If celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with the obligatory green beer, Guinness or whiskey isn’t for you, here’s a nonalcoholic option that’s crisp, a bit tart — and the hue of the day.
Katya Bobenhouse, a bartender at Hogan’s in Clarkston, said it’s not uncommon for patrons to request alcohol-free drinks, and she likes experimenting with flavors to create ones that pop
August Frank/Inland 360
Hogan's bartender Katya Bobenhouse created this "Irish" soda with an unexpected combination of flavors.
We asked Bobenhouse to improvise a St. Paddy’s Day-inspired beverage earlier this week, and the result was a riff on the classic Italian soda. Her “Irish” soda, which she described as “a bit melony, a bit sour,” incorporated surprising flavors to yield a refreshing drink, with a (nonalcoholic) bite.
Banana syrup, cream, a touch of sour, dab of green color and hint of peach bitters in soda over ice made for a virgin drink a notch above the standard Shirley Temple.
“I enjoy it. It’s fun,” Bobenhouse said of making on-the-fly mocktails. “And it’s almost spring, so a little bit of fresh is nice.”
