There I was, perusing the drink options at the various establishments at V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa, when I came across a product that caught my eye. Bottled cocktails? Pre-made to perfection? My American mind couldn’t comprehend, but sure enough, there they were––pre-mixed cocktails in bright, colorful packaging, just waiting for me to…
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The pomegranate pink tonic mocktail looks cool. Let’s show it off! Tonics and aperitifs get a bad rap for their awful flavor and association with medicine. If you’re a drink, you stay away from medicine. Dr. Pepper still has it rough even now, with only medium-sized niches praising its perfect combination of 23 flavors. But…
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What’s that drink called? It might be “nothing,” or “I don’t know”––and that’s a beautiful thing. As a food journalist, I occasionally meet a bartender who has an unnamed cocktail recipe. They’ve been perfecting it for a while. Many of them prefer to remain anonymous. That could be justified if it’s still a work in…
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The wind blew, and I found myself cast a thousand miles east, having been lifted from the Salt Lake Valley and its sprawling mountain roots beneath the earth, landing among Omaha, Nebraska’s rolling hills. Culture is seeded here in clumps of arbitrary districts where like-minded individuals have gathered, evolving over decades into sects that have…
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What’s a St. Patrick’s Day cocktail without the green dye? That’s the Eye of the Hurricane––an Irish-themed cocktail from South Africa. That’s not a place Americans would associate with Irish traditions like St. Patrick’s Day. But this little-known drink is gaining in fame. Eye of the Hurricane is a bitter lemon and passion fruit flavor…
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Life in the city is tough. So what’s the best way to relax amid all the chaos? The answer is staring you down on your screen as we speak––an ice-cold pomegranate margarita mocktail. I’ll show you how to make your very own chill time juice for the 2020s––all the style, minus the alcohol. Oh, and…
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Everyone only drinks virgin cosmopolitans during the holidays nowadays, but it’s such a classic. Why not have it year-round? I know so many people out there have a love for this drink that stretches beyond seasonality. And this recipe is for them! I’m going to show you my favorite virgin cosmopolitan recipe of all time––beautifully…
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In Cape Town, high tea isn’t high tea unless it’s served by a garçon surrounded by the most luxurious decor that screams, “I have too much money!” I’ve had many high tea experiences in Cape Town, but I like to just cut to the chase. This is no top 10 list. It’s just the best.…
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Mocktails are the fruits of abstaining adults and parents alike, but what about kids? Virgin cocktails send a great message to younger folks, fostering both creative alcohol-free mixology and self-control. And showing them different mix variations or new flavor profiles can bolden that sentiment even further. So, whether you have children yourself or just want…
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The Cinderella is a drink/formula to entertain any group that needs impressing. It’s a mocktail blueprint that’s so malleable yet beginner-friendly, anyone could look like a professional while making it. Now, the name “Cinderella” may bring about images of pompous gatherings, bright colors and girls’ nights. But the appeal and appearance of this alcohol-free beverage…
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