A Sip And A Thought: Margaritaville's New Mocktails

MONTGOMERY, TX -- Last Friday I needed a break, a day to get out of the routine of writing in my home office after gathering my intel. So after meeting with my Montgomery Whataburger coffee group, I decided to head down to the Margaritaville Lake Conroe Resort, just hang out for a bit. It was a little cool, but tolerable. And still before an appropriate lunch time, I took my reMarkable tablet like I always do, walked around, stopped, sat down for a minute here, or leaned on something there, just jotting down thoughts that came to me. I’m planning on staying for a few days when the weather warms up, so getting a mental picture of the place is not a bad idea.

Around 11ish, I decided to head to the LandShark Bar & Grill. I had made some asparagus cream soup the night prior due to having a big breakfast before, so I was partly famished. My server, Trish, asked what sort of refreshment I required. I thought for a second since it was early. Then ‘5 o’Clock Somewhere,’ popped into my mind, of which they have a bar of the name on the resort.

“I’ll have a margarita,” I said confidently, then quickly backtracked. “No, it’s really too early, I’ll have sweet tea.” Trish could tell I wanted somewhere with alcohol, but was unsure.

“We do have a mocktail menu, if you would like to try one,” replied Trish.

That garnered my interest. Besides, I had heard of ‘Dry January,’ and it’s been a while since I’ve had a mocktail, which I thought was unexciting back then. Why not? It's five o’clock somewhere, right. The Landshark Mocktail menu offers four drinks: Pineapple Cooler, Cranberry Paradise, Tropical Breeze, and No-Rita, all of which are served over ice, and contain a lime wedge unless specified.

I ordered a Pineapple Cooler mocktail which immediately took me to one of Jim Buffett’s beaches. I pulled out my tablet, and started writing. ‘There’s a column in here somewhere,’ I thought.’ Made with pineapple juice, lime juice, simple syrup, ginger ale, and garnered with pineapple leaves, this would be a great adult-type drink for the kids. The coconut leaves add to its tropical mystic, as does the coconut rimmed glass, which includes another layer of flavor and texture to the offering. The juice duo is a real hit with the simple syrup to start off the sip, followed by the ginger ale, which leads to a wonderful finish with just a hint of tart. It’s a well thought out beverage, and would give anyone a tropical feel on a cool blustery day.

I also called for a Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich, which blew me away. Immediately, the crispy crust and moist chicken made me think, ‘Best Chicken Sandwich Ever,’ and it will make you think of LandShark, the next time you crave a chicken sandwich. The Hot Honey Chicken is topped with havarti cheese, lime aioli, honey chipotle sauce (very slight heat), lettuce, pickles, all placed between a brioche bun. It is a great combination, and is an excellent example of what a chicken sandwich is supposed to taste like that does not come off a factory line.

After finishing the sandwich, I again looked at the mocktail menu, thinking ‘What’s the harm,’ there’s no alcohol involved, so I ordered a No-Rita. Made with Lemon X, Sprite, Salt Rim (or Sugar), and a lime wedge. It has a nice tang to start out with, then you feel the Sprite. The Lemon X is the house margarita mix to give some authenticity to the drink yielding to the impression of a real margarita without the alcohol. Each sip with the salt adds a new dimension to the taste finishing with tangy refreshment. Next time I go, I will try one with the sugar rim, which I suspect the kids will choose if given a chance.

I was about to leave the resort for home, but then remembered there were two drinks to try. I thought for a quick second, it’s off season; I’m gonna stay the night. I always carry an overnight/ER bag in my Lexus, so I grabbed it, along with my iPad, and got a room. 10th Floor on the poolside, with great views of the pools, and lake. M-Ville is a very nice resort, with each area having its own look and feel, from golf, to the spa, tennis, pickleball, fitness center, miniature golf, plus the water park is great for the toddlers, a figure eight for those ‘lazy’ swimmers, and those who appreciate slides. Of course when the warm weather returns they even have a sandy beach if you want a tan.

I sent a text to a lady friend about dinner at Margaritaville, and promptly took a nap on the long lounge chair in my room after finding a comfortable position. I woke up refreshed, pulled out my iPad and finished a piece I had previously started. I got a reply about dinner, which was on, but a little sad, because my friend had to attend a funeral in Austin on Saturday. Back at LandShark, the mocktails came in handy, because Lady X was headed home to pack and leave after dinner. We split a Seafood Platter, since she and I are not big eaters, so it was perfect. The fish and chips, along with the coconut shrimp were a hit. The Key West cocktail and citrus tartar sauces were even dippable with the fries. Very nice. We even split a Chocolate Lava Cake which was scrumptious as well. You can’t go wrong with chocolate on chocolate.

I first ordered a Tropical Breeze mocktail for us, which I think is the most kid friendly of the drinks. It’s made with orange juice, pineapple juice, Sprite, and grenadine. I loved the tropical feel. It was sweet, tangy, fizzy, and had a nice finish. I crushed the cherry which of course changes the flavor profile slightly, and it enhances the grenadine with its sweet and tart flavors, since the syrup reminds me of cherries and pomegranates. We then toasted to Lady X’s Aunt, a military nurse during the Korean War, and then she had to leave.

My last mocktail was the Cranberry Paradise, and it was lip smacking good. Made with cranberry and lime juice, along with the subtle spice of ginger beer. It tasted the most alcoholic of the mocks, although there is no alcohol in the beer. It was tangy, and offered a perfect blend of sweetness and zest. It’s a tiny barrel of goodness I thought, plus it had the longest finish of the four drinks, lingering on the palate I would say.

The Margaritaville Resort allows locals or guests to indulge in various activities, whether you stay overnight or not. If you haven’t been since Buffett and his crew bought the place, then you need to check it out again. I’m thankful for the mocktail options, and for the Margaritaville Lake Conroe Resort in thinking ahead for its clientele in offering options that do not include alcohol. Not all of us can have alcohol, whether it be by age, being a designated driver, or by previous bad experiences. Mocktails at least give you the look of not being a downer to a fun party. So come and find your Destination Paradise.

https://www.margaritavilleresorts.com and search for Lake Resort Lake Conroe-Houston

Ruben can be reached at: ruben@montgomerycountynews.net