Summer may be coming to an end, but I’m still chasing down flavors that remind me of warm summer days! I figured you might enjoy having some kombucha cocktail recipes to take with you into the chillier months, because let’s be real, there’s no rules on when you can and can’t enjoy a kombucha cocktail… it’s 5 o’clock somewhere and better yet, it’s summer somewhere as well 😉
Upstart Berry Black Kombucha 
Glass of Mint Green Kombucha Julep 
Upstart Lemon Ginger Kombucha
This is the first time I have shared any recipe on the blog that includes alcohol and I know some of you may be thinking… *gasp* “but Reed, you’re a nutrition coach!!”… yes, yes I am and alcohol is a part of many people’s lives even when they are tracking toward goals. I am all about creating sustainable change in my clients and seeking balance, so the conversation of alcohol actually comes up quite often. Before we dive into these tasty cocktail recipes, let’s chat about booze.
I preach to the 80/20 rule often in my coaching, which means that ideally 80% of your intake is nourishing and unprocessed and 20% is categorized as “fun.” Let’s not fool ourselves… alcohol of any kind falls in the 20%, but the 20% is there for a reason and if you want a cocktail, cold beer or glass of wine, then by all means have it! When you make the choice to enjoy alcohol remember these top tips:
-If you choose an alcoholic beverage to be a part of your 20%, make the choice consciously and guilt-free.
-Remember that moderation is key here, just like with anything. Eating a full order of cheese curds doesn’t leave most people feeling like a million bucks and neither will 6 drinks.
-Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. I talk about water intake so much it’s not even funny and now I sound like your mom talking about it in this context, but seriously people… drink your water when you’re consuming alcohol.
-The richer and/or sweeter the drink tastes, generally, the higher the sugar and calorie content. It’s not to say that you shouldn’t consume these kinds of beverages, but have one, maybe two. Don’t decide that you are going to celebrate someone’s bachelorette party solely sipping on Mike’s Hard Lemonade all night… ya feel me?
-Be careful of what you are mixing your liquors with for cocktails – same rule applies as the point above. Watch out for really high refined-sugar mixers like soda, and be careful of tonic water, because it isn’t much better. One can of cola has 39g of sugar and the same size can of tonic water has 32g of sugar. YIKES. Just because it looks like soda water (which has no sugar), doesn’t mean it is.
-If you are really interested in the carb content of various alcohols, check out this article from Greatist.
-Choose something you enjoy and sip it slowly.
-OR opt for a mocktail (all of the recipes below are incredibly delicious without booze in them) 😉
Ok enough with the nutrition tips, let’s get down to business. Now that you have your head on straight about how to approach alcohol, here are some delicious and simple recipes, all made with Upstart Kombucha. It is made in Boulder, CO (gotta love celebrating local brands) and it is the perfect balance of not too sweet, not too vinegary, not too fizzy. It was ideal for these cocktail creations! I first tried the rosebud flavor at an adorable little taproom in Denver and was officially hooked from the first sip. When I’m not doing work in a cute kombucha taproom, I always grab a few bottles of Upstart at Whole Foods, Natural Grocers or King Soopers!
Once you have your Upstart Kombucha you are ready to rock & roll… every one of these recipes is made with a combination of no-carb liquors, sparkling kombucha, freshly squeezed fruit juices and herbs, so they will allow your 20% choice to be far better than some other options. Let’s get mixing!
- 1 oz gin (a floral gin works well)
- 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
- 1 bottle Upstart Rose Bud Kombucha
- Garnish: orange wedge and an edible flower
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Combine the gin and fresh-squeezed orange juice into a cocktail shaker with ice.
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Shake and pour into a glass.
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Top with Upstart Rose Bud Kombucha (at least 4 ounces).
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Optional: garnish with an orange wedge and an edible flower.
Upstart Rose Bud Kombucha 
Rosebud Orange Refresher Close Up 
Holding Glass of Rosebud Orange Refresher
- 1 oz reposado tequila
- 1/4 cup blackberries (~5 berries)
- 2 Tbsp lime juice
- 1 bottle Upstart Berry Black Kombucha
- Garnish: lime wedge
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Muddle the blackberries and lime juice with a spoon in a cocktail shaker.
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Add the tequila and ice.
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Shake and pour into a glass.
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Top with Upstart Berry Black Kombucha (at least 4 ounces).
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Optional: garnish with a lime wedge.
- 1 oz bourbon
- 5 mint leaves
- 1/4 tsp stevia
- 1 bottle Upstart Mint Green Kombucha
- Garnish: mint leaf
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Chiffonade the mint leaves and muddle them with the bourbon and stevia in a cocktail shaker.
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Add ice, shake and pour into a glass.
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Top with Upstart Mint Green Kombucha (at least 4 ounces).
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Optional: garnish with a mint leaf.
Upstart Mint Green Kombucha 
Glass of Mint Green Kombucha Julep 
Mint Green Kombucha Julep
- 1 oz vodka
- 2 Tbsp fresh grapefruit juice
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/8 tsp freshly grated ginger
- Garnish: lemon wedge
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Combine the vodka, fresh squeezed grapefruit & lemon juices and ginger into a cocktail shaker with ice.
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Shake and pour into a glass.
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Top with Upstart Lemon Ginger Kombucha (at least 4 ounces).
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Optional: garnish with a lemon wedge.
If you get mixin’ any time soon remember to share your kombucha cocktail creations on social media with #fitfeedbyreed and tag @fitfeedbyreed along with @upstartkombucha <3
Looking for another refreshing beverage to whip up? Check out this recipe for an Energizing Tropical Smoothie!
The Answer to What’s Holding You Back
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Thank you!