More on the Explosion of Healthy Cocktails
In a post inspired by researchers from Thailand and the US that discovered that by treating the berries with alcohol led to an increase in antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging activity. I wrote about the trend towards healthy cocktails in Boozing your way to health part 1. This is a good read to get a taste of the movement towards healthy cocktails. Now in a mixology book by Lucy Brennan, some more healthy cocktails are explored.
Here are some new cocktails along with their health benefits.
Beeten Martini - Beets seem popular in this craze
Cocktail ice cubes for chilling and shaking
3 oz. beet-infused vodka
1/2 oz. fresh lemon-lime juice
1/2 oz. simple sugar syrup
Fill a 5 oz. martini glass with ice and set aside to chill. Fill a tempered pint glass (or cocktail shaker) with ice and add the vodka, lemon-lime juice and simple syrup. Cap the glass with a stainless-steel cocktail shaker (or, if using a cocktail shaker, replace the lid) and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Empty the ice from the martini glass. Strain the drink into the glass and serve immediately.
Beet-Infused Vodka:
3 red beets (1 1/2 pounds), trimmed, peeled, and cut into quarters
1 bottle (1 liter) vodka
Put the beets in a wide-mouthed glass jar with a lid. Add the vodka and seal the container (reserve the vodka bottle for refilling.) The mixture will immediately turn a bright ruby color. Store in a cool dark place for three days, stirring each day. The infused vodka will be a deep purple color with a strong, earthy beet taste. Using a slotted spoon, remove and discard the beets. Place a funnel in the reserved vodka bottle and pour the infused vodka into the bottle. Cap and store in the refrigerator for up to six months.
You can make your own beet infused voka to replace the beet juice and really pump this drink up.
Beet Sangria - enough for a pitcher
4 oz sugar
Pinch of salt
11 oz beet juice
1 oz fresh lime juice
3 oz fresh OJ
3 oz ginger beer (or ale)
8 oz red wine
6 oz brandy
1 oz Cointreau
Dissolve the salt and sugar into the nonalcoholic ingredients. Add the alcohol and stir.
The benefit: Folate in beets has been shown to lower the risk of coronary artery disease.
Pepper Delicious
3 rings sliced red bell pepper
6-8 leaves fresh mint
2 oz Aviation gin
1 oz fresh lime juice
¾ oz simple sugar syrup
In a shaker glass, combine two pepper rings and the mint leaves and press firmly with a muddler to pulverize the peppers. Add the gin, lime juice, syrup, and ice. Shake and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with the remaining pepper ring.
The benefit: A diet high in vitamin C, carotenoids, and lycopene (all of which are amply supplied in red peppers) reduces the incidence of chronic disease and death, according to a Spanish study of 41,000 people.
Blue
1 Tbsp whole blueberries
½ oz fresh lemon juice
2 oz Ty Ku, an Asian-inspired liqueur made with sake
1 oz limoncello
2 oz pomegranate juice
In a rocks glass, combine the blueberries and lemon juice and muddle the berries to extract the juice. Add ice until the glass is half full, top with the remaining ingredients, and stir.
The benefit: In a Preventive Medicine Research Institute study, heart patients’ health improved after they drank antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice and blueberries are also the latest superfood. Packed with antioxidants and phytoflavinoids, these berries are also high in potassium and vitamin C,
The Rabbit Hole
3 oz fresh carrot juice
½ oz fresh cucumber juice
½ oz Cynar, an Italian herbal liqueur
1 oz Square One organic vodka
1 sprig sage
Combine the liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Top with the sage sprig.
The benefit: Lutein, which is found in carrots, can reduce your risk of cancer, says an American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study.
Avocado Daiquiri
2 oz silver rum
2 oz gold rum
¼ medium-ripe avocado
½ oz half-and-half
¼ oz fresh lemon or lime juice
2 oz simple syrup
1 ½ cups ice cubes
Combine the ingredients and blend until smooth.
Benefits of Avocado: Avocados have 11 vitamins and 17 minerals making it a very comprehensive storehouse of the nutrition. There is a high level of oil which contains the vitamins A, D, and E, and is rich in the mono-unsaturated fat oleic acid.
(Courtesy of Men’s Health):
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