8 Delicious Mocktails for Any Social Gathering
I recently was discussing with a good friend the perks of blogging about cocktail recipes.
She gave birth to a beautiful little girl back in December and, as one who is pregnant should, went over nine months without consuming any alcohol.
We discussed how it’s not about the alcohol, but the social aspect that incites a ‘deprivation’ – a social deprivation.
Why shouldn’t a pregnant woman, or someone who does not or cannot drink alcohol (like children, among many other people), be kept from enjoying a drink in a social setting?
With this in mind, I’ve found eight delicious non-alcoholic cocktails that anyone can enjoy.
Just because there is zero alcohol content in these drinks, does not mean they do not deserve the same amount of attentive care and precision when mixing.
Coconut Lavender Lemonade
I’m a fan of lemonades with a twist, and this mocktail does not disappoint. Check out this wonderful concoction of subtle flavours, to be mixed and served from a pitcher.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (roughly 9 lemons)
- 1¾ cups sugar
- 8 cups coconut water
- 4 cups filtered water
- Lavender simple syrup:
- 1 cups sugar
- ¾ cups filtered water
- 1½ tbsp dried lavender
Method for simple syrup
- Combine ingredients in a saucepan on high heat, until they come to a boil
- Remove from heat and cover, letting stand for 20 minutes
- Strain into a bowl and, if desired, add a few drops of violet food colouring to the mixture
- Set aside to cool
Method for mocktail
- Pour lemon juice, sugar, coconut water, and filtered water into the pitcher and stir thoroughly, ensuring all the sugar is fully dissolved
- Add in lavender simple syrup and stir
- Pour into a chilled highball glass filled with ice
Orange-Lime Relaxer
A combination of sweet and slightly bitter, this is a drink that even the kids will love to try out.
Ingredients
- 2½ oz orange juice
- 1 oz lime juice
- 5 oz Sprite
- A lime wedge
Method
- Pour all liquid ingredients into a highball glass filled with ice, in the order they are listed
- Garnish with a wedge of lime, or pineapple piece on the rim of the glass
Virgin Mary
A non-alcoholic take on the Bloody Mary that you are sure to enjoy.
Ingredients
- 4 oz tomato juice
- A dash of lemon juice
- 2 drops of hot sauce
- A pinch of celery salt
- ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
Method
- Rim a highball glass with celery salt and top off with ice
- Pour in all liquid ingredients, ensuring that the tomato juice is the last to be poured in
- Garnish with a celery stick
Kiwi-Ginger Mocktail
A sure favourite, everyone will want to try this mocktail receipe at your next gathering.
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp icing sugar
- 2 limes, freshly juiced
- 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
- 3 peeled and chopped kiwis
- Ice cubes
- Ginger ale (to taste)
- Kiwi pinwheel
Method
- Dissolve icing sugar in water
- Mix in lime juice, ginger, and kiwis
- Split between two cocktail glasses filled with ice and top off with ginger ale
- Add a kiwi pinwheel for garnish, if desired
Chocolate Extreme
Who doesn’t love chocolate? Now, you can drink it in this swoon-worthy mocktail. Do I even need to say more?
You won’t have any trouble finding two others to enjoy this drink with (if you don’t end up drinking all three on your own)!
Ingredients
- 150g milk chocolate bar
- 7 oz milk
- 2¼ oz vanilla syrup
- 3 squares milk chocolate
- Ice
- 3 martini glasses
Method
- In a non-stick pan, bring milk to a simmer
- Break off half the chocolate bar and add into the pan square by square until it has fully melted
- Allow to cool for one hour before pouring into an ice-filled cocktail shaker, along with vanilla syrup
- Shake thoroughly for 60 seconds and double strain evenly between three chilled martini glasses
- Garnish with a square of chocolate, positioned on the rim of the martini glass via a small insertion made on one side
Morningstar Mocktail
If you love pineapple, you’ll want to guzzle this deliciously sweet pineapple-based mocktail. Make sure to serve cold!
Ingredients
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp honey
- 1¼ cup pineapple juice
- Mineral water
- Vanilla stick
Method
- Mix sugar, honey, and pineapple juice thoroughly in a cocktail glass filled with ice until the sugar has completely dissolved
- Top off with mineral water
- Add in a small piece of the vanilla stick
The Rehydrator
True to its name, this cool and refreshing mocktail will rehydrate you when you need it most… or when you’re just craving a tasty and fun drink.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup pitted cherries
- 3 oz aloe vera juice
- 2 oz unsweetened cranberry juice
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- ½ tbsp honey
Method
- Mash honey and strawberries in a cocktail shaker
- Add in juices, stirring well to combine flavours
- Fill shaker with ice and mix for about 30 seconds
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Cranberry Punch
This is also a perfect drink for a group of people, as the drink is mixed (and served from) a pitcher.
Ingredients
- 6 oz frozen pink lemonade concentrate
- 1 (32 oz) bottle cranberry juice cocktail
- 2 cans ginger ale
Method
- Make the lemonade as outlined on can of frozen concentrate
- Stir in cranberry juice and ginger ale
- Pour into cocktail glasses filled with ice
The best part about these mocktails is that you don’t have to worry about drinking them on your own. Who wouldn’t want to knock back a few of these beverages in a row? I know I sure want to.
Drink up, and enjoy responsibly!
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