About
The who, why and what, of Mistress of Mocktails.
Welcome to Mistress of Mocktails
Live, love, laugh.
Who is the Mistress of Mocktails
The name’s Chris. That’s not me in the header – I’m a brunette.
I moved from Sydney to lovely Goonengerry, in the Byron Bay hinterland in 2019.
I’m a mum, music-lover, tree-hugger, gardener and nerd.
In 2011 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. A week later the fantastic surgeon had cut it out and the nurses were telling me how to keep it at bay for the next 40 years – the usual things like regular exercise, healthy eating …. and preferably only 2 glasses of wine per week.
Eek! I really liked my evening routine – open the windows, turn on MTV, sing and dance and cook dinner with a glass of wine in my hand. And maybe another with dinner. No more. Or at least not every day.
So I decided to become the mistress of mocktails – a delicious adventure in non-alcoholic pre- and post- dinner drinks with style.
Breast Cancer Network Australia
Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation
I Like Building Helpful Websites
I’m a complete nerd. I like information, spreadsheets, lists and building websites. So when my spreadsheets and bookmarks get too large, I typically turn them into websites – with the main aim of helping others.
Mocktails are Cool
I do still drink alcohol on occasion. If there’s a champagne on offer, I can be tempted. But it makes my toes tingle at night (some residual peripheral neuropathy from chemotherapy). And the doctor had recommended reducing alcohol intake, after breast cancer.
So coming up with refreshing, relaxing, pretty drinks really does make a difference to my health. My default drink – and it’s incredibly simple – is a fresh lime and soda with a dash of agave syrup – a kind of pretend champagne that tastes great and is incredibly refreshing.
It’s been lovely over the years seeing the increasing range of mocktails available in bars, and articles in mainstream newspapers on the number of younger people who consciously decide to quit alcohol, or be sober curious. There are fund-raising opportunities and communities – Dry January, Dry July, OcSober, if you like company.
Mocktails are trendy. Hopefully my website will help you find a new favourite.
So what Is a Mocktail?
It’s a mock cocktail. A non-alcoholic mixed drink, typically made from fruits, juices, teas, syrups, botanicals and/or carbonated drinks. Presented in an appealing manner with garnishes, and most often served as a pre-dinner drink.
Who invented the mocktail?
The Shirley Temple is traditionally claimed as the original mocktail. Theoretically invented for Shirley Temple when visiting a hotel in Beverly Hills with her parents, it’s a ginger ale with a dash of grenadine for colour, and a maraschino cherry and lemon slice for a garnish.
Can you buy pre-made mocktails?
Any decent bar these days will serve you a mocktail – they’ll either have their own preferred mocktail menu, or be able to whip up a lime and soda or virgin sunrise without much fuss.
There is also an increasing number of brands selling pre-mixed mocktails in bottles, including Mocktails, Mingle Mocktails, Mocktail Club, Seedlip, Lyres, Dry Sparkling, Dram, PropositionMocktail, Sanzo, O.Vine, Rock Grace, Curious Elixirs, Lagunitas.
Can you make a mocktail at home?
Absolutely – you can be as resourceful and creative as you like. Start by freezing some ice cubes, make up a simple sugar syrup, mix with lime juice, and experiment with seasonal fruit combinations and soda water. Garnish with fruit slices or mint from the garden.
Does the US have a different definition of lemonade?
Yup. The US is a little different to the rest of the world… they don’t fizz their lemonade. If you’re an Aussie or Pom and expect a clear fizzy lemonade, you’ll need to ask for a Sprite or 7-Up. Walking into a bar in the US and asking for a lemon, lime and bitters and trying to explain the ingredients is just not recommended unless you have the patience of a saint.