Catching the Sun: A Mocktail for icons

There are drinks you make when you need to soften. And then there are drinks you make when you need to rise.

Catching the Sun is the latter.

This is the mocktail for when you need to step into your baddie era. When you're about to walk into that room, deliver that keynote, lead that meeting, or simply exist as the most magnetic version of yourself.

It's bright, bold, and unapologetically complex—just like you.

This recipe requires a little prep work, but I promise it's worth it. Because true icons don't cut corners on the things that matter.

And showing up as your fullest self? That matters.

It's giving iconic

This isn't a gentle ritual. This is solar magic.

The ginger brings fire and personal power. Thai basil offers clarity and confidence. Plum connects you to abundance and sweetness without sacrificing edge. Lime cuts through any energetic fog. And the sea salt rim? That's your protective boundary—the energetic "this far and no further" that keeps you grounded even as you shine.

But the real catalyst? Brighten.

Brighten is the tincture I formulated for those moments when you need to step into your light without apology, when visibility feels like both a risk and a calling, when you're ready to be seen - not in despite of your brilliance, but because of it.

Catching the Sun Recipe

This mocktail has presence. It announces itself. Just like you do when you walk into a room. First, you must make the plum syrup. It's easy, but you'll want to do this before you start building the mocktail.

Five Plum Syrup Make this ahead and keep it in your fridge for whenever you need to channel solar energy.

Ingredients:

2 cups fresh plums, pitted and chopped, 2 quarts water (plus 2 additional cups), Raw unfiltered honey (equal amount to final liquid). Optional: add a some lemongrass and lemon verbana for a lighter refreshing flavor.

Instructions:

Add chopped plums to a pot and cover with 2 quarts of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer on medium heat. Let the fruit break down completely—you can use an immersion blender to speed this up. Add 2 more cups of water and bring the mixture back to high heat. Remove from heat. Add raw honey equal to your total liquid amount and stir until fully dissolved. Strain out the fruit solids. Let cool and refrigerate (this will keep for several weeks).

The Mocktail

Ingredients:

Lime wedge, Sea salt,1 oz strong ginger tea (brewed concentrated and cooled), 1 oz Thai basil tea (steeped and cooled), 1 oz Five Plum Syrup, ¾ oz fresh lime juice, 3 dropperfuls Brighten tincture, Ice, Fresh Thai basil sprig for garnish.

Instructions:

Prepare your glass: Run a lime wedge around the rim, then dip into a shallow bowl of sea salt to coat the edge. In a cocktail shaker, combine the ginger tea, Thai basil tea, plum syrup, lime juice, and Brighten tincture. Fill with ice and shake vigorously—let this be an embodiment practice. Strain into your prepared glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a fresh Thai basil sprig.

The Ritual

Make this before moments that require your full presence. Before the presentation. Before the photoshoot. Before the difficult conversation where you refuse to shrink.

The medicine will stay in your system, so drink it the night before or make it your sipper for the week.

As you shake, feel the energy building. As you strain, imagine clarity pouring through. As you take your first sip, remind yourself: I was built for visibility. My light is not a burden to manage—it's a gift to share.

This mocktail doesn't help you dim so others feel comfortable. It helps you burn brighter while staying grounded in who you are. Want the Alcohol Version?

This recipe works beautifully as written, but if you want the alcohol variation, just email me and I'll send it your way. Sometimes Icons like options.