Entertaining

8 Healthy-ish Cocktails Made with Detoxifying Ingredients

The switchel—a fermented mix of maple syrup, apple cider vinegar and ginger—was one of the first health drinks in America, commonly consumed in the 18th century by farmers to stay hydrated. This modern, boozy version uses ginger beer instead of fresh ginger and adds a healthy dose of bourbon for good measure.

This bright cocktail combines a variety of detoxifying ingredients—lemon, honey and ginger—with an antioxidant powerhouse: turmeric. The anti-inflammatory powder gets infused in a honey syrup, and the cocktail is garnished with cayenne pepper, another cleansing ingredient.

Aloe vera isn’t just for healing your skin; it can also cleanse from the inside out. This drink uses a pineapple aloe syrup, which is made from aloe water and digestion-friendly pineapple. The syrup mixes with gin, cucumber, lime juice and tonic water for an incredibly cooling refreshment.

Promote your digestive health by drinking funky, fermented kombucha, which tastes especially delicious in this spritzy take on a Pimm’s Cup. The dry, citrusy drink is made with with pear kombucha, spicy ginger syrup, Pimm’s, fresh lime juice and cucumber slices for garnish.

Nearly every ingredient in this cocktail is green, from the avocado syrup to the limes to the detoxifying matcha green tea powder. The verdant mix gets spiked with plum-infused mezcal and prunes, which are also known for aiding digestion. Consider skipping the salt rim if you want to take your detox extra seriously.

Cilantro’s pungent flavor may be divisive, but no one can argue against its detoxifying properties; the herb helps remove heavy metals from the body. This refreshing Collins mixes the green herb with celery syrup and gin, along with a guilt-free topping of club soda for effervescence.

Load up on beta-carotene by drinking this carrot-flavored Mimosa, made with carrot acid, ginger syrup, Aquavit and sparkling wine. To make the carrot acid, simply dissolve citric acid in ginger juice, add carrot juice, and strain for a vegetal, earthy zing.

It doesn’t get better for your health than a green juice. This bright green Martini combines kale juice with a host of other fresh-pressed juices like cucumber, celery, lime and lemon. Ginger beer and grapefruit provide more antioxidants, while a splash of apple-flavored vodka sweetens the deal.