Yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. day here in the US and I can’t think of a time in my lifetime when we needed to focus on Dr. King’s message as a country than right now. But you know what yesterday also was? The day the 18th amendment, prohibiting alcohol was ratified in 1919. As time told, this amendment changed the course of American history: the roaring twenties, bootleggers and the rise of organized crime syndicated, the Kennedys, HBO’s hit, Boardwalk Empire! I’m sure those teetotalers had no idea what they were in for.  Well now we have the right to choose and many people choose to have a dry January in light of all the indulgences over holiday season.

If you’re one of those people, here are some yummy mocktails that will get you through dry January infused with healthy things like turmeric and mango! I’d definitely bookmark some of these recipes as they’re perfectly refreshing on a summer afternoon or even fun mocktails for a baby shower!

Casablanca created by Ray Sakover for Slowly Shirley

photo by Nick Voderman

• 3/4 oz lemon
• 1/2 tsp turmeric juice
• 1/4 oz honey
• 1 oz date-demerara syrup
• 2-3/8 oz Moroccan syrup

Pour over a pebble ice in a collins glass. Garnish with a date wrapped in lemon twist and cinnamon / mint palm tree.

Salted Rosemary Paloma created by Naren Young for Dante

• 2 oz grapefruit juice
• 1/2 oz salted rosemary syrup
  • 70 oz water
  • 30 oz sugar
  • 3 rosemary sprigs
  • 3.5 oz maldon salt
  • bring these ingredients to a low boil. Turn off immediately and allow to cool. Strain and store in the fridge. Lasts 2 months.
• Top with Perrier

Pour over several ice cubes into a highball glass with a citrus salt rim. Garnish with a grapefruit slice.

Eastside created by John McCarthy for Greydon House, Nantucket

• 1 oz cucumber
• 1 oz lime
• top sparkling water

photo by Tim Williams

Pour over ice cubes in the highball glass. Garnish with a cucumber slice. Slap a mint sprig and insert.

Mango Chao available at Chao Chao

• 3 oz mango kaffir shrub
  • 2 cups of mango
  • 1 cup Kaffir lime leave
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup mirin
  • 1 1/2 cups rice vinegar
  • bring ingredients to a simmer and then strain
• top club soda

Pour over ice cubes in a highball glass. Salt the rim and garnish with a lime wheel.

Mexican B.B. Gun  created by James Horn for Añejo, Tribeca 

• 1 oz house-made grenadine
• 1 oz fresh lime
• top with soda water

Pour over ice cubes into a highball glass. Garnish with lime wedge.