GI COCKTAIL AT HOME RECIPES

You know that cozy bar you go to with friends on a Tuesday night? The one where the bartender makes you a glass of wine that's been sitting in the bar for hours and immediately makes you feel like you're back in your childhood bedroom, sipping on apple cider? Yeah, we all do it. And while there are plenty of great places to get aperitifs in the city or specialty cocktails where you have to wait for an hour or two before you can order them (they usually cost more than $15), sometimes a quick cocktail is just what the doctor ordered. Here's how to make your own GUILT-FREE GI Cocktails at home!

WHAT ARE GI COCKTAILS?

Gilt-free or guilt-free drinks are perfect for parties and social gatherings, but they don't attract the same stigma as those old-fashioned, sugar-heavy drinks. Unlike sweetened or flavored cocktails, a guilt-free drink doesn't taste any different from its counterpart—it's just as likely to give you a heart attack as a sweetened one. The word "guilt" comes from the Latin word "culpa," which means "fault." So, in other words, it comes down to the fact that you might perceive a higher alcohol content in a guilt-free drink than you would if you ordered it with sugar.

MAKE YOUR OWN GUILT-FREE (GF) SPIRITS

Making your guilt-free (GF) spirits is easy. All you need to do is use genuine, high-quality ingredients. You can try to make your exotic cocktails like the Tuxedo Gin or the Rokk fruit brandy. And yes, you can also make tonic water and other basic GF cocktails like orange juice and water. The only thing you might want to worry about is the quality of your ingredients. Make sure that the alcohol in your GF cocktails is 100% alcohol-free.

BASICS OF MAKING YOUR GUILT-FREE SPIRITS

Like baking, making your spirits is an art form. Your task is to select the right ingredients, combine them properly and cook them in the right amount of alcohol to make the desired spirit. Sugar, grain, and other common allergens can affect the outcome of your guilt-free cocktails, but luckily, you can easily check them all out in your kitchen. Let's begin with sugar. All sugar-containing drinks, including soft drinks, are generally considered sugar-free. But there are a few exceptions. In particular, high-quality natural sugars are okay to use in baking but not in cocktails. Grain is another issue. It comes in many forms, but probably gorgeous corn syrup is the main one. While a few guilt-free spirits use corn syrup flavor instead (e.g., Pisco Ball), the vast majority of them don't. And last but not least, additives like caffeine and liqueurs are a no-go when making guilt-free cocktails. However, you should be aware that some guilt-free mixers contain higher levels of caffeine than your standard shot of coffee in a Grande.

MIXING A GI COCKTAIL AT HOME

Mixing a GI cocktail at home is pretty simple. You have to mix your high-quality GF liquor with a few ingredients to create a GF cocktail. Here are a few ideas:
- Try making a guava+cranberry mixture in your blender to create a gilded gulp.
- Add a shot of vodka to an orange juice or even an old-fashioned.
- Add a shot of brandy to a glass of orange juice to create a gilded swig.
- Make your tonic water with fresh lemon and sugar.
- Make a cranberry/Gin Gummy Bear and sprinkle it on your gummy candies.
- Add a shot of Midori liqueur to an orange juice to create a gilded gulp.
- Make your own Vidalia onion juice (a.k.a. "yogurt drink") by adding a shot of vodka to a glass of plain old milk.
- Add a shot of house-made ginger beer to your favorite summer drink.
- Add a shot of almond liqueur to an almond milk coffee drink to create a gilded swig.
- Combine equal parts vodka and gin in a shaker and shake well until you have a neat, guilt-free drink.
- Combine equal parts Midori and Campari in a shaker and shake well until you have a neat, guilt-free drink.
- Combine equal parts tonic water and crushed ice in a glass and top with sparkling water to create a frosty gulp.
- Combine equal parts room temperature milk and sugar and stir until you have a smooth, blue drink.
- Add a shot of blue curaçao to your favorite cocktail, and enjoy!

TIPS FOR MAKING A GOOD GI COCKTAIL

- Always buy your liquor from a liquor store and use it according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- You can try adding different kinds of mixers such as club soda, tonic water, or Sprite if you want to create a more homemade taste.
- Always check the ingredients of your GF drinks and make sure they are free of all allergens.
- If you're having trouble finding ingredients that are GF, you can always sub out some of them with vodka and/or gin.
- If you're not sure how to mix your own drinks, you can always ask your bartender for help.
- Don't forget to tip your bartender generously while you're at it!
- And last but not least, enjoy your guilt-free drink, and don't forget to take your medicine when you're done.

Making your own guilt-free cocktails is easy, cheap, and offers a lot of variety. Besides, you can even make a batch of Amazing Grace for your pastor or a special occasion. Mixing a guilt-free drink at home is a fun way to incorporate your favorite spirits into your weekly or monthly drink. And with a few adjustments, you can create your very own guilt-free cocktails at home.