Vegan Cocktails - Guilt-Free Indulgence

Do you love delicious cocktails as much as we do, and is animal welfare just as important to you? Then we want to dedicate today's article to you and all other readers for whom veganism is still unfamiliar in this context – or who would like to be inspired to prepare their next cocktails without animal ingredients.

The vegan lifestyle is on everyone's lips today and involves far more than "just" abstaining from animal foods. Many everyday products are manufactured, prepared, or processed using raw materials and ingredients of animal origin. Most of the time, it's not really clear whether a particular product is actually vegan. A positive trend, however, is that more and more manufacturers are adding labels or indications to their product packaging to inform consumers that it is a vegan product.

Basically, the term "vegan" means that no animals were killed, exploited, or otherwise used or suffered for the production of a product. Unlike vegetarians, who also use animal products such as milk, butter, yogurt, or honey, vegans completely abstain from animal products. Therefore, when preparing vegan cocktails, it is important to ensure that all ingredients are free of these ingredients. Here is a brief overview of what has no place in a vegan cocktail:

This includes everything made from the milk (or its components) of dairy cattle; be it yogurt, whipped cream, etc. These often form a basic ingredient of many liqueurs and syrups, with the help of which a certain consistency of food and beverages is achieved. The situation is similar with eggs. These are also often an ingredient in beverages (keyword creaminess), which is why you should keep in mind that vegan cocktails should not contain any egg-based ingredients.

Honey is created when bees collect nectar and honeydew from plants, enrich it with enzymes, and later store it in their honeycombs. So much for the greatly shortened production process. However, as a vegan, you don't want to consume any products that are based on the exploitation of animals. In this respect, honey is also taboo for vegans.

The ingredient that makes many sweets soft and gives cake fillings a certain creamy consistency is called gelatin. This is basically nothing more than bone marrow and cartilage from the bones of cattle and pigs. This transparent, jelly-like substance is tasteless and is used in many foods because it is a cheap by-product of the meat industry and easy to process. Understandably, vegans do not use or consume any products containing gelatin.

But don't worry! Innovative, creative, and motivated food and beverage manufacturers who care deeply about animal welfare are constantly bringing new animal-friendly, alternative products to the market, so that nowadays, as a vegan, you can easily prepare almost any dish – and any delicious cocktail recipe – vegan. In addition to a now huge range of plant-based milk alternatives, there are also numerous products such as agave syrup or maple syrup that can easily replace honey. Gelatin, for example, can be easily replaced by various products based on agar-agar, pectin, starch, or similar. Which vegan alternative is best used for a recipe depends on the recipe itself. The exciting motto here is: trial and error! Vegan cocktails are therefore not only easy to prepare, but also a great way to reduce your consumption of animal products and try something new at the same time.

As far as alcohol is concerned, most alcoholic beverages are naturally vegan. However, it should be noted that gelatin is used for the fining process of some sparkling wines or wines, so you should read the respective bottle label carefully or research online to be on the safe side. Distilled beverages such as vodka, whisky or gin are usually vegan. If beer is brewed according to the German Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot), it is also suitable for all vegans. However, care should be taken with beer from third countries or mead (honey beer).

Vegan cocktails also offer the great advantage that they can be enjoyed by everyone. Both vegetarians and people with lactose intolerance can enjoy vegan cocktails without hesitation.

The recipes of many cocktails are already naturally vegan – and you'll be surprised to find that you probably already know most of them and have probably already drunk them. World-famous cocktail classics like the Mojito, Margarita, Cosmopolitan and Long Island Iced Tea are completely vegan and therefore animal-friendly.

Mmm... Cuba, white sand beach, coconuts, and sipping a Mojito with pleasure. The Mojito is world-famous and, what's more, vegan, making it an excellent cocktail for your next (vegan) garden party. Its basic recipe already comes without any animal ingredients, so you don't need any vegan alternative products.

 

Preparation

1. Put the lime juice and cane sugar along with the mint leaves into a long drink glass and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Be careful not to crush the Mojito mint.
2. Now add the rum and let the glass stand for a few minutes. The alcohol will now release more aromas from the Mojito mint.
3. Add the crushed ice to the glass and fill it with soda water. Stir gently again.
4. For garnish, place a sprig of Mojito mint in your hand, clap it to release the essential oils, and place it in the glass. Serve with a straw.

 

This cocktail, known for its strength, not only tastes excellent, but it is also completely vegan. Despite this good news, one should – as many of us know – enjoy this cocktail slowly, as it can quickly go to your head.

 

Preparation

1. Fill the highball glass with ice, add all ingredients except the cola, and stir everything well.
2. Fill the glass with cola and finally garnish it with a slice of lime.

 

The Margarita is one of the absolute classics worldwide. Its slightly cloudy color and its sour-sparkling taste come from lemon or lime juice. This vegan cocktail gets its power from a good shot of tequila and Triple Sec. It's best to enjoy a Margarita slowly, as its approx. 25% ABV can quickly make itself felt.

 

Preparation

1. Moisten the rim of the glass with a little water and dip it in sugar to create a sugar rim.
2. Put all ingredients into the shaker and shake everything well.
3. Strain the cocktail into the glass, add the ice cubes and finally garnish the glass with half a lemon slice.

 

This classic, which has been delighting cocktail lovers around the globe for decades (not just since the 90s TV series "Sex and the City"), is primarily characterized by its harmonious combination of citrus aromas and finely bitter notes, perfectly rounded off by its appealing pink color. The Cosmopolitan is simply a classic yet highly modern cocktail that is also enjoyed by vegans.

 

Preparation

1. Add a few ice cubes to the shaker, then add the gin, lemon juice, and raspberry syrup.
2. Shake thoroughly and strain the Cosmopolitan into a martini glass.
3. Finally, garnish your Cosmopolitan with a lemon zest. Voilà, now you can enjoy your vegan cocktail to the fullest.

 

Vegan cocktails are not just a passing trend, but a logical consequence of more and more people wanting to live healthier and placing more value on animals being treated well and not exploited to produce food, etc.

In this respect, it is not surprising that there are also more and more recipes for vegan cocktails that can be enjoyed with a clear conscience, without having to compromise on taste and variety. The following recipes are intended to offer you a (especially delicious) foretaste of the exciting world of vegan cocktails and invite you to try them out.

The Popeye impresses with a perfect balance of bitter and sweet taste and is particularly refreshing. To emphasize its uniqueness, it is best served in an unusual cocktail glass or in a glass tin can. Vegan cocktails like the Popeye are an excellent example of how drinks without any animal ingredients are just as easy to prepare and taste just as fantastic as non-vegan cocktails.

 

Preparation

1. Muddle the mint and shake all ingredients (except Bitter Lemon) well in the shaker.
2. Strain the drink over ice into the glass tin can and top up with Bitter Lemon.
3. Stir carefully and finally garnish the glass with fresh mint and spinach leaves.

 

The following vegan cocktail with the melodious name Promenade took 2nd place (in its alcohol-free version) at the Riemerschmid Null Promille Cup, after impressing the jury with its special balance between vegetables, citrus, and fruits. Its intensely yellow color and sweet-sour taste make it an excellent cocktail for your next garden party.

 

Preparation

1. Muddle the bell pepper and lemongrass in the glass, then add the remaining ingredients and crushed ice.
2. If you have a speed shaker, place it over your glass and shake the drink thoroughly. Alternatively, you can use a regular shaker and then strain the cocktail into the glass.
3. Finally, garnish the glass with a piece of bell pepper, lemongrass, and the mint sprig or an orange zest.

 

As you can see, many cocktails are already vegan by nature, and if you find recipes that are not yet, there are many options and alternatives to prepare your cocktail vegan. To ensure that the alcoholic beverages you use are actually vegan, we recommend visiting barnivore.com or similar websites. To convince yourself that vegan cocktails are in no way inferior to their non-vegan cousins and at the same time contribute to animal welfare, we now invite you to grab your shaker and try out our recipe suggestions.

We wish you good luck and most importantly, enjoy your cocktails.