Staples for Low Sugar Mocktails at Home
Why Mocktails?
→ You’re sober-curious & just want to imbibe occasionally.
→ Hangovers suck.
→ You desire to be physically & mentally healthy.
→ You’re living on the lighter side of life, alcohol is empty calories with no nutrition.
→ You don’t love booze or live an alcohol-free lifestyle but still want to feel like you’re having something special.
Reasons for moderating alcohol are very personal for everyone. You do not have to justify your reason for abstaining from anyone! I have found that if I have SOMETHING in my hand when I go to an event, people don’t try to push booze on me. How do they know what is in my hand anyway?
If you still want to feel like you are part of the party, mocktails can be a great connector! I usually bring my own so I’m prepared + know I’ll have options when attending parties. I always offer the host and other guests one of what I’m making. I am often surprised and delighted, there are usually other non-drinkers that would love to partake in a yummy beverage sans booze.
Most folks are somewhat shy about a sober lifestyle for fear of not looking like “one of the cool kids” or for fear that people will think you have a drinking problem. But maybe you just aren’t into it and that is totally ok, you are not weird for wanting to put something in your body that it physiologically views as poison.
I think part of making mocktails mainstream is making them feel as special as cocktails appear in our culture. Here are my tips to do just that!
To make mocktails special, and not just another can of sparkling water, you need 2 things. For ease's sake, let’s call them category A, the base, and category B, something fresh.
A + B = Yummy!
A. The Base
We love something fizzy: Spindrift or any other brand of sparkling water is a great place to start.
Try kombucha as the base. it is often fizzy and has some fermented funk - it makes us feel like we're imbibing.
Start with infused water like cucumber or pineapple-flavored water. When making infused water, I like to add citrus, and fresh herbs, too.
Make your own natural fruit juice. Puree & strain watermelon or make homemade apple juice. Squeeze in fresh sour citrus to balance sweet & tangy.
These liquid bases are a great place to start for a quality craft mocktail. Next:
B. A Fresh Element or Two
Lemons & limes are classics for a bright acidic pop - try changing it up with grapefruit or tangelos.
A little cucumber goes a long way! Pairs well with citrus and herbs like mint and cilantro.
Experiment with garden herbs. Muddle mint to use as a flavoring or bruise a rosemary sprig for an aromatic experience.
Try freezing seasonal fruit like kiwi, strawberries, and pineapple for a color pop. Use ice cubes to avoid watering down your beverage.
Easy extras to really make your mocktail special:
Experiment with temperature, not everything has to be super cold! Make a warm apple cider drink with autumn spices like clove and cinnamon.
Fresh produce is usually more affordable when in the season because of its abundance. Not sure what to make/serve? Try a drink inspired by the seasons.
When entertaining, make a batch or the base ahead of time so you can spend more time with guests. Plus, most things get better as they meld over time.
Purchase fun paper straws or other drink accessories
Garnish it up! ex. cinnamon sticks, rosemary, or mint sprigs. Maybe a penis straw.
Find unique thrifted glassware to use for themes
Cocktail napkins are nice to have when serving a cold drink without a stem. You can get some fun ones to match your theme. Or be like, me and rescue them from the dump by searching clearance isles.
Buy a reusable glass marker to label guests' glasses.
Fun party tip: add your guest's nicknames to their cups before they arrive for a laugh. It is a good conversation starter!
What tips are you excited to try?
