What if skipping the cocktail wasn’t about saying no—but saying yes—to mindful habits, creativity, and something beautifully intentional? That’s exactly what holistic nutritionist Blair Horton is serving up in her new mocktail recipe book, Everyday Elixirs. From sparkling rosemary thyme lemonade in the fall to a vibrant cranberry fizz in winter, each drink celebrates seasonality while turning the simple act of sipping into a moment of nourishment. “For me, these drinks are more than just a substitute for alcohol,” Blair says. “They are really meant to be a ritual of self-care.”
Organized by seasons, the book highlights ingredients at their peak, bringing out maximum flavor and nutrition. Take the wintertime kumquat crush: a tart-sweet citrus—at its best from November through April—bursts with vitamin C and antioxidants, perfectly balanced with the warm spice of thyme syrup. Blair treats her recipes as guidelines, not rulebooks: “I don’t love my drinks super sweet, but someone else might, so I always want people to adjust based on what they like. And my favorite ‘rule’ to break is with glassware— use whatever sparks joy, whether it should technically be in a coupe or wine glass is none of my business.”
A former art major, Blair knows that presentation is everything. As she says, “Even sparkling water can feel elevated when you put it in a wine glass with a rose petal rim and a dried citrus garnish.” Her eye-catching aesthetic has made her Instagram mocktails a visual treat, and for Everyday Elixirs, she entrusted photographer Joni Schrantz to bring them to life in print.
“My goal was to create recipes that feel really exciting and inspiring, whether you drink alcohol or not.” Everyday Elixirs hits shelves December 30 and can be preordered at harpercollins.com.
Cranberry Fizz Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1 oz. pure unsweetened cranberry juice
- ½ oz. rosemary thyme syrup
- 3-4 oz. sparkling water
- honey
- coarse sugar
- a sprig of rosemary, a touch of thyme, or a few cranberries (for garnish)
Directions
- Stir the ingredients together in a shaker until perfectly blended.
- Coat a glass rim with honey and dip it in coarse sugar, then fill with ice and pour in your mocktail.
- Top with a sprig of rosemary, a touch of thyme, or a few cranberries for a fresh, festive flourish.
For print-exclusive stories, download the digital magazine or pick up a copy from select local King Soopers, Safeway, Tattered Cover, or Barnes & Noble locations.
