Straight out of the 1930's, the Honeymoon Cocktail continues to make me think of an old black and white film where a beauty like Bette Davis or Myrna Loy is swept away by some leading man to her dream honeymoon. It's also quite a fitting cocktail to kick off Valentine's Day week.

Given the name, one may think that the Honeymoon is going to be a tropical drink, but that is not the case. Instead, it is essentially an apple brandy martini, with Benedictine and curacao as a modifier, and lemon for a touch of sour. Close to tropical, yes, there are elements of warm days there and they play nicely off of the the complex herbs of Benedictine and luscious applejack.

For a romantic cocktail that will always be a favorite, the Honeymoon will be a hard drink to replace.

Honeymoon Cocktail recipe...

I have been taking the roll of designated driver a lot lately and that experience, along with a recent article on The American Mixologist (Tapping into the Alcohol-Free Crowd), has made me realize the limited options available to the non-drinker in many bars. Sure, you can have soda, coffee, water, or your choice of juice, but what else is there in the way of non-alcoholic drinks? To find anything mixed with the creativity that alcohol drinks are and that is not a Shirley Temple or a Lime and Tonic is very difficult, though more bars are starting to take notice.

This seems to be one of the growing trends. Consumers who don't drink want to have a good time while out and want something different to drink. Wouldn't it be nice if bars had 2 or 3 classy mocktails or even a boutique soda option? In my recent experience I have been ordering mocktails - or creating them off the cuff - but I have to tell the bartender what I want, which I don't mind. Though when the bar is busy I often get the look of "You want me to do what? I have no time to mix something without booze and you're not going to tip me, are you?" For the average non-drinker this can be a bit more of a challenge and, as The American Mixologist article suggests, it would be nice for establishments to offer NAB options, tell us what they can do. Not only does this offer options to a niche clientele, but it encourages designated driver programs. And, to the tipping point: it is only right that whether a drink contain alcohol or not, the same tip should be applied. Happy non-drinkers are good tippers too.

If as much creativity were put into offering just a handful of quality NAB's that is put into cocktails, the bar experience would be much more enjoyable for those taking the responsible role. There are already many mixed drinks available for bars to throw into their menu, just look at two of the most recent NA cocktail books, Preggatinis and Zero-Proof Cocktails, and The Intoxicologist's collection of mocktails to accent some of the good-old standbys.

Tell me your experience... Do you wish there were more creative options for non-drinkers in bars? Do you know of a place that has a nice NAB menu? What is it like?

Mocktail recipes...

It is not uncommon when you first introduce someone to absinthe for them to ask, "Well, what can you mix with it?" That's a viable question because the anise is so powerful and it often clouds the newcomer's judgment as to what cocktail flavors are possible using it. I'm sure that one many people would not think about is chocolate, but we're not just talking chocolate, let's add a little cream and butterscotch to the mix. And so you have a Mystic Chocolate.

Mystic Chocolate
Photo Courtesy: © Pernod Absinthe

This is a tempting cocktail. There is the novelty of the flavor combination, which is one of those you just don't think about but have to try. Then, once you have a taste, you may just become entranced. It is a layered dessert cocktail that, because of the Pernod Absinthe, has a surprise that wafts out of the sweetness to add a depth of flavor.

With the anise and chocolate, the Mystic Chocolate is an excellent option for an aphrodisiac and would be a great dessert for Valentine's Day. There are two other cocktails I just added from Pernod that would make excellent drinks for lovers as well; The Chrysanthemum and The French Pearl. All have a creative flavor profile that shows that absinthe is more versatile than you may think at first.

Mystic Chocolate cocktail recipe...

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I am in the process of updating the 2010 calendar of bartending and cocktail events. The first quarter is filling up nicely but I know there are more out there for the entire year.

I invite you to tell me about any events you know of by either emailing me at cocktails.guide@about.com or leaving a comment.

Events that will be considered are...

• Bartending classes/courses/training
• Spirit related conferences and conventions
• Bartending and cocktail competitions
• Other cocktail related events with a broad appeal (no local bar promotions please)

Thanks in advance.

Cocktail and Bartending Event Calendar 2010...