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You are here: Home / Recipes / Non-Alcoholic Cocktails with Borrago

Non-Alcoholic Cocktails with Borrago

January 19, 2019 by Sarah James 97 Comments

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Last Updated on December 22, 2019 by Fiona Maclean

Borrago for Dry January (or any sober day/week/month!)

Like many people, I feel that the New Year is a good time to break bad habits and instil some new better ones. I have to admit to being guilty of having a G&T when I get home from work, and then wine with dinner most evenings. I want to start only having alcohol if we are socialising at home, or are going out. So I’ve jumped on the ‘Dry January’ bandwagon. So far I’ve only strayed once, when out at a stunning new Indian restaurant in Chelsea, Kahani, with Fiona. I’m not saying that she’s a bad influence, but…

It can be hard though to find something non-alcoholic as a replacement, especially if like me you don’t particularly like sweet drinks. We were sent a bottle of Borrago to make some cocktails. It certainly seemed to tick all the boxes; no alcohol, no sugar, no fat and no calories, yet claiming to be a non-alcoholic spirit substitute for gin or vodka. I tasted a little of the Borrago neat, and it reminded me more of a Fernet Stock than either gin or vodka.

Borrago - Non-alcoholic Blood Orange BorragotiniI started with a seasonal blood orange Borragotini made with the first blood oranges I’ve seen this year. I put ice, orange zest and the juice of one orange into a cocktail shaker, added 50ml of the Borrago, a little simple sugar syrup and gave it a good shake. After pouring I added just a dash of tonic water. This was like the first taste of spring. For a longer drink, you could use a champagne flute and add non-alcoholic sparkling wine to make a blood orange Borrago  Buck’s Fizz.

Borrago - Non-alcoholic Espresso BorragotiniI then thought that it’d be fun to try making a non-alcoholic espresso martini. This was simply 50ml of the Borrago, 50 ml of coffee cold brew concentrate, and 15 ml of sugar syrup, all shaken together over ice and garnished with 3 coffee beans. In retrospect, I think I’d only use 25-30ml of the Borrago as it’s quite a powerful taste.

Borrago - Rhubarb BorragolinniI’d frozen an ice cube tray full of rhubarb puree in the summer, and used some of these in a non-alcoholic version of a Bellini. For this, I added 4 cubes of defrosted rhubarb puree to 50ml of the Borrago, mixed it, and then added soda water and stirred. Another time, I think that this would be better with a non-alcoholic sparkling wine and again, probably only 25- 30ml of Borrago.

For those interested in the background to this zero sugar, zero calories and zero alcohol drink,  Borrago is a new botanical spirit created by Tom Tuke-Hastings who started off in food. He loves entertaining, but now that he has two small children and lives in the countryside, he decided it was important to have a drink that wouldn’t leave him with a hangover and would allow him and anyone visiting to drink something special and still be able to drive home. He set out to create a drink worth celebrating with. Borrago is named after borage, a beautiful herb with a bluey-purple edible flower which you may have seen in cocktails like this Pimms spritz. It has a cucumber taste and you can use the leaves to make soup or in salad too.

Here’s a printable version of our recipe for a non-alcoholic espresso martini.

4.8 from 34 votes
Borrago - non-alcoholic Espresso Borragotini
Print
Non-Alcoholic Espresso Martini
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

An easy non-alcoholic espresso martini made with Borrago

Course: Cocktail
Cuisine: British
Keyword: coffee, non-alcoholic
Servings: 1
Calories: 40 kcal
Author: Sarah James
Ingredients
Ingredients
  • 25-50 ml Borrago
  • 50 ml Cold coffee concentrate or chilled espresso
  • 15 ml Simple Syrup made with 1 part sugar to 1 part water heated to just below boiling until the sugar dissolves
  • 3 Coffee Beans
  • Ice
Instructions
Method
  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
  2. Place all the ingredients except the coffee beans into the shaker
  3. Shake well for at least 30 seconds
  4. Strain and serve in a martini glass
  5. Garnish with 3 coffee beans

Borrago retails for  £19.99 for a 500ml bottle, so really not too pricy!  Do let me know in the comments what you’d make with a bottle of Borrago.

Filed Under: Cocktails and Drinks, Recipes Tagged With: cocktail, non-alcoholic

About Sarah James

Sarah works full time in the NHS as a serious education and organisation development director. When she lets her hair down it’s to indie bands, preferably live, as she seeks to retain her rock chic status. Sarah makes a mean cocktail and loves trying out new food and drink recipes. Out and about she’s often found sipping champagne, fuelling her curry addiction, and enjoying fine dining. Sarah loves exploring both in the UK and abroad, especially places that are off the beaten track, and/or offer fantastic local food and drink.

Comments

  1. Ritchie Dee says

    April 22, 2020 at 7:36 pm

    I’ve had non-alcoholic wine, beer and cider but not spirits so I’d love to try this.

    Reply
  2. Adrian Bold says

    February 18, 2019 at 11:21 pm

    Great recipe, I’ll have to give this a try. Thanks for the competition!

    Reply
  3. Georgie Wright says

    February 18, 2019 at 10:49 pm

    I think I’d love the Non-Alcoholic Espresso Martini! g

    Reply
  4. Georgie Wright says

    February 18, 2019 at 10:47 pm

    I’d adapt a French 75 cocktail to make it ‘Italian’ by switching Champagne for Prosecco and using Amalfi lemons!

    Reply
  5. Tammy Neal says

    February 18, 2019 at 9:47 pm

    I’d love to try the blood orange recipe

    Reply
  6. chris bull says

    February 18, 2019 at 8:41 pm

    I would add espresso and top with spray cream and chocolate curls

    Reply
  7. jules eley says

    February 18, 2019 at 8:40 pm

    I do love Blood oranges and that sounds amazing… not sure how I would make the cocktails more italian I am rubbish at putting flavours together but I am a great tester … hehe

    Reply
  8. Simone Griffin says

    February 18, 2019 at 8:36 pm

    I’d love to try the blood orange recipe x

    Reply
  9. Lynn Jones says

    February 18, 2019 at 7:54 pm

    Espresso Martini sounds delicious

    Reply
  10. sharon martin says

    February 18, 2019 at 7:38 pm

    your recipe sounds lovely and tasty, the coffee adds a decidedly italian touch for me

    Reply
  11. Donna Tomlin says

    February 18, 2019 at 4:01 pm

    It contains coffee so this is right up my street and worth trying.

    Reply
  12. Gillian Hay says

    February 18, 2019 at 2:08 pm

    you got me at coffee

    Reply
  13. Chirag Patel says

    February 18, 2019 at 1:59 pm

    Add limoncello

    Reply
  14. Angela Kelly says

    February 18, 2019 at 1:50 pm

    I’d love to try this and see how it matches up to the alcoholic version!

    Reply
  15. paula cheadle says

    February 18, 2019 at 12:28 pm

    I love the sound of the espresso martini

    Reply
  16. Laura Avery says

    February 18, 2019 at 11:24 am

    Booze free spirits? Sounds excellent!

    Reply
  17. Rebecca Heminway says

    February 18, 2019 at 8:58 am

    This espresso martini recipe with none of the alcohol is exactly what I needed! Trying to go dry for my health 🙂

    Reply
  18. Daisy Craydon says

    February 18, 2019 at 8:48 am

    The one with Rhubarb Purée sounds delightful 💕🙌🏻

    Reply
  19. Sue Carter says

    February 18, 2019 at 8:44 am

    I think I’d try a virgin Tom Collins 🍸

    Reply
  20. Lucy Chester says

    February 18, 2019 at 8:11 am

    I would add oranges sliced up and lots of ice

    Reply
  21. Gaynor Vincent says

    February 18, 2019 at 7:56 am

    Id love to try your recipee – its great there are some non-alcoholic ones out there!

    Reply
  22. sarah parker says

    February 18, 2019 at 6:44 am

    limoncello added would be great 🙂

    Reply
  23. ellie spider says

    February 18, 2019 at 12:05 am

    the Borragotini sounds lovely and I think this is probably something I would make and enjoy

    Reply
  24. Deborah Preston says

    February 17, 2019 at 10:55 pm

    I like the sound of the one you made with rhubarb puree.

    Reply
  25. James Travis says

    February 17, 2019 at 10:00 pm

    Add some limoncello

    Reply
  26. Ann-Marie Downie says

    February 17, 2019 at 9:21 pm

    35ml Borrago #47 Paloma Blend. 25ml pink grapefruit juice. 20ml charred lemon juice. 15ml basil syrup. double Dutch pomegranate. basil tonic.

    Reply
  27. Ann-Marie Downie says

    February 17, 2019 at 9:20 pm

    lovely prize

    Reply
  28. Emma Davison says

    February 17, 2019 at 9:06 pm

    I love oranges. Citrus is v italian

    Reply
  29. Debbie W says

    February 17, 2019 at 7:35 pm

    Um… spaghetti????? (Misses the point completely.)

    Reply
  30. TRACY MANNING says

    February 17, 2019 at 7:11 pm

    I would put some chopped fresh mint in it.

    Reply
  31. Alison says

    February 17, 2019 at 7:00 pm

    This looks lovely. When thinking of Italy Aperol comes to mind so would include that in some way

    Reply
  32. Jessica Hutton says

    February 17, 2019 at 5:32 pm

    I think your version sounds lovely. I bet it’s very tasty

    Reply
  33. alisa moore says

    February 17, 2019 at 4:41 pm

    It sounds very sophisticated like most Italian things!

    Reply
  34. Susan Hoggett says

    February 17, 2019 at 3:49 pm

    I love your version and can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
  35. Theresa M says

    February 17, 2019 at 2:38 pm

    Nothing says ‘Italy’ more than coffee (other than Pizza and that is never going to happen) so I would add coffee or coffee flavouring and I’d make sure the lemon juice used was from Sorrento lemons.

    Reply
  36. katie w says

    February 17, 2019 at 9:59 am

    Sounds lush hopefully will get to make it

    Reply
  37. Sheri Darby says

    February 15, 2019 at 9:18 pm

    It sounds perfect

    Reply
  38. Alison says

    February 15, 2019 at 2:34 pm

    I think aperol with a twist would work well

    Reply
  39. Susan Willshee says

    February 14, 2019 at 7:59 pm

    I’d adapt a French 75 by swapping the champagne for Campari

    Reply
  40. Hannah Igoe says

    February 14, 2019 at 4:23 pm

    I like your recipe its a little different

    Reply
  41. Emily Fraser says

    February 14, 2019 at 1:40 pm

    I would add Aperol 🙂

    Reply
  42. Nadia Josephine says

    February 13, 2019 at 1:40 pm

    I would maybe use prosecco instead (I do love proseco!) I will definitely enjoy this cocktail

    Reply
  43. Rachel White says

    February 12, 2019 at 4:14 pm

    I’d drink it while eating amaretto biscuits!

    Reply
  44. Caroline says

    February 12, 2019 at 12:38 pm

    I’d replace the champagne with Prosecco

    Reply
  45. Rose H says

    February 12, 2019 at 12:10 pm

    By pairing it with some pizza pazza !!

    Reply
  46. Carolyn E says

    February 10, 2019 at 9:49 pm

    Just add aperol to French 75 and it will be bellamisso italiano

    Reply
  47. Lisa Wilkinson says

    February 9, 2019 at 9:03 pm

    I would add the juice of italian oranges

    Reply
  48. Maxine G says

    February 9, 2019 at 5:48 pm

    Just drinking it with a great vodka tomato penne dish would be perfect!

    Reply
  49. twirlywhirly says

    February 6, 2019 at 3:06 pm

    not tried this yet but def on my to drink list 🙂

    Reply
  50. Jacqueline Rawlings says

    February 4, 2019 at 4:41 pm

    I wouldn’t change anything , absolutely nothing. It looks Devine xxx

    Reply
  51. Carole Nott says

    February 3, 2019 at 8:43 pm

    The recipe looks delicious – just perfect as it is

    Reply
  52. Helen Belton says

    February 2, 2019 at 8:51 pm

    I actually would not want to change the recipe as it sounds lovely as it is

    Reply
  53. Ash R says

    February 2, 2019 at 1:15 pm

    Your recipe looks divine, i will have to give it a try 🙂 I think refreshing but strong flavours make a fab italian cocktail x

    Reply
  54. leanne weir says

    February 1, 2019 at 10:00 pm

    I would add a little red wine to make italian!

    Reply
  55. Laura Bryant says

    January 30, 2019 at 6:10 pm

    Live the id as always. Ice to try something different

    Reply
  56. Zoey P says

    January 29, 2019 at 6:30 am

    I’d add lemonchello instead for an Italian twist

    Reply
  57. Margaret Gallagher says

    January 29, 2019 at 12:36 am

    SIMPLY devine espresso coffee all the way

    Reply
  58. Amanda Tanner says

    January 28, 2019 at 10:02 pm

    I enjoy making porn star martinis so would try using this instead of vodka

    Reply
  59. Natalie Crossan says

    January 28, 2019 at 8:05 pm

    I definitely agree with others, espresso coffee

    Reply
  60. Dale Dow says

    January 28, 2019 at 1:29 pm

    The recipe sounds lovely and reminds me of the drinks I had myself in Italy!

    Reply
  61. Rich Tyler says

    January 28, 2019 at 10:46 am

    Maybe Espresso coffee?

    Reply
  62. Karen R says

    January 28, 2019 at 10:20 am

    My daughter’s just turned 18 and her attitude to alcohol is so refreshing. She just doesn’t need it! The more delicious non alcoholic drinks available the better!

    Reply
  63. Tim A says

    January 27, 2019 at 6:21 pm

    I would love this. I’d add an olive maybe but otherwise try with Grissini

    Reply
  64. betsy ferguson says

    January 27, 2019 at 6:07 pm

    i would add olives and take it with me next time my sister invites me to dinner x

    Reply
  65. Zoe Payne says

    January 27, 2019 at 5:59 pm

    i would add some herbs

    Reply
  66. Jo Carroll says

    January 27, 2019 at 4:18 pm

    I’d simply add an Italian olive on a cocktail stick and e voilà!

    Reply
  67. Jean Cassell says

    January 27, 2019 at 3:50 pm

    I’d add lemon juice and an olive

    Reply
  68. Caroline H says

    January 27, 2019 at 2:20 pm

    As a big fan of espresso martini, I love the sound of that cocktail. I’ll look out for Borrago because I don’t always want an alcoholic drink but I’m not keen on fizzy sugary soft drinks either.

    Reply
  69. Matt Blogg says

    January 27, 2019 at 1:49 pm

    Espresso coffee

    Reply
  70. Suzanne Jackson says

    January 27, 2019 at 1:37 pm

    Recipe sounds lovely – I’m pregnant so be nice to be able to have a cocktail 🙂

    Reply
  71. nicola dean says

    January 27, 2019 at 1:19 pm

    This looks so tasty and sunny like in Italy.

    Reply
  72. Bob Clark says

    January 27, 2019 at 1:07 pm

    so romantic therefore so Italian

    Reply
  73. Laura Banks says

    January 27, 2019 at 11:18 am

    as abig coffee drinker this would make the perfect cocktail for me

    Reply
  74. Rena Plumridge says

    January 27, 2019 at 10:02 am

    Would add Amalfi lemons.

    Reply
  75. Jemma says

    January 27, 2019 at 8:51 am

    Normally wouldn’t go for something like this but this sounds great!

    Reply
  76. Mariel Pereira says

    January 27, 2019 at 7:41 am

    Will try your recipe: it sounds yummy!

    Reply
  77. Mark Cameron says

    January 27, 2019 at 4:06 am

    espresso coffee would be added

    Reply
  78. Lindsey Lightfoot says

    January 25, 2019 at 11:20 am

    Look amazing. I am 25 days into Dry January and really want to take it into February so this would be just the job.

    Reply
  79. jacqui rushton says

    January 25, 2019 at 5:44 am

    Good quality liquor and fresh fruits make the perfect cocktails

    Reply
  80. Charlotte says

    January 23, 2019 at 9:53 am

    id love to try this one as i love coffee mmm

    Reply
  81. cheryl hadfield says

    January 22, 2019 at 9:10 pm

    i would love to try this recipe, sounds so refreshing

    Reply
  82. JOANNE ROXBURGH says

    January 22, 2019 at 3:54 pm

    i can only drink gin or vodka with soda water..but always have a bit of fresh lime and mint

    Reply
  83. Charlotte says

    January 21, 2019 at 9:46 am

    this sounds lovely! id love to try it with the sparkling wine. not very non alcoholic though haha

    Reply
  84. Karen Langridge says

    January 20, 2019 at 10:46 pm

    I am not really sure but it sounds lovely as it is! x

    Reply
  85. Margaret Clarkson says

    January 20, 2019 at 4:00 pm

    The espresso coffee makes this the perfect Iralian cocktail.

    Reply
  86. Sheena Batey says

    January 20, 2019 at 2:41 pm

    Probably make something like you did with orange juice

    Reply
  87. Cat says

    January 20, 2019 at 2:28 pm

    Always dislike the strong alcoholic kick in an expresso martini, this sound like it may be my answer

    Reply
  88. Adam Harding says

    January 20, 2019 at 2:08 pm

    Add a little Italian flag…

    Reply
  89. iain maciver says

    January 20, 2019 at 1:43 pm

    would add Amalfi lemons

    Reply
  90. Claire Woods says

    January 20, 2019 at 10:34 am

    I would add Amalfi lemons

    Reply
  91. Ruth Harwood says

    January 20, 2019 at 9:43 am

    I’d probably add a little red wine to make it a little italian!

    Reply
  92. Katie says

    January 20, 2019 at 9:22 am

    I love non-alcoholic cocktails and your recipes look great! I’d like to try it with pink lemonade and non-alcoholic wine to make an Italian cocktail

    Reply
  93. Solange says

    January 20, 2019 at 12:42 am

    I would probably add ginger ale to make it ‘Italian’.

    Reply
  94. Mark McCaffery says

    January 20, 2019 at 12:32 am

    Although I am not a coffee lover, I’ll be sure to give it a try

    Reply
  95. Lisa says

    January 20, 2019 at 12:02 am

    I would add Amalfi lemons as they would add a refreshing twist.

    Reply
  96. Emma Morgan says

    January 19, 2019 at 11:46 pm

    I know a few friends doing dry January who’d love to give this recipe a try. Sounds tasty.

    Reply
  97. Sarah Mccaffery says

    January 19, 2019 at 11:19 pm

    Love the recipe. It’s always nice to try alternatives.

    Reply

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