In The Final Lazy Days Of Summer... - This Mocktail Is For You!

Welcoming in the month of August may be the hardest time of the year. Time to pack up the beach chairs and sunscreen and prepare for the journey home to the reality of jobs and school.

Not all is lost putting August in the rear-view mirror though. It’s when we start preparing for the rest of the year’s events. The major holidays are just a calendar flip away, and the heat and humidity begin to give way to the crisp fall mornings and beautiful colors. Kids choose their new school backpacks and

clothes, teachers prepare their lesson plans, and parents dream of the first day of school where they drop off the kids and have a quiet day to themselves.

Let’s celebrate with something a little different that is not exactly new but is a definite trend. I was introduced to the “mocktail” by my daughter. She is a college graduate who doesn’t drink (is she really my child) and has been asking for this type of drink for years. In the beginning, she had to just request a cocktail with no alcohol. Now restaurants and bars have an actual mocktail menu. Has the older generation ruined

drinking for the younger generation? While this may be a good thing, it still seems a bit foreign.

In the final lazy days of summer, break out your tiki umbrellas one last time and enjoy a drink with sunshine and sweetness with zero chances of a hangover. Despite what we have learned, and what the beach commercials tell us, you don’t need alcohol to be transported to vacation mode. This is dedicated to my funny and intelligent daughter who introduces me to the latest and greatest and keeps me young and on my toes. Happy Birthday Sammy. This mocktail Is for you!

INGREDIENTS

4 ounces coconut water

3 ounces pineapple juice

1 ounce grapefruit juice

2 ounces sparkling water

Grapefruit wedges (for garnish)

Ice cubes

MIXOLOGY

Fill a wine glass or rocks glass with ice cubes

Add coconut water

Add pineapple juice

Stir ingredients

Top with sparkling water

Place grapefruit wedges on top

NOTE: If you miss the summer flavor of rum, try adding an ounce of your favorite to make this a “cocktail”.