Choosing REM Sleep Over Rosé
Amber Citrus Mocktail
The Deliberate Shift
There was a time when drinking felt synonymous with social life. Wine at dinner. Cocktails to unwind. A shared bottle as shorthand for connection. Over time, that ritual began to feel less aligned. As I've gotten older, I've found myself more protective of my energy. I sleep better when I don't drink; I think more clearly; I feel more balanced when I nourish my body rather than negotiate with it the next morning.
The shift hasn't been dramatic, it's been deliberate. When I go out now, i'm selective. I'm not interested in wine simply because it's available, or beer simply because it's expected. If I choose to drink, it's usually because something genuinely interests me, a spirit I've never tried, a thoughtfully constructed cocktail, something crafted rather than habitual. If that isn't available, I'm perfectly content with a well made mocktail.
I present to you this spiced orange mocktail I call Amber Citrus.
Amber Citrus in Coupe Glasses
Bright citrus meets quiet warmth in this layered, spirit-free mocktail. Fresh orange juice provides structure and acidity, softened by the subtle sweetness of pure maple syrup. Ginger ale adds lift and effervescence, brining a gentle spice that lingers rather than overwhelms.
A sprig of rosemary introduces a clean, herbal note while a cinnamon stick steeped into the glass lends depth and a faint, warming finish.
The result is balanced and composed: lightly sparkling, subtly spiced, and grounded in natural sweetness. It feels seasonal without being themed. Refined without trying too hard.
It's the kind of drink that holds its own in a coupe glass.
Ingredients
Amber Citrus Mocktail
1 cup (240ml) Ginger Beer (the spicier the better)
1 cup (240ml) Orange Juice (no pulp)
2 Tblsp (30ml) Maple Syrup
1/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 sprig Fresh Rosemary
2 sticks Cinnamon (optional garnish)
2 cup Ice
Directions:
Fill shaker with one cup of ice, maple syrup, orange juice, rosemary and ground cinnamon and shake well for 10 seconds.
Fill two coupe glasses with the remaining ice. Fill half way with ginger ale, then strain the contents of the shaker equally between the glasses.
Optional, add cinnamon stick for garnish.
The Glass Matters
Part of what elevates a drink has very little to do with what's in it. It's about the ritual surrounding it. A well made mocktail poured into a standard glass feels like compromise. The same drink served in a coupe or weighted rocks glass feels deliberate.
I've found that the vessel shapes the experience as much as the ingredients. A thin rimmed coupe introduces lightness and ceremony. A substantial lowball glass suggests structure and restraint. Even the weight of the glass in hand shifts the tone of the evening.
There is somthing grouding about choosing proper glassware, about acknowledging that pleasure doesn't require alcohol to justify iteslf. Ice measured. Garnish considered. Glass chilled. The quiet placement of a rosemary sprig or cinnamon stick. Nothing exxcessive, nothing proformative, just intention. If drinking less has taught me anything, it's that refinement is not subtration for the sake of virtue, it's choosing the elements that matter and discarding the rest. The glass is one of those elements.
