Cleanse cocktail? Isn’t that an oxymoron? It conjured up visions of a drink that would include kale and vinegar with maybe some cayenne and garlic and that would involve plugging my nose to gag down. Boy was I happily surprised when I scanned the ingredients and it was nothing like that. In fact, there’s even vodka involved and I like vodka!
Leave it to Bon Appétit to think this through and include drink recipes to accompany the Food Lover’s Cleanse. I really appreciate that they took into account that people who love food might also love a good glass of wine or a cocktail to round out the experience. It’s starting to settle in that this cleanse is far less about deprivation (and icky “cleanse drinks”) and far more about showing that healthy choices can be delicious and fun and part of a food loving lifestyle. Cheers to that!
- 2 oz coconut water
- ⅓ oz lemon juice
- ⅓ oz vodka
- Dried cherry, optional
- Unsweetened flake coconut, optional
- ½ tsp earl grey simple syrup*
- *Earl grey simple syrup: bring ½ cup sugar, ½ cup water and ½ tbsp earl grey loose tea secured in a tea bag or cheese cloth to a low simmer. Stir until sugar dissolves and allow to cool.
- If desired, wet rim of glass (using a cut lemon works great) and rim with unsweetened coconut. Combine coconut water, lemon juice and vodka in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a dried cherry if using.