Holiday 'Mocktails' Offer Non-alcoholic Alternative

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY - This year's Great Pretenders Mocktail Mix-Off gave participants the chance to show off their mixing skills.

AAA Oklahoma encourages drivers to consider these tasty top four winners as alternatives to alcoholic beverages this Holiday:

1st Place

"Earth & Strawberries"

Louis Pierone Nonna's Purple Bar
124 E. Sheridan - Bricktown, OKC

2 strawberries
2 basil leaves
2 lime wedges
6 oz. sparkling grape juice
2 drops balsamic vinegar

Muddle the strawberries, lime, and a basil leaf well in a shaker. Fill a glass with ice
and pour 2 oz. of the juice into it. Then add some ice and the other 4 oz of juice to shaker.
Shake well and pour over ice and juice mixture with 2 drops of vinegar and stir.
Garnish with a slice of strawberry, wrapped in a basil leaf.

2nd Place

"Raspberry Espressotini"

Bruce Rinehart & Shari Burns
Rococo Restaurant & Wine Bar
2824 N. Pennsylvania Ave. - OKC

1 oz. espresso
1 oz. half & half
1 tsp. brown sugar
raspberry sauce
chocolate sauce

Mix first three ingredients in a blender until smooth.
Place a dollop of raspberry sauce in the bottom of a martini glass
and use a drink straw to pull it in and up the sides of the glass and then pour the drink
into the glass. Swirl a little chocolate sauce on top. Serve and enjoy.

3rd Place

"Purple Rain"

Amanda Perkey
Bricktown Brewery
1 N. Oklahoma Ave. - Bricktown, OKC

2 oz. purple health drink
1/2 oz. pineapple juice
1 oz. orange juice
7-Up soda

Mix first three ingredients with about 2 oz. of 7-Up and then fill the glass with crushed ice.
Top-off with 7-Up and garnish with the berries of your choice.

4th Place (TIE)

"The Gingerbread Man"

Carrie Coppernoll
a free spirit, representing herself

Gently boil 2 parts milk to 1 part half-and-half.
Add these ingredients liberally, to taste: cinnamon, sugar and gingerbread-flavored Coffee-mate. Then add these ingredients sparingly, to taste: molasses, ground cloves, vanilla and nutmeg.
Boil until all ingredients are blended, stirring constantly.
Cool mixture and remove skin. Serve in martini glasses slightly above room temperature with gingerbread cookies.
Top with cinnamon or powdered sugar.

"Cafe Di Venu"

Michael Thompson
Venu
222 E. Sheridan Ave. - Bricktown, OKC

2 parts vanilla ice cream
2 parts ice
1 part coffee blend (recipe below)
fresh cinnamon

Coffee Blend recipe: combine high-grade coffee, vanilla creamer and milk and blend.
Garnish with cinnamon