 3 Earl Grey tea bags and 1 TBSP culinary lavender bud. When the tea has cooled to room temperature, strain into a large measuring cup. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze.
When you are ready to mix the drinks:
Blend 4 ice tea cubes and 1 TBSP lemon juice per drink to slushy consistency.
Pour the slushy into glasses to half full.
Pour on Lavender Simple Syrup to taste.
Top it off with seltzer water and give it a stir.
Garnish with a thin slice of lemon.
Note: for a variation, you may top it off with lavender kombucha instead of seltzer.
