I never knew fresh apricots were extinct. I wanted to make the apricot appetiser mocktail from The Virgin Cocktail Garden as it looked simple, with just a few ingredients easily found in the shops. Or so I thought. Could I find fresh apricots? Could I bollocks. I looked online at Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons but I could only find dried and I’d been sure fresh apricots were as easy to find as apples. Google suggested I use peaches or nectarines in place of apricots and so, because I dislike the fuzziness of peaches, I bought nectarines instead. (I have since investigated and found out apricots are in season in the UK from May to September so I’m going to look for them then, even if I don’t want any. It’s become a matter of principle.)
The Virgin Cocktail Garden by David Hurst
The Virgin Cocktail Garden is, as you probably guessed, a book containing non-alcoholic cocktails, or ‘mocktails’ as they’re also known. The book contains 80 recipes featuring fresh, natural ingredients; mixing fruit, spices and herbs to make drinks that can be drunk anytime. Although I’ve just said it uses fresh ingredients, David concedes a lot of people won’t be arsed (my words, not his) to make their own fresh juices, cordials and syrups and so it’s not to be mistaken for a juicing book, as store bought is fine. Along with the recipes are guidelines and notes on essential (and less essential) ingredients, mixology terms, tools and help with getting the most out of fruit purees, juices, cordials, syrups and garnishes.
If you’re thinking, ‘Why the flipping flop would I want a cocktail without alcohol?’ then, don’t panic, there are notes on suggested alcohol if you want a more traditional cocktail (e.g. add prosecco instead of sparkling water in the citrus Bellini, and bourbon or whisky in the blueberry muffin).
As well as fruity mocktails, there are drinks containing lettuce (yes, really, although I’m not sure I’m brave enough to try it), spinach, chocolate, coffee, cream, and other non-fruity ingredients all wrapped up in the following chapters:
- Herbs (including elderflower, basil, mint and thyme)
- Spices (including cardamom, ginger and vanilla)
- Citrus (including orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit)
- Tropical (including pineapple, lychee, coconut, kiwi, avocado and mango)
- Berries (including cranberry, strawberry, raspberry and blueberries)
- Beans (including cocoa and coffee)
- Pitchers (serving more than one person)
Nectarine and Strawberry Mocktail Recipe
I made the apricot appetizer mocktail from the ‘berries’ chapter which, as I’ve already mentioned, because of an absence of apricots, turned into the nectarine appetiser which, thanks to my Froothie Optimum G2.1 blender, was blitzed and blended into a smooth, refreshing fruity drink. As well as using nectarines instead of apricots, I also used soda water instead of sparkling water. I don’t have a good reason for this except I usually buy soda water, not sparkling water, but I couldn’t tell you why. (While writing this post, I stopped for lunch, then went to the little Tesco and saw sparkling water is cheaper than soda water so I’m going to buy sparkling water next time I want some water that isn’t tap, especially since I looked up the difference between soda water and sparkling water and found out soda water is artificially carbonated and has stuff added to it but sparkling water is made fizzy naturally). I’ve also just realised the recipe calls for freshly squeezed orange juice but I used juice from a carton because a) I no longer own a juicer; and b) I can’t be arsed peeling oranges.
Nectarine and Strawberry Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1 nectarine
- 100 g fresh strawberries
- 100 ml orange juice
- 1 handful ice cubes
- soda water
Instructions
- Remove the stone from the nectarine and chop the flesh
- Hull and slice the strawberries
- Blend all the ingredients except the soda water for 1 minute or until smooth
- Pour into a glass and top up with soda water
Win a copy of The Virgin Cocktail Garden by David Hurst
With thanks to Modern Books, I have a copy of The Virgin Cocktail Garden to give away. Just enter via the Rafflecopter widget below – good luck!
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Do you want more mocktail recipes? Take a look at these:
Sunrise Mocktail for Kids by Eats Amazing
Raspberry & Elderflower Cooler by Unconditionally Nourished
Non-alcoholic Mojito by FabFood4All
looks like a nice read, full of creativity and good ideas
fabtastic giveaway
Would love to try some of these out. None of my family drink alcohol so would be great to find some tasty drink alernatives for social nights.
It would be great to try some of these receipts out. None of my family drink, so it would be great to find some tasty alternatives for social nights.
The Strawberry and Nectarine Mocktail sounds amazing. This book seems full of delicious drinks, beautifully photographed.
Sounds like a really great read, full of delicious drinks.
Looks great!
Looks great! I’d love to try out some of these recipes in the summer xx
This sounds like the perfect summer cocktail, must try it! Thanks for linking to my mocktail:-)
I would love to try these mocktail recipes, a great idea if your trying to cut back on the alcohol too!
This looks like a really great recipe book and I would love to win xxx
id love this, im rubbish at making cocktails and need some help
I’d love this book. I don’t drink much alcohol, so would enjoy making and drinking these, especially in the summer.
I rarely drink so this would be a lovely way to have cocktails with the girls
Would love to win this and try out some cocktails in time for summer!
Making me dream of summer, looks like a lovely book, fingers crossed.
Cocktails are my favourite drink however Ihave never been brave enough to make any at home so this would be the perfect introduction to that!
I really like the sound of the strawberry and nectarine mocktail it looks so refreshing. This book would be lovely to make some gorgeous drinks for summer days
this looks like a great book to get some ideas for new flavours for us to try on a friday evening xx
This recipe looks great & I’d love to try more from the book
Great giveaway – thanks for the chance to try out some of these recipes
This looks fab. I love cocktails but really must cut down on the alcohol!
Would love to win – perfect for a lovely summer evening x
What a great prize, looks delicious. I would really love to win
A BEAUTY – will be invaluable for all our parties and celebrating – so much to learn
These sound very tasty – especially to try out over the summer
These sound great, especially for two vegans, one of whom doesn’t drink!
Sounds good for a warm summer nightin the garden.
This book looks great and honestly who doesn’t love a nice cocktail
This would be great to give me some summer inspiration.
These look really fun to try, I love new refreshing drinks
Great for upcoming summer garden parties!
I like trying different drinks, my taste buds are tingling with the thought.
I love my herb garden – it would be nice to have more ideas for using the herbs.
This would be perfect for my birthday BBQ! We’d enjoy trying new cocktails.
I’ve never tried making my own cocktail/mocktail. But these recipes makes me want to give it a try and invite the girls round.
I would love to have a try of these, I do love a cocktail, or two!
I would definitely like to give this a try – looks very interesting!
I love the sound of this, so many times you want something more interesting than an orange juie, this would be great to explore more non-alcoholic options
Sounds like an interesting read, just the thing for entertaining.
The book looks perfect for the upcoming summer (fingers crossed for the weather!).
Looks fab. Will definitely be trying a few of these recipes if I win the book
This would be ideal for some great night in cocktail parties.
Its all about the ingredients. If the ingredients are good quality a mocktail can taste even nicer than the real thing. Nothing better on a sunny day.
I look forward to having a try at making some of these cocktails.
Cocktails or mocktails.I’m up for either, yet I rarely ever make them. This looks like a brilliant one for summer, so I’ve pinned it in the hope it will remind me.