Free of spirits: 3 booze-free recipes that don't skip on flavor

Just because you're cutting back on the alcohol doesn't mean you can't enjoy a tasty drink to beat the summer heat.

All three of these recipes come from Clare Liardet's drink recipe book "Dry: Delicious Handcrafted Cocktails and Other Clever Concoctions."

Bloody Bull

The Bloody Bull, a tasty take on a Virgin Mary, only requires a shaker and highball glass to mix together.

You will need:

• shaker
• highball glass

Ingredients

4 ounces (125 ml) tomato juice
4 ounces (125 ml) beef bouillon or homemade beef stock
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated horseradish
2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
3 dashes of Tabasco sauce
Pinch of freshly ground pepper
1/2 ounce (15 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
Pinch of celery salt
Ice cubes
Wedges of lemon and lime to garnish
Celery stick to stir

Directions

1) Add the tomato juice, beef bouillon, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, pepper, lemon juice, and celery salt to a shaker containing ice, and roll it gently to mix the ingredients.

2) Pour into a highball glass and garnish with a wedge of lemon and lime, and a tender celery stick.

Pomegranate Negroni

The combination of the cherry concentrate and pomegranate juice offers a fresh, fruity break.

You will need:

• tumbler

Ingredients

7 ounces (200 ml) pure pomegranate juice
2 teaspoons Montmorency cherry concentrate
Ice cubes
3 good dashes of Angostura bitters
Twist of orange peel

Directions

Pour the pomegranate juice and cherry concentrate into a glass of ice, then stir well before shaking in the Angostura bitters. The drink should have a bittersweet tang, so add more Angostura if needed. Twist the orange peel on top of the drink to release the oils.

Fiery Ginger and Apple Boost

Kick off your social hour with a kick of ginger, and without all the sugar found in ginger beer.

You will need:

• juicer
• tumbler

Ingredients

2 small sweet apples, cored
1/2 cup (50 g) peeled and sliced fresh ginger
Ice cubes
3 1/2 ounces (100 ml) sparkling water
1 teaspoon agave syrup (optional)
Slice of apple to garnish

Directions

1) Chop the apples to fit the juicer, then add in the ginger and blend.

2) Pour 5 ounces (150 ml) of the apple-and-ginger mix into a glass of ice, and top with sparkling water. Stir in a little agave syrup to taste, if the apples are too tart. Garnish with a slice of apple.

Looking for more great recipes? Check out The Splendid Table for amazing food and drink ideas all year long.