2023 Let’s Get Blitzen: Cocktail Advent Calendar – Day 17 – Teatime Mocktail. This zero-proof drink tastes like the best iced tea you’ve ever had. Feragaia is a truly unique non-alcoholic spirit that I would characterize as tasting like Scotch shaking hands with amaro – without the hangover.
This is not sponsored, I just think it’s a cool non-alcoholic spirit worth trying.
As it’s Sunday in mid-December, I’m guessing more than a few of you are probably feeling pretty rough right about now and the last thing you want to see in your inbox is another cocktail – when you’re still grappling with the effects of last night’s overindulgence. Fear not, Tipple is here to save the day with a delightful tea-based spirit-free sipper.
Tea is a great addition to non-alcoholic drinks as it offers a complex flavour experience that you can amplify or tone down depending on how long you steep it for. In this case I steeped the Rooibos tea as I normally would before chilling it down. I didn’t want the flavour to become too tannic or bitter and risk losing the delicate quality of the Feragaia or persimmon syrup.
I’ve used in mocktails before like the Zero-Proof Penicillin where lapsang souchong (a smoked black tea) stands in for Islay Scotch to impart a distinctly smoky characteristic on the nose.
Many non-alcoholic spirits like Silver Swallow Kombucha (a non-alcoholic sparkling) or Acid League Wine Proxies, incorporate teas into their products to create their distinctive flavour and recreate the nuanced palate of a full-proof wine, without the alcohol.
What I’m trying to say is, use more tea in your cocktails/mocktails. You’d be surprised at how versatile it can be and the sheer variety of teas out there mean the possibilities are pretty much endless.
In this case, the rooibos tea tastes sweet and nutty with natural honey, vanilla, or caramel notes. It has a lightly herbal flavour which complements some of the botanicals in Feragaia such as lemon verbena, blackcurrant leaf, Sugar Kelp, and pink peppercorn. One of my top of mind concerns when developing a mocktail recipe is accounting for body and breadth which can sometimes be lacking in non-alcoholic products. The Feragaia has a decent mouthfeel which and I’m building texture with the persimmon syrup.
I hope you’ll join me on Instagram Stories tonight at 5 p.m. Eastern to shake up this Teatime Mocktail!
Cheers, friends!
Teatime Mocktail
This zero-proof drink tastes like the best iced tea you’ve ever had. Feragaia is a truly unique non-alcoholic spirit that I would characterize as tasting like Scotch shaking hands with amaro –without the hangover.
- 1½ oz Feragaia
- ¾ oz persimmon syrup
- ¼ oz lemon juice
- 3 oz chilled Rooibos tea
- ¾ cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup persimmon chopped
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Add ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake briefly.
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Strain into an ice-filled highball glass.
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Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil, stirring frequently.
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Reduce heat to medium low and let simmer for about 15 minutes until syrup is slightly thickened.
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Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
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Remove solids and fine strain into an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
