Alcohol-Free Drink Recipes From Julia Bainbridge
Participating in Dry January? We've got some recipes for you. Julia Bainbridge joins us to talk about her book, Good Drinks: Alcohol-Free Recipes for When You're Not Drinking for Whatever Reason. She takes a serious and stylish look at sophisticated nonalcoholic beverages, including a blackberry-infused cold brew with almond milk and coconut cream, and a bittersweet, herbal take on the Pimm’s Cup.
Billows & Thieves
MIKE DI TOTA — THE BONNIE, QUEENS, NEW YORK
Former Bonnie bar director Mike Di Tota’s wife, Chelsea, doesn’t drink, and this was her favorite cocktail on his menu. When I met her at the bar to try it out, I was skeptical: iced coffee and grapefruit juice? In a word: YES. Mike tried all the other citrus fruits in combination with coffee, but the bitter-on-bitter of grapefruit juice just worked. Make sure you shake hard to get that creamy froth on top.
COMMITMENT LEVEL • (of • • • •)
SERVES 1
3 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
1⁄2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 ounce cold-brew concentrate, such as Grady’s
1⁄2 ounce Black Cardamom–Cinnamon Syrup (recipe follows)
Small pinch of smoked sea salt
Freshly grated nutmeg, for garnish
Combine the juices, cold-brew concentrate, syrup, and salt in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, seal the shaker, and shake vigorously for 20 seconds, until the shaker is ice cold. Double-strain into a coupe and finish with a grating of fresh nutmeg.
Black Cardamom–Cinnamon Syrup
MAKES ABOUT 1 ¼ CUPS, ENOUGH FOR 20 DRINKS
2 cinnamon sticks, cracked
3 black cardamom pods, cracked
1⁄2 cup water
1 cup maple syrup
In a small saucepan over medium heat, toast the cinnamon sticks, occasionally shaking the pan back and forth, until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cardamom, water, and maple syrup and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Fine-strain and discard the solids. Store the syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Note Some additional and über scientific research I engaged in shows that leftover syrup can be used in your morning coffee.
