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.

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DAY 1: Sample Lesson: Your “WHY” and Behavior Change

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