Mocktails!
December 30, 2023
So many mocktails, so little time! Today’s post is a list of ideas to keep your brain fired up about all of the possibilities of non-alcoholic beverages. It includes some of my favorites to go along with the saying, “Keep the Ritual, Change the Ingredients!” ~Janey Lee Grace.
Mocktail Recipes:
Faux-Jito: The classic mojito without the rum (lime, mint, simple sugar, soda water)
Mock-a-Rita: In a margarita glass with salted rim, sweet and sour mix, soda water with a lime. Hold the tequila!
Cosmo-Nots: Keep the cranberry juice, leave the vodka
New-Fashioned: Like an Old Fashioned but with Ritual Zero-Proof Whiskey alternative instead. Add a splash of bitters, a squirt of simple syrup, a Luxardo maraschino cherry, and garnish with an orange twist.
Soda Water with Lime: Nothing fancy here, but a solid option when needed! Ask your server to add a splash of cranberry, pineapple, or other juice they have behind the bar for a little flavor.
Non-Alcoholic (NA) Beers!
NA Beer has come a LONG way since the days of O’Dools. There are tons of options, even if you really like a strong, hoppy IPA, or even Guiness has an NA option now! A few of my go-tos:
Athletic Brewing Company — several delicious flavors including IPA, Hazy IPA, Golden Ale. Seriously, you wouldn’t know there’s no alcohol in it.
Sam Adams, Just the Haze
Laguitas NIPA: Non-alcoholic IPA
Brooklyn Brewery, variety pack!
Mango Cart: If you like a wheat beer with a fruity twist, the NA Mango Cart tastes just like the version with alcohol
Hop Water: Several brands make a “just the hops” alcohol-free, calorie-free, sparkling hoppy water. Some brands have added flavors like lime, blood orange or grapefruit to take it up a notch!
Let’s Talk About Wine…
De-alcoholized wine is not my favorite, as a former (self-described) “wine snob,” but there are a few worth trying. If you are a routine wine drinker, give it a little time for your tastebuds to heal before you try these; otherwise, they may just taste like grape juice! After a couple of months, they actually start to taste good:
Surely: Non-Alcoholic Bubbly Red is my favorite
Gruvi - Dry Seco, Dry Red Blend and Sangria are all good options!
Municipal Winemakers in Santa Barbara, California makes an excellent “January” zero-proof wine-like aperitif! They make a white and red version, infused with all-natural aromatics and botanicals. Both are listed below with details! They are $17.00 and there’s free shipping over $99 — so you could treat yourself to a 6-pack with half of each one for the New Year!
Manzanilla Chardonnay is an aperitif made from Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay, and infused with chamomile flowers, Meyer lemons, elecampane, gentian, cinnamon sticks and red peppercorn.
Juniper Grenache is a chillable, crunchy red made from Santa Ynez Valley Grenache, juniper berries, bay laurel leaves, black tea, sumac, angelica root, smoked sea salt, and black peppercorns
Do you have a favorite that’s not on the list? Contribute to this blog post by adding your own in the comments!
FUN FACT! My husband and I used to have a large wine cooler (I mentioned I’m a former wine snob, right?) in this corner of our living room. While I was away on a long business trip last year, he reconfigured this area of our house, built a new countertop, and installed an under-the-counter fridge, dedicated to my alcohol-free beverages! Picture included for inspiration, and to see some of the things I stock up on.