I’m offering another “unlocked cocktail” to complement an interesting new puzzle lock rom Constantine Bovalis. These are my name for “zero-proof” cocktails, aka non-alcoholic, aka “mocktails”, a term I avoid for fear of being mocked. In lieu of high proof spirits with actual alcohol, zero-proof drinks often employ other ingredients with strong or interesting flavors as a base ingredient, then add other components often found in a classic cocktail. They don’t skimp on the culinary effort and can rival anything else on the menu. These days there are also non-alcoholic distilled spirits available as well, which evoke complex flavors recognizably similar to common spirits but without the proof.

The first non-alcoholic distilled spirit, and one of the best, is from the Seedlip distillery, which makes a range of three different varieties. This recipe uses the “Garden”, full of fresh green peas, hay, and flavors from the English countryside. I’ve made a traditional sour with crisp fresh lime juice, and added some green tea for a more complex and unexpected twist. I used a special green tea as well, zhuyeqing, which is also known as Bamboo Leaf due to its shape, and is a prize winning tea from modern China. Finally the sweetness is derived from berry jam, which adds texture as well as a vibrant pink color. The combination of pink and green made me think of the old “preppy” uniform from the eighties, which is how I came up with the name. Unlock this cocktail for yourself sometime, for something different, like the transparent creations of Constantine Bovalis. Cheers!

Preppy Handbook

2 oz Seedlip Garden

1 oz fresh lime

½ oz green tea

1 tbs berry jam

Shake ingredients together over ice and strain into a tea cup. Garnish with a lime twist.

For more about the perplexing Bovalis Lock see:

Boxes and Booze: All Greek To Me