Did you know that it’s possible to go to a celebration and not have to drink alcohol?
Gasp!
It’s true!
But seriously, we know you know that. What we also know is that plenty of people start off the new year with the best of intentions to either cut down or nix booze completely from their diets.
With this post, we’re here to say that sometimes a celebratory communal drink is exactly that; a drink! A nice cup of coffee or a fizzy glass of cola can be just as satisfying as a bottle of brew when consumed with the right company.
Thankfully, given the rise in health-conscious trends, you don’t have to swap out the fun mixed drinks for boring fruit juice or grape soda quite yet. Mocktails are a thing, and they can be every bit as delicious as their alcoholic counterparts – if not more so!
So for this silly season, save your wine and bourbon, your whiskey and scotch for a different occasion. We’re whipping out the alcohol-free cocktail recipes that you’re gonna love!
‘tis the season for red and green, and what could be more festive than a bright, attention-grabbing cherry? This drink’s distinct, vibrant cerise is a sure signal that the party’s starting right here, right now. Infused with the crisp sweetness of cherries overlaid with the smooth, popping taste of Dr. Pepper™, this holiday drink doesn’t need alcohol to bring out the party vibes!
Ingredients:
- 2L Dr. Pepper™ soda
- 32oz. pure cherry juice / pomegranate-cherry juice / white grape-cherry juice
- 1L ginger ale
- 1 jar or 13.5oz. Maraschino cherries, undrained
- 1 cup pomegranate arils
Drink Deco Idea: freeze a portion of the punch into a cherry-flavoured ice ring using a Bundt pan. Leave it in the freezer 5-10 minutes before guests arrive. Once they’re in, pop the ring in to keep everything nice and cool without watering it down! Leave out extra cans of Dr. Pepper™ and crushed ice so that people can adjust the taste to their liking!
Channel the chilly weather into a smooth, refreshing mint drink; alcohol-free, of course. And yes, a mint julep can totally be non-alcoholic! Replace the bourbon and booze with cola and tons of finely crushed ice.
Sure, the taste might not be exactly the same, but the frostiness? That perfect chill? No alcohol needed, my friend! Just some sweet syrup and bubbly soda for those classic Southern vibes.
Ingredients:
- 10 mint leaves, de-stemmed
- ¾ simple syrup, divided
- finely crushed ice
- 3oz. cola/strong-brewed unsweetened iced tea
Drink Deco Idea: lightly slap some sprigs of mint between your palms. This will get them to release some light oil on the leaves, giving them a nice shine. Then garnish each Collins glass or julep cup with the sprigs to add some attractive visuals and fresh flavour.
Pale orange and rosemary sprigs never looked so good! Pink grapefruit juice blended with some seltzer water and homemade simple syrup create a flavour profile that is equal parts light, sweet, and citrusy.
The party truly doesn’t start until you walk in bearing a tray of this cheerful, summery drink. Serve with plenty of crushed ice and a grapefruit slice garnish for an exquisite, refreshing experience!
Ingredients for the Simple Syrup:
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 fresh Rosemary sprig, finely chopped
Ingredients for the Drink:
- 1 fresh Rosemary sprig, for garnish
- 1 grapefruit slice, for garnish
- ¼ cup pink grapefruit juice
- 2/3 cup seltzer water or grapefruit soda
- crushed ice
Drink Deco Idea: who says you can have too much garnish? Certainly not the case here! Pour your Paloma Fizz into a lovely frosted or Tom Collins glass to really up the aesthetics. And then garnish with a fresh sprig of Rosemary and a clean slice of grapefruit up top.