Alcohol-free cocktails, or mocktails if you like, are a great way to celebrate special occasions in style!
If you have been following our series of alcohol-free drink alternatives, you may have seen the following blog posts: ‘The best non-alcoholic and low-alcohol wines for 2020’, ‘Six of the best non-alcoholic beers for autumn, and ‘Our top six alcohol-free or low-alcohol beers’, and with the festive season just around the corner, we wanted to add alcohol-free cocktail recipes to this collection!
Having a drink in hand has become a signal of celebration, and if you enjoy this tradition, there is no reason to stop while you’re taking a break from alcohol. There are thousands of recipes for non-alcoholic cocktails that you can experiment with over the holidays. Test the waters, find your favourites, and take them along with you to any social events this Christmas!
Here are our festive favourites!
Mocktail recipe ideas:
- AF mulled wine
- Spiced apple syrup with clementines and cloves
- Pear and rose punch
- AF Buck’s Fizz or mimosa
- Sparkling punch
- Fancy AF fizz
AF mulled wine
This seasonal classic can be made just as tasty alcohol-free!
You will need:
- 500ml pomegranate juice
- 25g caster sugar
- A handful of frozen blackberries
- 250ml apple juice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- 4 cloves
- 3 black peppercorns
- 1 orange slice
Directions:
Pour the pomegranate and apple juice into a saucepan along with the sugar and frozen blackberries. Let this heat gently for a couple of minutes, then add in the cinnamon, star anise, cloves, peppercorns and the orange slice. Allow to simmer for another 1-2 minutes before tasting for sweetness. Once you are happy with the mixture, strain and serve in a heat proof glass.
Spiced apple syrup with clementine and cloves
This mocktail will warm you up, with some traditional festive flavours!
You will need:
- 200ml apple juice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tsp whole allspice
- A pinch of nutmeg
- 2 whole cloves
- small strip fresh ginger
- 1 clementine zest peeled
- 100g golden caster sugar
Directions:
Pour apple juice along with the whole spices, ginger, clementine zest and sugar into a sauce pan, and slowly bring to a boil. Leave this to simmer for around 10 minutes before removing from the heat and allow to cool. Strain off the syrup into a jug or bottle. This syrup can now be mixed into soda water, lemonade or whatever else you may you prefer!
Pear and rose punch
This is a brilliant option for those of you hosting parties this year, as this exciting mocktail with a punch can be served into a bowl for your guests to help themselves to!
You will need:
- 1 litre of pear juice
- 1 vanilla pod
- 1tbsp golden caster sugar
- 4 cardamom pods
- Sliced root ginger
- 25ml apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp rosewater
- 250ml sparkling water
- Ice
- Garnish optional: rosemary, thyme leaves or sliced pear
Directions:
Add pear juice into a large pan and drop in the vanilla pod, followed by golden caster sugar, cardamom pods and root ginger, then slowly allow to heat until simmering. Leave to cool completely, then strain into a punch bowl or jug. Add the apple cider vinegar, rosewater and sparkling water. Ensure mixture is served cold with ice and garnish with rosemary sprigs, thyme, sliced red pear.
Buck’s Fizz (or mimosa)
Buck’s Fizz is a Christmas favourite for many, and you can join in too by substituting the fizz for an alcohol-free version, such as Nosecco. Looks and tastes the same but with none of the alcohol!
Sparkling punch
This is the perfect drink for those who love a fruity number!
You will need:
- 20ml cranberry juice
- 20ml pineapple juice
- 20ml orange juice
- Either soda water or lemonade
- Ice
Directions:
Add all your juice into a cocktail shaker with a few large cubes of ice. Shake to combine, then pour into glass over ice and top up with your choice of soda water or lemonade.
Fancy AF fizz
It is a time for celebration, so what better to toast with than some fancy AF fizz!
You will need:
- Tsp pear syrup
- Tsp apricot syrup
- Your choice of soda water or lemonade
Directions:
Pour your choice of soda water or lemonade over your combinations of syrups in a flute or short glass for a speedy glass of faux fizz, serve cold and enjoy!
We hope you love trying out these festive mocktails and have the best Christmas yet!
An entrepreneur and former senior oil broker, Ruari gave up drinking after excessive consumption almost cost him his marriage, and worse, his life. Going alcohol-free improved his relationships, career and energy levels, leading to him founding OYNB to provide a support network for others.
