After cold winters filled with hearty meals, rich snacks, and hot drinks, we often crave something light to brighten up our palates. As the spring season begins to bloom, it brings warmer weather, colourful growth, fresh local produce, and cravings for vibrant flavours. Crisp, fruity salads, grilled proteins, and refreshing sippers make their return just in time for spring. Every Farm Boy is abundant with the highest quality fruits and veggies, along with an expertly curated selection of products that will surprise and delight your taste buds. Come on in to our stores to discover a fun, inspiring experience where you’ll find just what you need—and even more to love!
Whether paired with a meal at home or enjoyed at a lively gathering, a thirst-quenching beverage is a must for any occasion. Just as the seasons change, so do our tastes! Endlessly customizable and bound only by your creativity, mocktails and mixed drinks are the perfect vehicle for a seasonal twist. Our shelves are stocked with a variety of non-alcoholic beverages that deliver the authentic taste of your favourites without the buzz! They’re perfect on their own, jazzed up with a funky garnish, or when incorporated into a delicious recipe. Explore our line of mocktails, sparkling beverages, and more below, along with some bar-worthy ideas that you’re surely going to want to try.
Cocktail Essentials: Garnish
Fresh Herbs & Edible Flowers
Herbs and edible flowers can impart a fresh, aromatic component to flavoured water and mixed drinks alike. Depending on the intended purpose, they can elevate a simple beverage to a signature cocktail with ease. Ranging from sweet to floral, add these beauties to your next sippable creations.
Basil
Profile: Sweet and slightly peppery, it’s a popular herb to pair with citrusy or savoury drinks.
Thyme
Profile: Earthy with hints of lemon and mint, use thyme in sweet, sour, or spicy beverages!
Rosemary
Profile: Robust and versatile, it has a minty quality that rounds out drinks that are on the tangy or sweet side. Think of apple, lemon, lime, or pear-based mocktails.
Mint
Profile: Refreshing and cooling, it works well with drinks that feature tangy or spicy ingredients. Level up our Zero-Proof Mojito with some fresh mint and a spritz of lime!
Cilantro
Profile: Bright with grassy notes, cilantro can add a clean, refreshing quality to drinks with strong flavours like lime, chili, or tomato.
Sage
Profile: Aromatic, sweet, with earthy spearmint notes. Sage goes wonderfully with blueberry, cranberry, cucumber, and elderberry.
Fresh or Dried Fruit
Our Produce Department offers the freshest selection of produce, delivered daily from the markets. Virtually any fruit—and many vegetables—can be used as a garnish or ingredient for your favourite recipes. An easy way to accent your mocktails is to add a slice or wedge of fruit to hang off the rim of your glass. Popular options include berries, citrus fruits, melons, pineapples, and more!
The peel and zest of a lemon, lime, or orange also makes for an aromatic, colourful drink topper. A staple at most bars, learn to create a fancy citrus peel twist or garnish by watching this video. Another way to elevate any beverage is to finish it off with a piece of “dried citrus slice”. They not only add a lovely scent, but also impart a slow-releasing flavour that enhances overall taste. Discover how to make your own by visiting our How To Make Dried Fruit Slices blog.
Around the Rim
A great way to wow your guests and add a delicious flourish to your mixed drinks is to garnish the rim of your glass. This technique often accents your cocktails or mocktails with a complementary or contrasting flavour, adding complexity to their overall profile. Though there are many ways to do it, the concept remains the same! Take a liquid or sticky element and trace it around the mouth of your glass. Next, decorate the rim by sprinkling your garnish over it or dunking the glass directly into a dish filled with your desired ingredients.
Rim Starters
Lemon or Lime
Take a wedge of lemon, lime, or any citrus fruit and gently moisten the edge of your glass with it. Using a very light squeezing posture and with your citrus wedge in hand, move the flesh side of your fruit around the mouth/rim of your glass. After this step, your rim is ready to be decorated with your garnish. Lemon or lime are popular choices due to their versatility, pairing well with many ingredients and drinks. Their tart, zesty flavour will liven up your palate and is excellent with salty, sweet, or spicy garnishes.
Simple Syrup
Another use for simple syrup is as the sticky element for garnishing cocktail glass rims! It’s sturdy enough for heavier types of garnishes and adds a hint of sweetness to the palate, complementing sweet beverages or contrasting those that are bitter, savoury, spicy, or tart.
Farm Boy™ Maple Caramel Spread
Looking to incorporate a bit of a Canadian twist to your mocktails? Try using our smooth, luscious Maple Caramel Spread! Rich, decadent, and crafted with pure Canadian maple syrup, it has that classic maple flavour and aroma that’ll make any drink stand out.
Rim Garnishes
Farm Boy™ Fleur De Sel Premium Sea Salt
Salt is often a go-to garnish because it does a wonderful job of cleansing the palate and, of course, adding salinity to your beverage’s flavour profile. We recommend using our Fleur De Sel Premium Sea Salt. Its savoury taste and slow-dissolving quality will turn any run-of-the-mill mocktail into a memorable experience!
Sugar
Made by us in small batches, our plant-based pesto is full of simple ingredients like basil, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, pumpkin seeds, and spinach. Versatile and full of fresh flavours, use it for pastas, salads, wraps, and more.
Sweet Chili Salt
Create an unforgettable savoury blend by combining salt, sugar, and a pinch of our Farm Boy™ Organic Cayenne Pepper or Farm Boy™ Organic Chili Powder. This mixture goes well with tangy, tropical, or sweet flavours.
Farm Boy™ Everything Bagel Seasoning Mix
AElevate savoury cocktails like Bloody Marys, Caesars, and Spicy Margaritas with our Everything Bagel Seasoning! This versatile topping is a textural wonderland that’s brimming with poppy and sesame seeds, dehydrated garlic and onion, and a touch of salt!
Farm Boy™ Maple Sugar
Crafted with just one ingredient—pure Canadian maple syrup! This naturally sweet, golden sugar is a great choice to pair with apple-based martinis or ciders.
How To Make Simple Syrup
Simple syrup is incredibly easy to make and is essential for crafting mixed beverages like cocktails or mocktails. The subtle addition of simple syrup enhances the complexity of your sippers without overpowering them! It adds sweetness and depth to balance the bitter, savoury, spicy, or tart elements of your drink. To make this sweet ingredient even more special, try infusing it with your favourite flavours.
Instructions:
- In a pot on medium-high heat, add 1-part water to 1-part sugar (or sweetener like Erythritol).
- Cook until sugar is fully dissolved, and the syrup comes to a light boil/simmer.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Transfer the syrup into a bottle or airtight container.
- The syrup keeps for about 1 month in the fridge.
Optional: if you are looking to create flavour-infused versions, add your ingredients directly into your pot during simmering or the cooling down process. Allow them to steep in your hot syrup—two hours or more is recommended. Once cool, strain to remove any particles and transfer to an airtight container.
Flavoured Syrup Ideas
Lavender
Floral and sweet, this flower adds a delicate, anise-like touch to beverages. It pairs excellently with citrus fruits, berries, honey, vanilla, and herbs such as thyme or rosemary.
Chili Pepper
Use a couple of slices of fresh chili pepper to impart a warm spice to your syrup. The spicy flavour complements salty and sour ingredients and enhances sweet elements. We recommend Fresno chilis, jalapeños, or Thai chilis.
Ginger
Warm, slightly spicy, and a touch bitter, ginger is a natural partner for beverages featuring herbs or fruit!
Coffee
Bold with a distinctive aroma and flavour, coffee is a fantastic addition to sweet or creamy beverages. It goes especially with caramel, chocolate, or sweet spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Try using this syrup in a non-alcoholic version of an Espresso Martini, Mudslide, or White Russian.
Rosemary
Herbaceous with a robust, pine-like aroma, rosemary’s earthy, minty, and peppery notes allow it to be used in sweet or savoury recipes. It pairs well with citrus fruits, floral or spicy flavours, tomatoe, and more.
Our Favourite Non-alcoholic Beverages for Spring
Farm Boy™ Cherry Whiskyless Sour Zero Proof Cocktail
Tart and refreshing, our Cherry Whiskyless Sour is zero-proof in terms of alcohol but 100 proof in flavour! Enjoy it on the rocks as-is, incorporated into mixed drinks, or leveled up with some garnish.
Tasting tip:
Take the cherry flavour up a notch and use a mix of frozen cherries and ice as your chilling element. Add a splash of cherry or pomegranate juice for an extra punch of sweet tartness. For the rim of your glass, use our Pomegranate Molasses and coarse sugar to garnish.
Farm Boy™ IPA Non-Alcoholic Beer
Made locally with aromatic hops and bready malts, our IPA Non-Alcoholic Beer has a full-bodied, craft-style taste. Excellent on its own, you can also amplify its smooth, tropical notes by utilizing it in “beertail” recipes!
Tasting tip:
Beermosa – In a mixing glass, add 1 can of Farm Boy™ IPA Non-Alcoholic Beer and a ½ cup of Farm Boy™ Orange Juice. Gently stir and pour into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a piece of twisted orange zest.
Beer Tropicale – Play up the tropical notes by adding 1-part Farm Boy™ IPA Non-Alcoholic Beer to 1-part Farm Boy™ Organic Pineapple Coconut Kombucha. Garnish with a wedge of grilled pineapple.
Farm Boy™ Rosé Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Beverage
Expertly crafted using traditional recipes and techniques, our line of Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wines has an authentic flavour. Light and well-balanced, enjoy our Rosé on its own or jazzed up in a mixed drink!
Tasting tip:
Rosé Paloma – In a glass on the rocks, pour 1-part Non-Alcoholic Rosé with 1-part Farm Boy™ Paloma Zero Proof Cocktail. Optional: Add a slice or two of blood orange in your glass for a touch of citrus flavour and aroma. Garnish the rim of your glass with our Pomegranate Molasses and coarse sugar.
Non-Alcoholic Cocktail Inspirations
A Spicy Margarita But Make It Sparkle
We’ve given this trendy drink “A Farm Boy Fresh Twist” thanks to the addition of our Cucumber Melon Flavoured Sparkling Water. A customer favourite, it gives our mocktail a crisp, refreshing quality with an effervescent finish. In a shaker, combine simple syrup (or agave), jalapeño slices, lime juice, and a slice of cucumber. Muddle the ingredients until the flavours and aromas are released, then add water (or lemonade) and a few ice cubes. Shake until chilled. Strain and pour into an ice-filled, salt-rimmed glass—we recommend a chili-based garnish—and top with sparkling water.
Ingredients
- 3 oz (1/3 cup) Farm Boy™ Cucumber Melon Flavoured Sparkling Water
- 1 oz (2 Tbsp) Farm Boy™ Organic Lime Juice
- 1 oz (2 Tbsp) water (or Farm Boy™ Lemonade)
- 3/4 oz (1 ½ Tbsp) simple syrup
- 1 slice of jalapeño
- 1 slice of cucumber
- Garnish with: Sweet Chili Salt (see above)
“A Farm Boy Fresh Twist” on a Vitamin Parade
Discover this bright, punchy, and revitalizing non-alcoholic recipe! Packed with wholesome ingredients and knockout flavours, this alcohol-free cocktail is sure to impress. With a fancy look and vibrant appeal, it’s bound to become a staple in your mixed drink repertoire. Our shelves are full of products to help you effortlessly craft this colourful libation!
Just pour your ingredients (except the Ginger Beer) into a shaker and shake until well incorporated and foam forms. If you are not using egg white, foam will not form or be very minimal. Next, add ice to the shaker and shake once again until chilled. Fine-strain your beverage into a glass filled with ice, garnish, and enjoy.
Ingredients
- 2 oz (¼ cup) Farm Boy™ Carrot Juice
- Farm Boy™ Ginger Beer Soda (to top off)
- ¾ oz (1 ½ Tbsp) fresh lemon juice
- 1 lemon peel twist (to finish)
- ½ oz (1 Tbsp) simple syrup (we recommend cinnamon or nutmeg-spiced)
- 1 oz (2 Tbsp) pineapple juice (substitutes: Farm Boy™ Orange Mango Juice or Farm Boy™ Pear Juice)
- 1 organic egg white (optional)
- Garnish: pineapple wedge
Featured Farm Boy Recipe: Fruity Earl Grey Iced Tea
Indulge in a bouquet of flavour with our Fruity Earl Grey Iced Tea recipe! Floral and tangy, it’s a delightful combination of chilled black tea, fresh orange juice, and a medley of ripe fruits. A simple crowd-pleaser, whip up a large batch and serve it in a pitcher or a punch bowl during gatherings. Serve this thirst-quenching sipper on the rocks or elevate it with flavoured ice cubes!
Full recipe here.
